Kaupan liitto digital commerce studies made permanent at five Finnish universities

A digital commerce studies package coordinated until now by Kaupan liitto will become a permanent part of teaching at five Finnish universities (Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Jyväskylä, LUT University and the University of Oulu) after a project launched in 2021, Aamulehti reports.

The curriculum covers e-commerce and digital marketing. It also examines the use of data in business and shifts in the retail operating environment.

Over five academic years, the modules have been completed more than 2,600 times. Completions rose from 381 in the first year to 597 last year, a 57 percent increase. The initiative also reached the final of Euro Commerce’s Future of European Commerce competition last summer, finishing among the top four in the skills development category.

Moona Naakka-Stenvall, an education specialist at Kaupan liitto, said in the organisation's press release that the aim from the start was for the digital commerce studies to be integrated into the universities' own course offerings rather than remain a separate project. Now that goal has been achieved, she added, and the studies will continue as part of the universities' regular activity.

Kaupan liitto will continue to support the programme through business cooperation rather than formal coordination. The project has received backing from foundations such as the Helsinki Merchants' Foundation and the Foundation of the Commercial College of Finland.

The move also helps local retail adapt to digital sales channels. Tampere retailers, for example, have increasingly used events, livestreams and other digital tactics to attract customers.