The National Student Ambassador Initiative will be launched as a pilot during the academic year 2026–2027

A national student ambassador model based on peer-to-peer marketing and communication will be piloted in 2026. The aim of the model is to support higher education institutions in promoting mobility, while also providing students with accessible information and encouragement to participate in international mobility. Peer engagement helps make information more approachable, and personal stories highlight the impact and significance of mobility experiences. 

The initiative has been in development for several years, with higher education institutions closely involved throughout the process. During the ideation phase, surveys were conducted among institutions and student organisations, and feedback and suggestions gathered, for example, at the International Affairs Spring Days, have played a key role in shaping the model. 

The pilot was launched in spring 2026, attracting a total of 62 applications. From these, 10 student ambassadors were selected from across Finland, representing both universities of applied sciences and universities. The ambassadors bring a diverse range of linguistic backgrounds (Finnish, Swedish and English) as well as different mobility experiences, including both long- and short-term exchanges and traineeships abroad. Sustainable travel also emerged as a theme in the applications, and related experiences will be highlighted as part of the initiative. 

The ambassadors will take part in two training sessions: an online meeting in May and an in-person, full-day training in early autumn. The aim of the training is to equip the ambassadors with the necessary skills for their role, and the content has also been developed in collaboration with higher education institutions. 

The initiative will fully launch in autumn 2026, but the ambassadors can already be followed during the summer via the programme’s Instagram account.