The mission of the UNICOM+ project is to help international university talents build their lives in Finland, and to help employers find the right talent to thrive in their businesses. This is done by accelerating the access of international talents to labour market and supporting business creation.
International university talents face greater challenges in integrating into working life in Finland compared to their domestic peers. To address this problem, the UNICOM+ provides services that facilitate connections between international university students, early career researchers and employers in a way that supports employment in an existing company or an organisation, as well as in starting a business. In doing so, the project addresses the current and future deepening needs of skilled workforce in South-West Finland.
UNICOM+ is coordinated by the University of Turku and implemented jointly with Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences. The participating universities develop, pilot and integrate new university career and work-life services in close collaboration with companies and public employment and entrepreneurship support services thereby creating better and easier services paths from higher education to employment.
UNICOM+ is co-funded by the European Union. It is a continuation of the Uniting Companies and International University Talents (UNICOM 2021-2023) initiative, also funded by the European Social Fund.
UNICOM+ for International Talents
The target groups of the work package 1 (WP1) are international and domestic basic degree students at the University of Turku and the Turku University of Applied Sciences as well as companies in South-West Finland.
Activities of WP1 are focused on facilitating the employment of international basic degree students into existing companies and organisations. In order to achieve this, we develop new services and operating models and pilot them together with students and companies. Finally, we integrate the new services as part of the universities' career services.
Opportunities for students include the following:
Student Forum for international students
In the Student Forum, international students can share their needs and expectations regarding employment and work-life services at the university. The Student Forum fosters dialogue between students and university services and helps to develop better services.
- Student Forum of The University of Turku:
- Student Forum of Turku University of Applied Sciences
Thesis Fair for Master’s Degree Students
The Thesis Fair provides an opportunity for master’s degree students to connect with companies and other organisations, when they are seeking thesis or final project placements. In the event, companies present their operations, showcase available thesis opportunities, and engage with students eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects.
- Thesis Fair at the University of Turku - next Thesis Fair in spring 2027!
- Thesis Fair at Turku University of Applied Sciences - next Thesis fair in autumn 2026!
Company visits for students and recent graduates
Company visits are half-day visits to companies and organisations in the Turku region. They are designed to offer students and recent graduates an opportunity to learn about potential employer organisations and their operations. Goal of the visit is not to be recruited to the company, but instead, to get to know the local labour market.
- Company visits organised by the University of Turku
- Networking for career organised by Turku University of Applied Sciences
Cultural Working Life Skills Training for international and domestic students
This training is designed to support the integration of international students into the society and working life, as well as support their networking with Finnish and Swedish speaking university students.
- Training at the University of Turku
- Training at Turku University of Applied Sciences
For more information of activities in the WP1, please contact:
- Lotta Metsärinne, lotta.metsarinne@utu.fi, University of Turku
- Lucia Vuillermin, lucia.vuillermin@turkuamk.fi, Turku University of Applied Sciences
The target groups of work package 2 (WP2) are international and domestic basic degree university students, early career researchers and work-life experts at the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences in Turku as well as companies in the South-West Finland.
Activities in WP2 are focused on accelerating entrepreneurship and business creation among international basic degree students and early career researchers. In order to achieve this, we develop new services and operating models and pilot them together with the target groups. Finally, we integrate the new services as part of the universities' entrepreneurship services.
Opportunities for international students and early-career researchers:
Entrepreneurship Workshops to support business creation
Entrepreneurship workshops provide specialised topics for individuals, who are interested in starting a business. Topics include, for example, ideation, customer validation, IPR, commercialization strategy, business planning, pitching). Short workshops run throughout the year and they are open both to students and early career researchers.
- Workshops organised by the University of Turku
- Workshops organised by Turku University of Applied Sciences
Research to Impact: Morning Meetups for Academic Innovators
Are you a researcher at the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences curious about the world outside academia? Whether you are exploring entrepreneurship, looking to communicate your research better, or searching for ways to fund your big ideas, this event series is built for you. Join us on four Friday mornings for research to impact - a low-pressure, high-energy breakfast series designed to help researchers connect, learn, and exchange ideas across faculties!
Entrepreneurial Stories Events
In the Entrepreneurial Stories Events, local entrepreneurs share their journeys and insights. Events are open to anybody interested.
- Events at the Entrepreneurial Hub Konttori (University of Turku)
- Events at Turku University of Applied Sciences
Mentoring for International students and researchers
Mentoring is open to all students and early career researchers at the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences. Mentoring offers practical guidance, individuals and a sparring partner to take steps towards entrepreneurship in Finland.
- Sign up for the mentoring here!
- Previous mentoring round was organised together with Mentoring by Boost Her
For more information of all the above, please contact:
- Antti Nuutinen, antti.nuutinen@utu.fi, University of Turku
- Maria Ljung, Maria.Ljung@abo.fi, Åbo Akademi University
- Ritva Hyttinen, Ritva.Hyttinen@turkuamk.fi, Turku University of Applied Sciences
The target groups of work package 3 (WP3) are early career researchers (international and domestic) and dissertation supervisors at the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University as well as companies and other organisations in South-West Finland.
Activities in WP3 are focused on accelerating the employment of international early career researchers into existing companies and organisations in order to speed up innovation and development activities in Finland. In order to achieve this, we develop new services and operating models and pilot them together with the target groups. Finally, the new services are integrated as part of the universities' doctoral education and guidance services.
Opportunities for early career researchers include:
Work placements in companies and other organisations
Work placement are designed to provide early-career researchers work experience outside the academia. Work placements are open to researchers in all fields, but emphasis is given specifically for early career researchers in the so-called generalist research fields. Two tracks are available: full-time (1-4 month) job placement for doctoral researchers and post-doc researchers, and a part-time (max 20%, up to 6 months) job placement for post-doc researchers.
Business Essentials for Researchers Training
This annually run (autumn 2025-2027) workshop-based training includes basic information any early career researcher should know about how to turn research into business.
- Next training will be organised in autumn 2026! See more information here.
- See information about BER training in 2025
Talent Bridge events
Talent Bridge events are networking events designed to connect early career researchers with potential employer organisations and fellow researchers. Two annual events are organised (2026, 2027) and they are open to all early career researchers as well as doctoral supervisors.
- Next UNICOM+ Talent Bridge Event is organised in autumn 2027
- See information about UNICOM+ Talent Bridge – Connecting research, expertise and working life, 22 April 2026
For more information of all above, please contact:
- Jenni Gray, jenni.gray@utu.fi, The University of Turku
- Maria Ljung, Maria.Ljung@abo.fi, Åbo Akademi University
The target groups of the work package 4 are project partners, international talents, potential employers, financier, other organizations and Finnish higher education institutions and their Talent Hub operators, the general public and the media. Activities in this work package are focused on ensuring that the measures of the UNICOM+ project reach the intended target groups and that the results of the project and the outputs created in it reach a wide target audience and thus promote their spread outside the project.
For more information, please contact:
- Kirsi Peura, kirsi.peura@utu.fi, University of Turku
UNICOM+ for Companies and Organisations
International students at the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences are interested in applying their academic knowledge to real-life business projects.
You can meet them at Career and Thesis Fair events that connect highly educated experts and companies in the South-West Finland. The Thesis Fair offers your company a suitable place to find and create contacts for students looking for thesis work placements.
Autumn 2026
- Find Your Future Career and Recruitment Fair at theTurku University of Applied Sciences will be organised in 26.11.2026.
- Inquiries: Lucia Vuillermin, lucia.vuillermin@turkuamk.fi
- >> Book your booth here
Spring 2027
- Thesis Fair event at the University of Turku will be organised in spring 2027.
- Inquiries: Lotta Metsärinne, lotta.metsarinne@utu.fi
- Information about the previous event in 2026
Could an international expert boost your business? We will find an highly-educated international expert to fit your company's needs!
We offer your company a full service from marketing and curating the best candidates among international researchers at the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University for a salaried short-term employment in your company.
Our international researchers can offer your company
- up-to-date knowledge of current research and methods in their research field
- support in various areas, for example, in research work, process and product development, reporting and international marketing
Job placement options
- Full time 1-4 month salaried job placement of an international doctoral researcher or a post-doctoral researcher
- A part time (maximum 20% working time) salaried job placement of an international post-doctoral researchers
We can also negotiate a placement option to fit your needs and timetable.
>> Contact us and read more here.
Short visits provide companies and other organizations located in Southwest Finland an opportunity to meet with international and domestic students and recent graduates of the University of Turku and Turku University of Applied Sciences.
During the visit, you can present your company's operations to the students and offer them a personal and interactive experience in your company.
If you would like to invite students to visit, please contact us:
- Lotta Metsärinne, lotta.metsarinne@utu.fi, University of Turku
- Lucia Vuillermin, lucia.vuillermin@turkuamk.fi, Turku University of Applied Sciences
>> Still wonder why host a student visit? Hear directly from a company and students in this video!
Contact us!
Please contact the relevant work package leaders or us the main coordinators
University of Turku: Irinja Paakkanen (irinja.paakkanen@utu.fi), Head of International Affairs and Kirsi Peura (kirsi.peura@utu.fi), Senior Advisor
Åbo Akademi University: Maria Ljung (maria.ljung@abo.fi), Administrator for the Graduate School
Turku University of Applied Sciences: Ritva Hyttinen (Ritva.hyttinen@turkuamk.fi), Senior Lecturer, Deputy for the Research Leader