From graduation to employment - University of Turku supports the journey of international talents

12.03.2025

International graduates bring valuable expertise and fresh perspectives to Finnish society, but many face challenges in finding jobs that match their skills. The University of Turku is actively working to bridge this gap to help international talents to stay and succeed in Finland.

Finland attracts many talented students from around the world, but retaining them after graduation continues to be a challenge. The employment rate of international graduates remains lower than that of students from Finland, leading many to seek opportunities elsewhere. The loss of highly educated, motivated graduates is a missed opportunity for both Finnish workplaces and society.

To address this challenge, the University of Turku is committed to enhancing its support services and activities, with a focus on topics such as Finnish language learning, career networking, and practical guidance for international students. The goal is for international graduates to be able to apply and be recruited for jobs that match their skills and expertise before or immediately after graduation.

The Talent Boost Network of the University of Turku brings together representatives from different services and units, all committed to supporting international talents in settling, developing their skills, and finding employment in Finland. Open to all members of the University community, the Network promotes sharing of ideas and best practices.

UTU Talent Boost Network brings together University community members from different services and units

Supporting international talent calls for collaboration and communication

At the March 2025 meeting of the Talent Boost Network, discussions centred on the employment of international talents, highlighting the challenges they face and the initiatives already in place to address these issues. In addition to University staff, representatives from student organisations and doctoral researcher associations were also invited to attend the meeting.

In the opening remarks of the Network meeting, Vice Rector Maija S. Peltola emphasised that creating an environment where international talents feel comfortable and valued is ultimately in everyone's best interest. To effectively support and integrate international talents, multidisciplinary collaboration is essential—across faculties, units, services, student organisations, and external stakeholders.

Vice Rector Peltola at a podium speaking to an audience

Vice Rector Maija S. Peltola emphasised the importance of collaboration and communication.

Vice Rector Peltola stressed that initiatives such as internships, mentoring, and fostering personal connections are all important in making international talents feel at home. Ultimately, it is the people who make the difference, and being open to collaboration is key to success. Key services such as language support, cultural training, and recruitment play a crucial role, but they cannot succeed in isolation. Effective communication is needed to raise awareness both within the University and society at large about the value and necessity of international talent.

Addressing challenges and exploring solutions

In addition to the Vice Rector’s remarks, the Network event featured presentations on the employment situation of international talents in Finland. Commentary presentations from the Student Union TYY, student organisation Hybridi and doctoral researchers' associations DocSoBe, Docturne and JUNecto addressed the participation of international talents in university activities and as well as their employment prospects.

Aada Aho and Anton Pohjola discussed the role of international students as part of the Student Union of the University of Turku.

Mila Santala and Arttu Korkeaniemi presented the perspectives of the doctoral researchers' associations.

The discussions following the presentations highlighted that international graduates need and benefit from additional support during their studies, especially when it comes to learning the Finnish language and building professional contacts and skills.

While the challenges facing international graduates were clearly acknowledged, the participants expressed enthusiasm for exchanging ideas and exploring new ways to improve the situation. Many valuable initiatives are already in place, but as the participants noted, change takes time and effort. The collective dedication to continuous improvement ensures that the support for international talent will grow stronger in the future. One good example of this is the new UNICOM+ project which is a collaborative effort in Southwest Finland aimed at promoting the placement of international talents in the Finnish labour market.

The UTU Talent Boost Network event was part of the UNICOM+ Uniting Companies, Employers and International University Talents project (2025-2027) co-financed by the European Union.