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Finland is stepping up efforts to make international experiences a natural part of higher education studies. Universities, universities of applied sciences and key education stakeholders have jointly drawn up eight new recommendations to strengthen student mobility and international competence.
Although mobility has been recovering since the pandemic, participation in long-term study abroad programmes remains below pre-2020 levels. The new guidelines aim to reverse this trend by expanding access to international learning opportunities and embedding them within all study programmes.
Aligned with the European Union’s Europe on the Move recommendation—which calls for at least 23% of higher education graduates to complete a period of international mobility—the initiative positions Finland as a frontrunner in advancing European cooperation in higher education. The Ministry of Education and Culture has identified mobility as one of its key development priorities. Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie emphasised that a study period abroad “opens doors to new communities and cultures and teaches skills needed in a changing world,” adding that such experiences build confidence, language ability, and adaptability, competencies essential in today’s working life.
To achieve these goals, the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) supports institutions by strengthening the shared data base on international mobility and by taking part in European initiatives for developing digital solutions.
Key points of the recommendations:
With these renewed commitments, Finland aims to make international mobility not just an opportunity for a few but a core element of every degree.
Read the full press release from the EDUFI and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture here and familiarise yourself with the action plan template.