The barriers in the employment of international students in Vaasa
Anttila, Veera (2022)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022032825692
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2022032825692
Tiivistelmä
The Finnish labor market will see a deficiency in the labor force in near future: a gap that could be filled with skilled international talents. However, studies indicate that international degree students trained at Finnish universities, many of whom would like to stay in Finland after graduation, are forced to move out due to employment difficulties. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that influence the employment of international students in Vaasa and what could be done to overcome these barriers to improve the employment prospects of foreign students. The research was carried out as a qualitative study by interviewing five individuals in Vaasa that fulfilled the status of an international student.
The most significant barriers international students in Vaasa experience are related to language and work experience. Cultural barriers appear prominent especially for students coming from outside Europe and cultures far apart from the Finnish culture. Challenges regarding networking and job search skills were also significant for some respondents. Discrimination is proven to hamper employment from students, which can be evaluated to be employers’ unwillingness to recruit foreign students. To overcome these barriers, cooperation between higher education institutions and employers in Vaasa need to be increased. Together they should create a supportive community for the career development of international students. University curriculums need to be altered to serve the needs of international students to support their learning and integration. To alleviate discrimination and overcome the underlying attitudes and lack of receptivity from employers in Vaasa, requires changing attitudes towards hiring international students as well as establishing more practices that include diversity and inclusion whilst also lowering requirements for foreign students. Vaasa needs consider these development practices not only for the sake of international student retention but also to prevent them from relocating to other cities in Finland in the pursuit of better possibilities. The Finnish labor market will see a deficiency in the labor force in near future: a gap that could be filled with skilled international talents. However, studies indicate that international degree students trained at Finnish universities, many of whom would like to stay in Finland after graduation, are forced to move out due to employment difficulties. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that influence the employment of international students in Vaasa and what could be done to overcome these barriers to improve the employment prospects of foreign students. The research was carried out as a qualitative study by interviewing five individuals in Vaasa that fulfilled the status of an international student.
The most significant barriers international students in Vaasa experience are related to language and work experience. Cultural barriers appear prominent especially for students coming from outside Europe and cultures far apart from the Finnish culture. Challenges regarding networking and job search skills were also significant for some respondents. Discrimination is proven to hamper employment from students, which can be evaluated to be employers’ unwillingness to recruit foreign students. To overcome these barriers, cooperation between higher education institutions and employers in Vaasa need to be increased. Together they should create a supportive community for the career development of international students. University curriculums need to be altered to serve the needs of international students to support their learning and integration. To alleviate discrimination and overcome the underlying attitudes and lack of receptivity from employers in Vaasa, requires changing attitudes towards hiring international students as well as establishing more practices that include diversity and inclusion whilst also lowering requirements for foreign students. Vaasa needs consider these development practices not only for the sake of international student retention but also to prevent them from relocating to other cities in Finland in the pursuit of better possibilities.
The most significant barriers international students in Vaasa experience are related to language and work experience. Cultural barriers appear prominent especially for students coming from outside Europe and cultures far apart from the Finnish culture. Challenges regarding networking and job search skills were also significant for some respondents. Discrimination is proven to hamper employment from students, which can be evaluated to be employers’ unwillingness to recruit foreign students. To overcome these barriers, cooperation between higher education institutions and employers in Vaasa need to be increased. Together they should create a supportive community for the career development of international students. University curriculums need to be altered to serve the needs of international students to support their learning and integration. To alleviate discrimination and overcome the underlying attitudes and lack of receptivity from employers in Vaasa, requires changing attitudes towards hiring international students as well as establishing more practices that include diversity and inclusion whilst also lowering requirements for foreign students. Vaasa needs consider these development practices not only for the sake of international student retention but also to prevent them from relocating to other cities in Finland in the pursuit of better possibilities.
The most significant barriers international students in Vaasa experience are related to language and work experience. Cultural barriers appear prominent especially for students coming from outside Europe and cultures far apart from the Finnish culture. Challenges regarding networking and job search skills were also significant for some respondents. Discrimination is proven to hamper employment from students, which can be evaluated to be employers’ unwillingness to recruit foreign students. To overcome these barriers, cooperation between higher education institutions and employers in Vaasa need to be increased. Together they should create a supportive community for the career development of international students. University curriculums need to be altered to serve the needs of international students to support their learning and integration. To alleviate discrimination and overcome the underlying attitudes and lack of receptivity from employers in Vaasa, requires changing attitudes towards hiring international students as well as establishing more practices that include diversity and inclusion whilst also lowering requirements for foreign students. Vaasa needs consider these development practices not only for the sake of international student retention but also to prevent them from relocating to other cities in Finland in the pursuit of better possibilities.