Internationalisation competences must be systematically developed in higher education - student exchange does not attract students

There is much room for improvement in internationalisation competences in Finnish higher education, a new report reveals. There were large differences between Finnish higher education institutions and study fields, and students were not aware of the internationalisation opportunities available. The results show that international cooperation in higher education was surprisingly low. 

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) evaluated the status and reform of higher education pedagogy in 2022-2023. The evaluation report was published in August 2023. The data was then further analysed to look closely into the topic of internationalisation competences in higher education. The publication "Developing internationalisation competences in higher education" focuses on the perspectives of students, teaching staff, pedagogical leaders and higher education institutions on internationalisation and the development of internationalisation competences.

Students are not sufficiently informed about internationalisation opportunities

The participation of students in international student exchanges and international traineeships is low: 7% of respondents had participated in a student exchange and only 4% in an international traineeship.  Most students (59%) do not intend to participate in international student exchanges in the future either. There were large differences between higher education institutions and study fields.

Students were largely unaware of the internationalisation opportunities offered by higher education institutions, and they need more information than they are currently receiving. They should also be given opportunities to hear about the international study and work experiences of other students, alumni, and professionals. 

Every higher education student should acquire internationalisation, multicultural, language awareness and diversity competences, as the society and labour market both today and in the future are international and multicultural. The importance of internationalisation competences and how to articulate them should also be emphasised to students as a useful skill in the labour market, recommends Counsellor of Evaluation Mira Huusko from FINEEC. 

International cooperation should be increased in higher education 

The report also reveals that there is only little international cooperation in higher education. There were also large differences between higher education institutions and study fields in the answers of teaching staff. Some higher education institutions and study fields have developed cultures and practices that encourage cooperation with international partners. There were also differences in responses between universities and universities of applied sciences. Pedagogical leaders were more likely to see the development of students' international competences in a positive light compared to students and teachers. 

Teaching staff should engage in more international cooperation in teaching. Every teacher must have sufficient opportunities to develop their language skills and participate in internationalisation training. When higher education staff are international and have a positive attitude towards internationalisation, it is also easier for students to gain internationalisation competences, says Senior Evaluation Advisor Niina Nurkka from FINEEC.

International cooperation in higher education pedagogy takes place in networks, projects, and university alliances. There is also international cooperation with partner universities, both in teaching and in research, development, and innovation. 

Evaluation report (in Finnish)

Kansainvälisyysosaamisen kehittäminen korkeakoulutuksessa. Kansallinen koulutuksen arviointikeskus. Tiivistelmät 3:2024. [Developing internationalisation competences in higher education. The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre. Summaries 3:2024.]