The University of Eastern Finland has launched a training programme designed to support international students in settling in Eastern Finland even before they move to Finland. The aim is to make it easier for students and their families to feel at home in the region and to increase the chances that they will stay in Eastern Finland after graduation.
The pilot includes students selected for the international business and health sciences degree programmes at the Kuopio campus. The goal is to expand the training to all international degree programmes at the University of Eastern Finland next year.
The training includes studies in the Finnish language, Finnish society and working life. Students can begin learning Finnish already in their country of departure through a self-paced online Finnish as a second language course. In addition, they are offered an online course that helps them get started with Finnish working life, internships and job seeking. During open Teams sessions, students can ask a university expert about practical matters.
The training also takes into account the families moving with the students. Families are offered information on topics such as early childhood education, schooling and other practical matters related to settling into everyday life.
According to Miia Maaninen, Service Counsellor for International Affairs at the University of Eastern Finland, the goal is to improve the settling-in experience of international students and increase their chances of staying in Eastern Finland after graduation.
The country-of-departure training is part of the Stay with us service pilot run by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. In addition to the University of Eastern Finland, the pilot involves Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences.