We warmly welcome you to participate in Start to Finnish® – Advance Your Career in Finland, an online training designed for international union members who want to deepen their understanding of Finnish working life, labour market practices and society. The training is particularly suitable for those who are working in Finland or planning to build a longer-term career here and wish to strengthen their knowledge independently, alongside work and everyday life.
Training Duration & Structure:
The training is fully online and self-paced, with no scheduled lectures or fixed timetables. All training materials are available on an online learning platform, allowing you to progress at a pace that suits your own schedule. You don’t have to complete the whole training either, as you can also search and learn more only about the topics relevant to you at this time. You will have access to the training materials while being a member of the Union of Research Professionals, an affiliate union of Akava.
The training structure consists of the following learning modules:
- Features of Finnish Society – orientation module
- When looking for work -module
- When starting work –module
- When working -module
- When work ends -module
Each module includes 5–6 chapters. In addition, you are expected to read the Welcome page with instructions and complete the Feedback page at the end of the training. Completing the training in total requires approximately 20–25 hours, but you’re also welcome to join and learn only about the topics that interest you the most.
Please note that this is not a Finnish language training. The training is available in English.
Mandatory tasks
If you wish to complete the whole training, you will receive a certificate of completion. For this, you will need to complete the following tasks:
- Read all training content
- Complete mandatory Your turn -tasks in each module
- Reflect on what you have learned at the end of each module
- Complete the training feedback
While there are no live sessions or lectures, the training platform encourages discussion and the sharing of experiences. We have included additional Your turn tasks which offer an opportunity to reflect on your own working life and, if you wish, to engage with other participants. All discussions are moderated, and participant privacy has been carefully considered.
The use of AI during the training
The use of AI is not prohibited during the training, and AI tools are used also on the training platform. However, we strongly discourage relying on just AI instead of your own lived experiences. Most of the tasks in the training don’t require the use of AI since we will mainly ask for you to share your own thoughts and use your own judgement.
Why Participate?
- Deepen your understanding of Finnish working life, labour rights and responsibilities
- Learn flexibly alongside work, family and other commitments
- Strengthen your professional confidence and labour market awareness
- Receive a certificate of completion as a sign of your initiative and continuous learning
Start to Finnish® is a registered trademark of Akava. Some universities and universities of applied sciences also offer a student version of the training (Start to Finnish® – Start Your Career in Finland). The participants of the student course have described it as a highly useful and comprehensive overview of Finnish working life.
Requirements for Participation:
There are no formal educational prerequisites. To participate, you only need:
- To be a member of an affiliate union of Akava
- An internet connection
- Access to a computer or mobile device
- Interest in learning more about Finnish working life and society
The training is designed for people in working life, regardless of career stage or sector. Please note that the information in the training is general in nature and you should contact your union for a field specific information. All participants regardless of their field or union enroll in the same online platform.
Enrollment Details:
Enroll now and take the next step in strengthening your understanding of working life in Finland. You can enroll via the training platform using the registration link in E-services > Membership benefits.
Further Information
The training is moderated and designed by Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, in co-operation with affiliate unions. For additional information, please contact Research Professionals’ Senior Adviser Miia Ijäs-Idrobo (miia.ijas@tieteentekijat.fi). For technical questions, you can contact the training admin Jutta Linna (jutta.linna@akava.fi).