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

2. 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
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3. Foreign degree students in Finnish HEI’s 2001-2012
(Statistics Finland)
9/4/2018

4. Foreign degree students in Finnish HEI’s in relation to overall number of students (Statistics Finland, Vipunen database)
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. Foreign degree students by home continent & nationality (2011) (Statistics Finland)
Change %
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 %
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
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. Foreign students’ satisfaction with learning environment
ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010
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13. Foreign students’ satisfaction with student support
ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010
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14. Foreign students’ expectations for career services
ISB (International Student Barometer) 2010
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15. 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

16. 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
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17. 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?
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18. Thank you!
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