Skills Centria – support with studies
Skills Centria is designed to support students in their studies while also offering low-threshold activities related to well-being and the fluency of studies. The activities are open to all students and are organized in both English and Finnish.
Special education teacher’s open workshops
The special education teacher will be there for you every Monday starting in September from 15 to 17 in the pink space on the first floor at the Kokkola campus (158). She offers advice, help and support for study assignments. If doing tasks at home doesn’t work, come to campus on Mondays to work — help is next door!
Support for study challenges and help with tasks can also be obtained remotely. The special education teacher will be on call on Zoom starting in September on Thursdays from 8 to 9.
Passcode: 885496
Both workshops run from the beginning of September until the end of May.
You can also contact the special teacher at any time and book an appointment in Kokkola or remotely on Teams. Päivi Ruohoniemi, tel. +358 50 5359690, paivi.ruohoniemi@centria.fi or specialteacher@centria.fi.
Maths and physics workshops in May
Are you falling behind in your studies and need help with your courses? Don’t worry, our spring workshop is designed just for you! For three weeks, we offer intensive support and guidance to help you complete your backlog of courses with flying colours.
The workshops will take place in classroom 152 or you can also participate via Zoom.
Register via this link by 2 May.
Teacher: Harri Kola, email harri.kola@centria.fi
Mon 5.5. at 10–14 (revising and exercises)
Tue 6.5. 10–14 (revising and exercises)
Thu 8.5. at 10.00 EXAM
Mon 12.5. at 10–14 (revising terms and problem solving)
Tue 13.5. 10–14 (revising terms and problem solving)
Fri 16.5. at 10.00 EXAM
Mon 19.5. at 10–14 (revising and exercises)
Tue 20.5. 10–14 (revising and exercises)
Fri 23.5. at 10.00 EXAM
Language and Communication support and workshops
Finnish Language and Communication support
Teacher: Hertta Erkkilä, email hertta.erkkila@centria.fi
The student receives guidance according to their own needs. You can participate in the meetings occasionally. The student can bring with them reports or essays they have written that the supervisor can comment on. The content is refined according to the learning objectives of the participants. This meetings also supports the written phase of the thesis process. The meetings are intended for everyone, both Finnish and international students.
You can attend a face-to-face meeting or online. Appointments are arranged through the online appointment system. The student sends an e-mail in advance about their participation and explains more about their learning goals. The teacher responds to the email and provides the student with a link through which he or she can book an appointment smoothly.
Puhutaan suomea! – Let’s Talk Finnish
Walk-in discussion group where we only speak Finnish. Everyone is welcome – whether you are a beginner or already know Finnish.
The discussion group gathers on Thursdays 6.3.–22.5.2025, 17.30–19.00 in classroom 131 on the Talonpojankatu Campus.
The discussion group is organized in cooperation with KOSEK and Inter Kokkola.
More information: Matthew Mendy / KOSEK (matthew.mendy@kosek.fi) or Sofia Behluli (sofia.behluli@centria.fi).
English language and communication support
Teacher: Karin Kallis, email karin.kallis@centria.fi
The student receives guidance according to their own needs. The aim is to strengthen your English language skills. You can participate in the meetings occasionally.
You can attend a face-to-face meeting or online. Appointments are arranged through the online appointment system. The student sends an e-mail to the teacher in advance about their participation and explains more about their learning goals. The teacher responds to the email and provides the student with a link through which he or she can book an appointment smoothly.
Mathematics workshops
Remote mathematics workshop
Do you need help with your maths homework? In the remote mathematics workshop, you can do your own assignments and get help if you are struggling with a task. You can attend the workshop when you need to and you do not need to register in advance.
Spring 2025
The workshop takes place 14.00–15.30 every time.
- 8.1.2025
- 15.1.2025
- 22.1.2025
- 29.1.2025
- 5.2.2025
- 12.2.2025
- 19.2.2025
- 26.2.2025
- 12.3.2025
- 19.3.2025
- 26.3.2025
- 2.4.2025
- 9.4.2025
- 16.4.2025
- 23.4.2025
Mathematics workshop on campus
Teacher: Harri Aarnio, email harri.aarnio@centria.fi
In the mathatics workshop, you will get help and advice with your maths problems. You can come whenever you need to. The workshop is aimed especially for engineering students, but students from other fields are also welcome.
Mathematics Workshop can be found found in Peppi, YY00AT61-3001 Matematiikan työpaja, but registration is not required.
Workshops spring 2025
- 15.1.2025 14.00–15.30, 153
- 21.1.2025 14.00–15.30, 254B
- 31.1.2025 14.00–15.30, 254A
- 4.2.2025 14.00–15.30, 258
- 13.2.2025 14.00–15.30, 086b
- 18.2.2025 8.15–9.45, 086b
- 4.3.2025 14.00–16.00, 253B
- 14.3.2025 14.00–16.00, 253A
- 18.3.2025 8.00–10.00, 253A
- 25.3.2025 8.00–10.00, 253A
- 1.4.2025 8.00–10.00, 254A
- 8.4.2025 8.00–10.00, 253A
- 15.4.2025 8.00–10.00, 254A
- 24.4.2025 14.00–16.00, 086b
Software support and workshops
IT workshop
Teacher: Panu Wirkkala, email: panu.wirkkala@centria.fi
In the IT Workshop, you can get help with all kinds of IT issues, for example using Microsoft Word or Excel,
printing in campus, uploading attachments to ItsLearning, etc. The information and communication technology teacher is available in ZOOM according to the timetable on Wednesdays.
Support with thesis
Students in the thesis phase can request support and guidance for their thesis primarily from the thesis advisor of their programme.
Start-up videos for the thesis process
Starting a thesis can seem challenging, but with the right instructions and attitude, it is possible! Here are some short videos to help you get started!
Thesis text workshop
Thesis workshop sessions are meant for those who have already started writing their thesis and who have noticed they want or need some more advice or support when it comes to text, language and layout. Please remember that you can also find self-study material from the Itslearning workspace called “Thesis”.
Thesis workshops will be held on Tuesdays from 3 pm to 4.30 pm. The meetings will be organised as online classes only. You can find the Zoom links from the Itslearning workspace as well.
Timetable
- 9.9.
- 7.10.
- 4.11.
- 9.12.
- 13.1.
- 10.2.
- 10.3.
- 7.4.
- 5.5.
Passcode: 849626
Thesis workshop
If you need help finding information for your thesis, come to the library’s workshop.
There you will be guided to information sources and you can also get help with the technical side of your thesis. No registration needed, just show up.
The workshops will be held this spring at the Centria Library in Kokkola:
- Thursday 13.2. from 13.00 to 15.00
- Thursday 13.3. from 13.00 to 15.00
- Thursday 3.4. from 13.00 to 15.00
- Wednesday 7.5. from 13.00 to 15.00
If you can’t make it to the workshop, you can also book an individual appointment.
Kokkola and Pietarsaari
Book an appointment using the online form: link to the form
Contact the information desk directly:
Tomi Virtanen, Tel. 040 808 6616
Ylivieska
Book an appointment using the online form: link to form
Or contact the information desk directly:
Hannele Myntti, Tel. 044 449 2611
Career and work-life services
Career and work-life services are a place for students to stop and consider their dreams, goals and competencies and what direction they want to take in their career path. In addition, we provide concrete guidance and advice on job search matters.
Career and work-life services regularly organize coaching and workshops that are open to everyone to support students’ job-searching capabilities, professional growth and career planning.
Wellbeing, everyday-life and studying skills
The FSHS responsibility areas are:
- to provide students with health and medical care services
- to promote students’ health and ability to study, and
- to promote the well-being of the study environment and student community
Assessing your care needs and making an appointment
By phone
General and mental health services tel. 046 710 1073
Oral health services tel. 046 710 1085
YTHS also organises regional and national remote wellbeing support groups. For more information on groups and other forms of support, visit the YTHS website Groups and virtual courses – FSHS (yths.fi).
We welcome suggestions for useful activities or study circles skillscentria@centria.fi.

Work-life workshops and coaching
Career and work-life services regularly organize coaching and workshops that are open to everyone to support students’ job search capabilities.