Integrating international students into Finnish society: What HEI’s could and should do? Irma Garam CIMO Centre for International Mobility Metropolis conference 12.9.2013 Sep-18Sep-18

This presentation 1 Background: trends in international student flows in Finnish higher education institutions 2 Experiences of international students 3 Recommendations to Higher Education Institutions 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign degree students in Finnish HEI’s 2001-2012 (Statistics Finland) 9/4/2018

Foreign degree students in Finnish HEI’s in relation to overall number of students (Statistics Finland, Vipunen database) 9/4/20189/4/2018

Behind growing numbers. Why? National target to recruit more international students Strategy for the Internatinonalisation of Higher Education Institutions International students as part of the funding model for universities HEI’s developing English taught degree progragmmes HEI’s active (?) student recruitment from abroad Global student flows – students come even if not much is done Varied set of rationales in institutions and at national level: internationalisation of Finnish HE community; quality of Finnish HE; attractiveness and reputation of Finnish HE; competitiviness of Finnish economy/society; recruiting future doctoral students/researchers 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign Degree students by Field of Study (2011) (Statistics Finland) Foreign students Foreign graduates Number % of all in the field Humanities and education 1083 2,8 148 2,0 Culture 1080 4,2 173 4,0 Social Sciences, Business and Administration 4705 7,0 677 5,8 Natural Sciences 2001 6,7 298 7,4 Technology and Engineering 5720 7,6 726 7,1 Natural Resources and Environment 417 5,4 68 6,0 Social Services, Health and Sport 1764 3,3 278 2,6 Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services 857 9,3 101 6,5 Other 7 0,8 2 0,7 All together 17634 5,7 2471 4,8 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign Degree Students by level of study (2011) (Statistics Finland) Foreign students Foreign graduates Number % of all in the level Bachelor Degree (UAS) 8586 6,5 1037 4,9 Bachelor Degree (univ.) 945 1,0 111 0,8 Master's Degree (UAS) 288 3,9 54 3,6 Master's Degree (univ.) 4961 10,9 1011 8,0 Doctorate 2686 13,3 241 13,0 Other qualification 168 4,6 17 3,0 Total 17634 5,7 2471 4,8 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign degree students by home continent & nationality (2011) (Statistics Finland) Change % 2005-11 China 2129 47,4 Russia 2107 89,1 Nepal 976 1201,3 Nigeria 939 509,7 Vietnam 904 841,7 Estonia 773 -5,5 Pakistan 603 330,7 Bangladesh 591 351,1 India 557 229,6 Sweden 556 -1,9 Germany 525 62,5 Ethiopia 454 368,0 Iran 401 248,7 Kenya 388 42,6 Ghana 382 143,3 United States 312 50,0 Number % Change % 2005-2011 Europe (all) 6915 39,2 48,6 EU/EEA-countries 4251 24,1 33,1 Non EU/EEA-countries 2664 15,1 82,5 North America 432 2,4 52,7 Latin America and Caribbean 443 2,5 111,0 Africa 2882 16,3 154,8 Asia 6852 38,9 163,6 Oceania 61 0,3 45,2 Other/Unknown 49 36,1 Total 17634 100,0 96,9 9/4/20189/4/2018

Situation of foreign graduates (2010) one year after (2011) (Statistics Finland) Degrees 2010 Not in Finland, % Employed in Finland Studyinig in Finland, % In another situation in Finland, % Bachelor's Degree (UAS) 935 26,0 48,9 6,7 18,4 Bachelor's Degree (univ.) 108 14,8 49,1 25,0 11,1 Master's Degree (univ.) 871 36,9 40,6 4,7 17,8 Doctorate 202 37,6 43,6 0,5 18,3 Other 63 27,0 60,3 4,8 7,9 Total 2179 30,9 45,4 6,2 17,5 9/4/20189/4/2018

Situation of foreign graduates (2010) one year after (2011) (Statistics Finland) Degrees 2010 Not in Finland, % Employed in Finland Studyinig in Finland, % In another situation in Finland, % Humanities and Education 139 30,2 43,9 9,4 16,5 Culture 41,7 30,9 5,8 21,6 Social Sciences, Business and Administration 585 32,3 40,0 7,0 20,7 Natural Science 251 35,1 47,0 5,6 12,4 Technology and Engineering 711 28,4 47,1 6,5 18,0 Natural Resources and Environment 62 38,7 16,1 Social Seervices, health and Sport 232 23,3 63,8 2,2 10,8 Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services 60 26,7 45,0 6,7 21,7 Total 2179 45,4 6,2 17,5 9/4/20189/4/2018

Many international students wish to stay in Finland Student body in international degree programmes is varied: some are here just for the education, some want to find further employment But many wish to stay. International Student Barometer (ISB): 64 % of int. students find long term employment important criteria when choosing study place Taina Kinnunen (2003): international students in Finland 19% stays in Finland for sure 40% stays in Finland if good working/studying possibilities 21% don’t know yet 16% moves elsewere for sure 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign students’ satisfaction with learning environment ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign students’ satisfaction with student support ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010 9/4/20189/4/2018

Foreign students’ expectations for career services ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010 9/4/20189/4/2018

An Evaluation of International Degree Programmes (IDPs) in Finland Clarifying the rationale of the IDPs – Are they all really needed? Learning objectives of IDPs are similar to the objectives in Finnish programmes Follow up of students after graduation & developing alumni activities Developing services to international students should not be a separate process – integration in overall development of services The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council. Recommendations to HEI’s 9/4/20189/4/2018

An Evaluation of International Degree Programmes (IDPs) in Finland Int students need to learn more Finnish – does language matter? Cooperation between different IDPs, teachers and support services staff More responsibility in developing extra curricular activities Quality Board with internal and external stakeholders More introduction into Finnish culture and learning styles The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council. Recommendations to HEI’s 9/4/20189/4/2018

Some further points of discussion… Many facts are well known (e.g. need for Finnish language studies). Why nothing happens? Need for new and creative solutions. HEI’s should improve their labour market cooperation in general, not only in the case of international students Problems with attitudes and how to change them? (in institutions, in companies) Are all English taught programmes really needed? Are they in right fields of study? Cooperation between Finnish and international students and degree programmes Cooperation between different sectors of administration (Education, Interior, Employment). Who coordinates the big picture? 9/4/20189/4/2018

Thank you! 9/4/20189/4/2018