Internationalisation programme and global networks

Agreements on internationalisation measures that are part of strategic funding have been concluded between higher education institutions and the Ministry of Education and Culture.

A total of EUR 185 million will be allocated to the internationalisation programme in 2021–2024. The programme is divided into Global pilot networks (EUR 55.6 million) and Talent Boost activities (EUR 129.2 million). 

Global networks funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture

Finnish higher education institutions are running eight global networks, which serve as a cooperation network for broader collaboration between the institutions. 

The networks are coordinated by Finnish higher education institutions, the goal being to create a cooperation network for Finnish institutions and their partner institutions abroad, as well as develop mutual cooperation in higher education and research, development and innovation.

The programme’s objective is to establish new connections that strengthen Finland’s higher education, competence brand and cooperation network worldwide. The goal is to attract and recruit international talent to Finland and set up research, development and innovation (RDI) projects to meet global needs.

Finnish higher education institutions are involved in networks linked to the programme that include participants from African countries, China, India and the US. These cooperation networks focus on education, RDI projects, food sciences, healthcare and wellbeing, sustainable development and higher education collaboration. The global programme also supports the higher education institutions’ own internationalisation efforts and the fulfillment of their strategic goals concerning quality.

Partner projects and networks:

The following partner projects and networks are underway in the global component of the internationalisation programme. The coordinating institutions can provide further information about the current global networks and the progress made in them.

1. Global Networks - Strengthening collaboration between Finnish Higher Education Institutions and partners in Africa, China, India, and the United States of America
2. Finland-Africa Platform for Innovation, FAPI (SDG 9) (University of Turku)
3. Finland-China Network in Food and Health Sciences  (University of Turku)
4. Finnish-American Research and Innovation Accelerator, FARIA (University of Helsinki and Aalto University)
5. Finnish and Southern African Higher Education Institutions Network for Health and Wellbeing, SAFINET (Tampere University)
6. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) partnership (Aalto University): FICORE Finnish Indian Consortia for Research and Education 
7. Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning, GINTL (University of Helsinki and University of Jyväskylä)
   - GINTL Africa (University of Helsinki)
   ​​​- GINTL China (University of Helsinki)
   - GINTL India (University of Jyväskylä)
8. China-Network of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (coordinated by the Haaga-Helia, Metropolia and Laurea universities of applied sciences)
9. EDUCase – Higher Education Platform for Global Sustainability (Aalto University)

Talent Boost

Talent Boost is a national action plan for increasing Finland's attractiveness and facilitating the entry of international talents into Finland and their integration afterwards. The programme also promotes the employment of international talents in positions that match their education and skills. Talent Boost contributes towards the objectives of tripling the number of foreign Bachelor's and Master's degree students to 15,000, and enabling 75 per cent of them to find employment in Finland and stay here after graduation.

With a broad range of participating organisations, Talent Boost combines policies for immigration, education and training, employment, business and RDI. The programme provides international talents with support for learning Finnish and Swedish, upskilling, recognising qualifications and finding employment. Talent Boost aims to make Finland an internationally attractive place to work and study, to bring together international talents and employers, and to enhance the international focus and development of Finnish companies and organisations. It also seeks to make the Finnish society a more welcoming place for immigrants and boost the ability of businesses to recruit international talent.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture coordinate the Talent Boost programme.

Learn more about Talent Boost 

SIMHE services

In higher education institutions, the Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland (SIMHE) services facilitate the recognition of prior learning of immigrants and persons of foreign origin with higher education.

For information about SIMHE, please visit the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.