SIMHE webinar explored the importance of Finnish and Swedish proficiency for highly educated immigrants

Internationalisation Higher education Internationalisation Integration Equality and engagement Working life cooperation

The SIMHE webinar on language awareness in higher education and the world of work, which was organised by the Finnish National Agency for Education in the spring of 2024, included a panel discussion that provided an overview of the challenges and solutions relating to highly educated immigrants’ Finnish and Swedish skills.

Yhteiskuva panelisteista ja paneelin moderaattorista Opetushallituksen luentosalissa.

Photo: Outi Tomperi, Opetushallitus

Johanna Komppa, Senior University Lecturer, University of Helsinki; Maija Tervola, University Lecturer, University of Tampere; Kia Lundqvist, International Affairs Officer, University of Turku; and Päivi Vartiainen, Senior Specialist, TAMK

Päivi Vartiainen, Senior Specialist at Tampere University of Applied Sciences, chaired the panel discussion on this topical theme. The panellists brought the viewpoints of both research and development to bear on the discussion. Senior University Lecturer Johanna Komppa from the University of Helsinki highlighted the need to strengthen multilingualism and language awareness in work organisations. University Lecturer Maija Tervola from the University of Tampere stressed that higher education institutions must provide sufficient support for their students’ language proficiency development, while those receiving immigrants in the world of work should be able to simplify language use appropriately. Kia Lundqvist, International Affairs Officer at the University of Turku, brought up the perspective of multilingualism and the need for more opportunities to practise speaking Finnish or Swedish.

Inadequate Finnish and Swedish proficiency, which hampers immigrants’ access to the world of work, was brought up as a challenge. The panellists emphasised the need to develop systematic solutions to this problem. The panel also proposed concrete solutions, including the wider introduction of personal study plans for languages as a tool, which would help students to perceive their personal needs for language skills and to consider their employment prospects and whether or not they would like to settle in Finland right at the beginning of their studies.

Different viewpoints on how language proficiency affects immigrants’ integration into society and the world of work came up in the discussion. In general, the need to make society more welcoming was also stressed. Employers' and work organisations' role in and responsibility for developing language proficiency were also highlighted. The long-term effort required to learn a language and the need for versatile support that addresses different needs were some of the important points brought up in the discussion.

The discussion advanced understanding of how language proficiency affects the lives of highly educated immigrants in Finland. The panel brought up the need for comprehensive solutions that take into account the structures of the education system, work organisations’ capabilities for supporting immigrants in developing their language proficiency and, in general, the responsibilities of different parties for creating possibilities for learning language skills.

The objective of the SIMHE services (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland) is to streamline the identification and recognition of the prior learning of highly educated immigrants and those with a foreign background as well as to facilitate their access to higher education, completion of degrees and employment in the Finnish labour market at the national and regional levels.