Language skills, tolerance and cultural know-how have traditionally been seen as competences acquired through international experiences. In a wider sense, hidden international competences can also include productivity, curiosity and tenacity.

Hidden Competences is a research project carried out in cooperation with the Nordic think tank Demos Helsinki. The Hidden Competences report was published based on the results of a survey carried out in the project, after which the Recognise Your International Competences tools and materials were developed on the basis of the report.

The key finding of the research project was that while employers do not emphasize international experience as a significant recruitment criterion, they still value the competences developed by international experiences.

While language skills, cultural knowledge and tolerance have often been understood to be typical international competences, three new factors emerged through this research work. The extended understanding of international competences also encompasses productivity, resilience and curiosity.

The report states that working life needs new kinds of internationally skilled professionals to solve the problems that arise as global megatrends change the business.

For future success, it is important that both working life and the students themselves learn to recognize and bring out their hidden potential.

Further information: Sari Turunen-Zwiger, tel. +358 29 533 8617, sari.turunen-zwinger[at]oph.fi

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The Recognise Your International Competences series can be utilized in teaching and guidance situations at different levels of education. The slide set is based on various reflection and group tasks and can be used to present the desired content areas according to the need and target group of the presenter. The content areas are: Global working life, What is internationality, and Own international competence. The slide series has been designed and implemented by guidance counsellor Satu Syyrakki and supervisor Miika Kekki.

For instructors, counsellors, teachers at different levels of education or working with young people:

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Toolkits for recognizing international competence to help you in finding jobs. Material for young people and students has been inspired and implemented by Anna Martela, Pinja Parkkonen and Tuire Vataja.

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