Adopted in NOM89, Helsinki 3.10.2026 

Geopolitical uncertainty emphasises the need for stronger international cooperation, mobility and shared identity. This cannot be built top-down only, but requires grassroots, mundane actions that affect everyday people outside the geopolitical stage. This is why student mobility and internationalisation play an important role in these conversations. This possibility to broaden their horizons and understand other cultures during studies can spur on innovation, the flow of ideas and a stronger, more united cross-border identity. 

Therefore, we as NOM (Nordiskt Ordförandemöte), who represent the higher education students within the Nordic and Baltic countries, want to make sure that internationalisation opportunities remain accessible for all students. This encompasses international student mobility and exchange, but also internships, employment and cross-border study possibilities. 

(1) Every student deserves the chance for international mobility

The Erasmus+ program is the bedrock of student exchange within the EU – the number of participants has been steadily rising in the Nordic-Baltic region. To make sure that supply can meet demand, there needs to be a sufficient number of exchange slots and funds allocated. The future of Erasmus is currently being negotiated and decided in the EU, so NOM calls for the Erasmus+ program to be well resourced and that a meaningful portion is earmarked for student exchange specifically. Additionally, we as NOM want the Faroe Islands to be a part of Erasmus+ to round off the Nordic-Baltic representation within the program. 

Governments have a central role in ensuring their country’s  students are able to internationalize during their studies. In many countries, governments have set ambitious goals to increase student mobility, but concrete means and resources have remained insufficient. Nordplus Higher Education Program increases collaboration between participating institutions via exchanges and sharing of good practices, and innovation. However, the Nordplus program is currently underutilised and little-known among students. We as NOM call for the Nordplus program to be adequately resourced and more actively marketed so that more students would be aware of the possibilities of the program.

Alongside these specific programs, governments hold a particular responsibility in making internationalisation accessible to all students. A major hurdle for students being able to participate is its potential financial toll. The risk of significant student debt, the relatively small grants and cost demanded to participate directly impact who is able to access these programs. Rising living costs, inflation and the lack of housing both in your home country and in your exchange country impact this greatly. Mobility and internationalisation belongs to everyone, which means critically examining and altering the factors that block this from happening. 

Higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Nordic-Baltic region have a responsibility to make exchange, mobility periods and international internships possible across all degree programs and that the credits gained during exchange are fully recognized in students’ degrees. HEI’s also are pivotal, along with student unions and organizations, in informing students of these possibilities, highlighting the positives of international periods and making it accessible to their students. 

(2) Increasing studying and employment within the Nordic-Baltic region 

Supporting mobility and internationalisation is not simply about exchange, so enabling and making it possible requires efforts in various fields. Internship and employment opportunities across the NOM region, flexible higher education studies between institutions across different countries and lowering bureaucratic hurdles such as streamlining bank account opening, obtaining personal identification numbers, and accessing social security are some key examples of this. These initiatives promote the goal of making the Nordic-Baltic region more interlinked and increasing cross-border cooperation. 

International internships and employment opportunities for students are along with exchange periods a central way that students are able to gain international experience. There are programs supporting internships between Nordic and Baltic countries, but as NOM we want them to be expanded. These programs help support youth employment across Nordic and Baltic countries, but often are only accessible to the citizens of said countries.  We as NOM are in favor of programs that support youth employment across borders, such as Nordjobb, and want similar programs to be implemented within the Nordic-Baltic region.  We as NOM are in favor of programs that support youth employment across borders, such as Nordjobb, and want similar programs to be implemented within the Nordic-Baltic region. 

To foster research and innovation, higher education studies should be more internationally interlinked across the Nordic-Baltic region. NOM supports the Nordic Youth Council’s (UNR) proposal (A 2052/UKK Committee proposal for a strengthened effort to increase student exchange between educational institutions and education stakeholders in the Nordic region, 22/6/2026) (A 2052/UKK Committee proposal for a strengthened effort to increase  student exchange between educational institutions and education stakeholders in the Nordic region, 22/6/2026) for a joint framework enabling students to complete flexible studies across Nordic institutions without exchange agreements, while urging that Baltic higher education institutions are fully included. Other ways of making our education systems interlinked – such as via standardizing university application methods across the region and expanding the languages in which studies can be completed – should be explored. 

(3) Nordic and Baltic countries as places for internationalisation

Nordic and Baltic countries benefit from receiving international exchange and degree students, and it is within our collective interest to make sure that the students that come here have clear pathways to participate in university life, gain employment and integrate. International and exchange students bring new perspectives into our classrooms, as well as ideas and innovation into our workplaces and society. It is vital that these students have access to good quality education, services and opportunities during their studies, including access to housing and health services. 

International degree students may need different types of services from our HEI’s compared to non-international students, and it is important that HEIs  map out these needs and resources adequately. This can include language skills and language learning resources, specific support in career services, and networking with the HEI community. Additionally, practices that unfairly target our international students (such as different rules of attendance) cannot be implemented. HEI’s also have a responsibility to market their universities ethically, making sure that the marketing agencies and/or agents utilized offer an accurate description of the studies and living conditions within the country, and that their practices or agents utilized do not financially exploit students. It is also important that there are clear avenues for international students to participate in university-democracy as well as student social life, and that there is flexibility in the languages used to ensure the possibility to participate. Restrictive immigration policies, such as limiting family reunification, need to be pulled back. There also need to be clear and feasible pathways for international students to make the transition from student into working life. This requires efforts from HEIs, governments, municipalities and employers. 

Internationalisation cannot be examined without contending with the larger geopolitical trends related to it. Conflict around the world displaces students and disrupts their access to learning. These students can be supported through our HEI’s or by implementing programs to make higher education accessible to these students, such as via Students at Risk programs. Many of our international students face more hostile environments in our countries, with anti-immigration sentiments on the rise. This is why in order to strive for a more interconnected world, it is necessary that students champion for a more inclusive and international society within their higher education institutions, student life and society. 

Conclusion

Internationalisation and mobility have not lost their importance within an increasingly interconnected world – rather, their role in creating connection and a shared identity has become even more important. That is why we as NOM want to urge the Nordic Council, the NB8 cooperation structures, Nordic and Baltic governments, as well as higher education institutions to actively support and invest in internationalisation. 

In our view, this can be done via: 

• Prioritizing internationalisation in HEI’s and making exchange, international internships or other forms of internationalisation accessible to all students. 
• Dismantling everyday bureaucracy, such as obstacles related to bank accounts and personal identification numbers.
• Increased funding for the Erasmus+ program to meet the growing demand, and ensuring that a significant portion of the funds is directed towards student mobility. Faroe Islands should also be a part of Erasmus+. 
• Increasing awareness and support for the underutilised Nordplus program.
• Creating possibilities to intern, work and study between Nordic and Baltic countries. 
• Securing the position of international students within our HEIs and countries. 
• HEI’s implementing strong ethical guidelines on their marketing practices. 
• Supporting programs such as Students at Risk to protect the ability of students coming from conflict zones to continue their studies. 

Joint statement signed by the members of NOM: Finland (SAMOK and SYL), National Unions of Students of Denmark (DSF), Faroe Islands (MFS), Iceland (LÍS), Norway (NSO), Greenland (ILI ILI and AVALAK), Sweden (SFS), Estonia (EÜL), Latvia (LSA) and Lithuania (LSS).