SYL and SAMOK require the Government, employers and higher education communities to take measures to promote the integration of international students into Finland. The situation is alarming, as about half of international students studying in Finland have experienced challenges in their integration into Finland. This is revealed in a study commissioned by the organisations entitled ‘At What Cost – Being an international student in Finland’, the results of which were published on 13 February 2020.
“The results of the study strengthen our view that we have failed to integrate international students into our society in Finland. The good reputation of the Finnish education system, safety and the functioning of society attract people to seek and stay in Finland, but the difficulties in income and employment make it challenging in the real world. In addition, the tightening of the Aliens Act and the 3/6-month rule in particular are likely to drive recent graduates out of Finland,” reflects Anselmi Auramo, Chairman of SYL on the results of the study.
In the future, a decision has been made to charge international students tuition fees covering the costs of organising education. This will both increase the prices of tuition fees and reduce the possibilities for higher education institutions to provide grants to students. SYL and SAMOK see that the direction is wrong. According to the study, 4/5 of those paying tuition fees would not be prepared to pay higher tuition fees. It is likely that the number of international students arriving in Finland will drop as a result of raising the fees when the students’ ability and willingness to pay reach their limits.
SAMOK and SYL propose that the financial burden of students be alleviated, for example, by reducing the student’s income requirement to obtain a residence permit and by developing grant systems to be as open and comprehensive as possible. The employment of students should be promoted by supporting employers in hiring international talents and by offering students opportunities to create contacts with working life at higher education institutions. In addition, opportunities for studying Finnish languages in working life should be improved and the requirement of Finnish languages in workplaces should be reassessed.
“We should focus on employment and reducing the financial burden, especially now that the Government is making the tuition fees of students to fully cover the costs. We are really worried about the deterioration of Finland’s attractiveness in the eyes of international students, which is why we are challenging the Government, employers and higher education institutions to participate in this joint project to improve the situation,” summarises Julia Väänänen, Chairman of SAMOK.
Read more about the study publication and the proposals for measures by organisations here.
Further information:
Saku Pesonen
SYL International Affairs and EU Advocacy Adviser
+358 40 017 4913
saku.pesonen@syl.fi
Roosa Veijola
SAMOK’s EU Policy and International Affairs Advisor
+358 50 389 1012
roosa.veijola@samok.fi
