Press release
20.10.2025

New recommendations to boost student mobility in higher education

Current issues Higher education Erasmus+ Erasmus+ for higher education International traineeship Nordplus Higher Education Nordplus Programme International mobility Internationalisation
Finnish higher education institutions, together with higher education stakeholders, have prepared a set of recommendations to increase international mobility. The recommendations apply in particular to mobility periods abroad that are part of higher education degrees and qualifications. Clear targets for increasing student mobility will be set both at the national and institution level.
Kuva, jossa kaksi nuorta istuu vierekkäisissä nojatuoleissa sisätiloissa. Toinen lukee kirjaa ja toinen käyttää kannettavaa kannettavaa tietokonetta.
Photo: Negin Aladdin

Press release by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education

Since autumn 2024, the working group for the development of operational preconditions for European higher education cooperation, led by the Ministry of Education and Culture, has analysed trends in the development of European higher education and identified development needs from the perspective of Finnish higher education institutions.

One of the key development needs identified is student mobility in higher education. According to a recent Council of the European Union recommendation, Europe on the Move, at least 23% of higher education graduates should have a learning mobility experience abroad as part of their studies.

International competence is an essential part of working life skills and should be included in every degree and qualification. While international student mobility has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, participation especially in long student exchanges continues to decrease. However, there have also been some positive developments in individual higher education institutions. 

– Completing a study unit abroad opens doors to new communities and cultures, and teaches you skills that are needed in a changing world. Studying abroad builds courage, language skills and the ability to operate in different environments. These are also important skills in working life, says Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie.

The recommendations emphasise the importance of setting targets and monitoring progress

Identifying challenges and solutions together with higher education institutions, the working group has prepared eight recommendations to increase the international competence and mobility of higher education students.

The recommendations set out key objectives for increasing mobility. The promotion of the objectives is supported by an operational programme that assigns responsibilities for achieving the objectives to both higher education institutions and national actors. The Finnish National Agency for Education will support the internationalisation measures of higher education institutions by further strengthening the common knowledge base on international student mobility.

The working group recommends setting clear targets to promote student mobility and monitoring their progress by field of education. Higher education institutions should employ a variety of means to achieve their targets and communicate the importance of internationalisation. Management and staff should commit to promoting mobility. Funding should be secured through Erasmus+, exchange programmes and higher education institutions' own resources. 

Enquiries

  • Director Jonna Korhonen, Department for Higher Education and Science Policy, Ministry of Education and Culture, jonna.korhonen [at] gov.fi, +358 295 330 008
  • Head of Unit Maija Airas, International Higher Education Cooperation, Finnish National Agency for Education, maija.airas [at] oph.fi, +358 295 338 588
     
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