Internationality

Why internationalise?

• We live in a multicultural world
• Multicultural study community
• Need for international experts in the workforce – multicultural work community, team members operating around the globe
• Changes in the operating environment and new types of expertise needs
• Objective of the European Commission: promoting international mobility and competence during studies to promote European labour mobility
• The funding model of universities of applied sciences does not contain indicators that are directly related to internationalisation, but that does not eliminate the need for international competence and its development during (and after) studies.
  • Some applicants choose their higher education institution based on the opportunities for internationalisation.

International competence in employment

A report by CIMO and think tank Demos Helsinki published in 2015, titled Hidden Competences, revealed that although many employers do not necessarily consider international experience an important recruitment criterion, they appreciate the capabilities that they consider to be produced by international experience.

Employers need new international experts to solve problems that arise as global megatrends change companies’ operating environments.

For future success, it is important that both employers and students learn to recognise and highlight their hidden competence potential.

Forms of internationalisation

• Development of international competence abroad (internationalisation)
• Development of internationalisation competence in Finland (domestic internationalisation)
• Linguistic competence
• Cultural/multicultural competence
• Substance competence

Methods of internationalisation

• Active and passive development of competence by studying at a foreign higher education institution
  • Study opportunities for special competence offered at a foreign higher education institution
  • Development in an individual field of expertise, study offering of a foreign higher education institution
  • Development of language proficiency – English, language of the target country, other languages
  • Development of cultural/multicultural competence – culture of the target country, customs of different cultures
  • Using Double Degree opportunities
• Practical training abroad in a foreign/international company/organisation
  • Development of professional competence in one’s field
  • Learning about foreign work culture, learning new habits
  • Working in multicultural work communities/teams
• Study tours, intensive courses, Summer Schools, etc.
• Physical, Virtual and Blended Mobility
• Green Mobility increases environmental awareness of mobility and encourages more sustainable internationalisation
• EUDRES cooperation

Methods of domestic internationalisation

• Degree programmes in English
• Courses in English
• Summer School, intensive courses etc.
• Language and cultural studies
• Lectures by foreign/international experts
• Shared courses (Physical, Virtual and Blended Mobility)
• Practical training at international companies and multicultural teams
• Participating in international projects
• Networking with foreign students, such as group work, leisure activities, Learning Cafe, Each One Teach One etc.
• Tutoring foreign students
• Participating in JAMKO activities

Curriculum

Flexible study path and individual degree

The curriculum has to include different options for internationalisation and the development of international competence. The curriculum cannot be “too strict” to give opportunities for accumulating international competence.

A motivating atmosphere, encouragement, support and guidance for opportunities of internationalisation are important, as are the opportunities for personal growth in interaction, communication skills, social skills and cooperation skills.

Changes in the labour market and the need for different kinds of experts must be taken into account when drawing up curricula now and in the future. An individual degree is a competitive advantage in the labour market.

“International experiences generate new kinds of competence that Finnish employers appreciate.”

Nina Björn 10.2.2022