Qualification in Business and Administration – QBA diploma – ‘Merkonomi Diploma’
Qualification in Business and Administration at Porvoo Commercial College is a two years full-time study programme towards advancing a career in business. The 120 credit units of studies in Business Economics, Administration, Customer Service and Marketing are a structured combination of theory and practice in business and economics. One credit unit (cu) is equivalent of one study week or 40 hours of work.
In order to improve students’ familiarity in working life, the studies include 20 weeks of on-the-job-learning, during which the students are not having lessons, but working as sales assistants or administrative assistants in companies. There are clear educational and skill-set objectives in each on-the job learning phase. These must be achieved and student performance is evaluated in discussions between the lecturer involved, the student and the workplace supervisor.
Final project is part of vocational studies. The idea of final project is to apply the knowledge from different areas of study and compile it as a final work, showing that the student has specialist knowledge from a specific field. It may include written work, a project on an activity or a business operation but it must fulfil the aims of the qualification.
In addition to the study program, QBA students have participated in various activities in real business life, in order to widen the horizon of the knowledge gained at the school. For example, the students organized and took part in Studia Exhibition in Helsinki and Latvia.
As today’s demanding business market requires certifiable office and computer technology competency skills, European Computer Driving License (ECDL) is included in the study program. This is a standard computer skills certification, designed to teach and/or advance students skills essential to the administrative part of career in business field.