HU moves to boost integration of Int´l students into community

The University of Helsinki (HU) strives to be the best place to study, teach, work and conduct research by 2030, said the university in a press release on Wednesday.

The goal of a project entitled Lisää löylyä kv-toimintaan (‘A boost for international activities’), launched in spring 2023, is to identify key bottlenecks in the integration of international students into the community.

This identification will occur through collaboration between subject- and faculty-specific student organisations, international students, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki and the University itself. Solutions that can be quickly put into practice will be formulated collaboratively.

“Upon arrival, students from abroad often don’t know anyone in the entire city. To avoid being left alone and without peer support, it’s really important for them to not only attend University teaching but also have a good social life – friends with whom to share their joys, sorrows and experiences of success,” said Vice-Rector of the University of Helsinki Kai Nordlund.

In the first workshops under the project held in May, the focus was on challenges, opportunities and means of internationalising the activities of subject- and faculty-specific organisations.

“In the workshop, you got the feeling that we can tangibly improve the participation and status of international students in the activities of our subject-specific associations and the University as a whole,” said Lucas Yoni, who is responsible for internationalisation at the MaO association of geography students at the University.

Supporting the internationalisation of subject- and faculty-specific organisations is important also for local students.

“It was useful to hear from other subject-specific associations about international activities and practices,” said Kristian Ostanin, who is in charge of the sports activities of KTTO, the association for students of economics at the University of Helsinki.

The internationalisation project, which supports the strategic plan of the University of Helsinki, is part of the University's Talent Boost activities. These are aimed at promoting the settling and integration of international students in Finland.