The audience had a lot of questions for the speakers.

Finnish universities are international

The number of foreign researchers among early-career researchers in Finland has doubled in the past 10 years. In 2018, almost 30 % of all completed doctoral degrees in Finland were completed by non-Finnish researchers.

The FUURT International Week took place on 21–25 October. The events of the week started in Turku and culminated in the International University seminar held at Aalto University on 25 October. The recipient of the 2019 Academic of the Year award was announced at the start of the seminar. Researcher Nafisa Yeasmin received FUURT’s Academic of the Year award. (See Acatiimi 7/2019)

In Aalto University the number of non-Finnish doctoral students is over 800, told Ossi Naukkarinen.

Guest speakers such as Ossi Naukkarinen (Vice President of the Aalto University), Olli-Poika Parviainen (State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior) and Tiina Hanhike (Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment) were present in the seminar to discuss the position of international researchers in Finland.

Ossi Naukkarinen told that Aalto University has a clear internationally known predictable academic career system, where also more junior researchers can compete. There are over 113 nationalities present in Aalto University. The number of non-Finnish doctoral students is over 800.

Shop Steward Stina Giesecke (Aalto) and Chief Shop Steward Antero Puhakka (UEF) spoke about the various problems many international researchers face in Finnish universities. The audience had many questions.

Many speakers emphasized that non-Finnish researchers and their families need support for integration and job searching so that Finland doesn’t lose potential high-skilled labour elsewhere.

---