17 Recommendations for Making Higher Education and Research More Internationally Oriented

Ministry of Education and Culture
Publication date 11.2.2020 12.54 | Published in English on 2.9.2020 at 11.48
News item
Teemu Kokko luovutti kv-ryhmän puolesta raportin ministeri Kososelle

The policies to promote internationalisation in Finnish higher education and research (2017–2025) are now in the implementation phase. In the context of monitoring and development, the report ‘Better together for a better world - Policies to promote internationalisation in Finnish higher education and research 2017–2025’ was submitted on 11 February 2020 to Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen.

Reaching a more internationally oriented position in Finnish higher education and research aims to boost the quality of Finnish higher education and research and to gain a globally acknowledged pioneering position by 2025. The Ministry of Education and Culture set up the Forum for International Policies in Higher Education and Research for a two-year mandate in 2018 to monitor and promote the implementation of the policies.

The report by the Forum gives 17 recommendations for safeguarding that the policies to reach a more internationally oriented position in higher education and research are put into action. The recommendations apply to country image communications, alumni activities, questions related to entry and stay in the country, more robust education and science diplomacy as well as global responsibility and sustainable development.

Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen points out that when advocating Finnish expertise, we should highlight higher education, research and innovations. These are all areas in which higher education institutions play a key role. 

- We do not always remember to mention that Finland is among the leading countries in higher education and has one of the highest levels of cooperation between higher education and business life,” Minister Kosonen says.

There are proposals in the international policies to encourage different stakeholders to cooperate to make the processes related to studying and working in Finland smoother.  People coming to Finland to study and experts in different fields should be made to feel welcome. The aim is that coming to Finland to study and work would be easy. According to the Forum, this aim can be further enhanced by means of both horizontal programmes and processes and those of the Ministry, such as the “Talent Boost” programme. 

- We need international talent in Finland. The Government has already made decisions on easing permit procedures for international students. We must be able to keep talent in Finland after graduation and offer foreign researchers inspiring research opportunities, says Minister Kosonen.

Experts from various networks and organisations of Finnish higher education have participated in the activities of the Forum. Previously, they have not had a channel for discussion on ways to make Finnish higher education and research more internationally oriented. The aim of the Forum is to bring different parties together to discuss together ways to achieve a more internationally oriented position in Finnish higher education and research.
Hanna Kosonen Higher education and research Research