Event programme
Learn from the experts and international alumni!
With five higher education institutes and over 40,000 students, Turku is the city of students. But what does the Southwest Finland region have to offer for international talents after their studies? Study and Stay in Turku is a career show where Turku alumni and recruitment experts share their stories and tips to help international talents find their way to build a meaningful life in Turku, Finland.
The full event programme for Study and Stay in Turku 2026 (3 November) will be made available soon!
The event will be held in the Bonfire hall in Åbo Akademi’s new Astra-building.
Doors and virtual platform will open at 16.00 and showtime is 16.30.
After the show, there will be a networking session from 18.00 onwards.
On stage in 2026:
Keynote Speaker: Megumi Hayashi
“My Journey, Your Possibility: Building a Career in Turku”
Megumi Hayashi currently works as an International Business Development Expert at Business Turku. She works with companies, universities, and public sector organizations to create opportunities for international cooperation, innovation, and growth. During her career, she has worked in various projects, one of her favorites being Talent Turku, which helped international talents find their career paths in the Turku region.
She also has an interesting experience of being an expat in her own country, Japan, having been posted to Mitsubishi Shipyard in Nagasaki by a Finnish subcontracting company.
Having lived in Turku for 30 years, Megumi has experienced many stages of life in Finland — from studying and internships to building a career, becoming a mother, and ultimately finding her own place. Drawing on both her professional expertise and personal journey, she believes in the power of building meaningful relationships and paying it forward.
Host: Clara Domínguez Alfara
Master’s student in Finnish and Other Finno-Ugric Languages, University of Turku
Moikka! Minä olen Clara. I was born in Madrid, Spain, where I studied for my Bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting. During my studies, I had the chance to learn Finnish, and let’s just say I fell in love with it. After taking a Kesäkurssi in Vaasa and participating in a volunteering programme in Kouvola, I’m now studying Finnish Language at the University of Turku.
Before moving to Turku, I had only been here for a couple of days. However, from the moment I saw the medieval fair, went to Järvelä, walked along the river, and relaxed in front of the Art Museum, I knew I wasn’t just in love with Finnish—I had also fallen in love with Finland.
Host: Hafsa Zubair
Master’s student in Information and Communication Technology: Data Analytics, University of Turku
Hi, I’m Hafsa! Originally from Pakistan, I’m a second-year Master’s student in ICT, specialising in Data Analytics at the University of Turku. Since moving to Turku in 2025, I’ve enjoyed its welcoming atmosphere and diverse student community. Outside my studies, I love networking, meeting new people, and sharing my student experiences through social media. I’m excited to host Study & Stay in Turku 2026 and be part of an event that brings students and professionals together to connect, share experiences, and explore new opportunities.
Career Expert: India Claudino
Indiamara Claudino, aka India, currently works as a Specialist for the City of Turku, as part of the Business Turku startup team at Turku Startup Hub. Her work focuses mainly on marketing and community building, making sure Axelia II is not simply a place to work, but a space where founders can meet, connect, and have the right environment to build their companies forward. She also works with partnerships and different actors across Turku’s startup ecosystem as well as international partners.
Originally from Brazil, India has been living abroad since she was 18, first in Ireland and later in the Netherlands, before moving to Finland to study. After moving to Turku, India became part of the founding team of BoostHer, taking the role of Mentoring Program and Knowledge Management Lead. There, she helped build the mentoring program and the structures behind the community, while connecting people and creating opportunities for them to learn from each other. What started with getting involved in startup communities as an international student has now come full circle: today, she gets to work on building and supporting that community in Turku.
Career Expert: Lotta Kaunonen
Lotta Kaunonen works as Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Manager at Elomatic, where she is responsible for recruitment, onboarding, employer branding, and university collaboration. With over 10 years of experience in these areas, she is passionate about workplace trends, talent development, and creating modern, future-oriented recruitment practices. Holding a Master of Education (UNI) and a master’s degree in Community Education (UAS), Lotta approaches her work through the lens of continuous learning and development. She particularly enjoys bringing together future talent, employers, and educational institutions.
Alum speaker: Veronika Bauer
Double-degree Master in Intercultural Advertising at Åbo Akademi. Currently working as Export Specialist at Swegon.
Alum speaker: Momina Iftikhar
Master’s in Health Technology at the University of Turku. Currently a Student’s Service Secretary in Admissions Services at the University of Turku.