Supporting every student at Salpaus Further Education

Tiina Muukka, Head of Education at Salpaus Further Education, wanted to prioritize student well-being. Together with the Student Well-being Unit, Tiina sought to ensure that no student would feel excluded from the community or left without the support they needed.

“Our goal was for every student to start their studies knowing where they could get themselves help should they need it.” Muukka explains.

The decision to implement Annie Advisor at Salpaus was not driven by immediate troubles but by a preventative approach:

“We believe it’s better to prevent problems than to wait for them to arise to fix them” Muukka states.

Launching Annie was surprisingly smooth

Introducing new programs can raise various concerns, but at Salpaus, the experience was nearly the opposite.

“The program was user-friendly. Everything went smoothly,” Muukka describes.

One of the key factors behind this success was a well-planned process supported by a knowledgeable staff and clear instructions. The implementation was further aided by four workshops, where staff members could actively participate in the design process. In these workshops, participants’ ideas and suggestions were heard.

“We were able to present our own ideas to Annie team, so it didn’t feel like something imposed from the outside but something we had designed ourselves. I was pleased with how agilely and efficiently the Annie team was able to implement our ideas to meet our specific needs.”

Support and responsiveness were key factors

Throughout the implementation, Tiina Muukka’s design team received continuous support from Annie’s experts and product developers. Annie’s client representative, Emilia, was always available:

“When we needed support, assistance, or advice, Emilia and the product team responded immediately. I feel that we received invaluable support throughout the process and never had to figure things out alone.”

Annie’s support also enabled quick adjustments to service paths when data revealed that certain support requests were concentrated on specific individuals. The ability to respond swiftly was, in Tiina’s view, one of Annie’s strengths.

Tangible results: Students received timely support

In the program’s first phase, 1,300 students participated, with 7% reporting that they needed support. While this percentage is relatively low compared to Annie’s benchmark data, Tiina didn’t see the result as a disappointment.

“If these 93 students hadn’t received support, we might have had 93 dropouts or students whose studies weren’t progressing,” Muukka points out. “It’s crucial to address problems at an early stage. Behind the numbers, there are always real human beigns.”

Tiina’s Tips for successful Annie implementation

When asked what advice she would give to others considering implementing the program, Tiina highlighted three key tips:

1. Be bold and give it a try: The first steps may feel daunting, but a well-planned process ensures a smooth start.
2. Leverage expertise: Support and expertise are essential, so make use of the Annie team’s assistance.
3. Engage the staff: Listen to the staff’s perspectives and give them a chance to contribute. This fosters commitment to the Annie implementation.

Aiming for ongoing collaboration

Tiina Muukka’s team has clear plans to continue using and developing the program further. The initial experiences have been so positive that they hope to expand the use of Annie in the future:

“Annie hasn’t just been a new tool to help us in our work but an important part of our daily operations during the pilot phase,” she says.

“We definitely want to continue using Annie, and we’re now exploring ways to make that happen.”