University's International Staff Services Provides Counselling and Help
The University is constantly striving towards internationalisation which is also important to take into account when organising the support services. One of the University’s new operations is the more determined production of international staff services.
Tarja Saksi (left), Eeva Schoultz, Satu Alanko, Petri Mäkinen and Heli Lankinen form the International Staff Services team.
– As a university, we want to actively recruit international researchers and to support the international mobility of our own researchers. The Human Resources has now strengthened the services that are related to international recruitments and researcher exchange making them more versatile at the same time, says Head of Human Resources Tom Riski.
The International Welcome Services concept was created to service the international research and teaching staff.
– We help all those who come to work with us with any questions they might have about arriving to the country and settling down. In addition, we offer more versatile counselling in employment-related matters than before for the units that are recruiting, says HR Specialist Eeva Schoultz.
The tasks of the International Staff Services do not only include the guidance of the incoming staff but also the facilitation of staff mobility.
–There are new services available for the researchers and teachers who are going abroad to work. The International Staff Services provides information and counselling, for example, on taxation, social security and insurance.
University-wide Network
The International Staff Services are part of the Human Services and the team includes five people. Team leader HR Specialist Eeva Schoultz and HR Coordinator Tarja Saksi work fulltime in the International Staff services. In addition to them, HR Planning Officer Petri Mäkinen, HR Planning Officer Heli Lankinen and Occupational Safety and Health Manager Satu Alanko are also part of the team.
– We do not produce the services alone – co-operation with the faculties and independent units is very important so that the everyday tasks run smoothly. We are able to convey the best practices and important information within the network that covers the whole University, says Schoultz.
Find out more about the International Staff Services
>> Webpages for arriving international staff and researchers
Text: Jussi Matikainen
Photo: Hanna Oksanen
Translation: Mari Ratia