FUURT has given a statement on the government (draft) report on reforms to measures promoting the integration of immigrants.
It can be mentioned as a merit to the report that it is based on researched information and accurately describes immigrants as a very heterogeneous group depending e.g. on the reasons of migration and personal background of the immigrants.
Currently, the integration courses and employment services are not properly designed to serve and meet the needs of immigrants with higher education background. Thus, both integration services and the expertise of employment services should be developed to meet the needs of immigrants with different educational and professional background, in order to reach the objective to offer individual service.
In case of universities, it is important that the Talent Hubs will offer support and services also to the international staff such as researchers, and not just students. For international staff, language studies in Finnish or Swedish should be made possible within working hours. In the long run, this would benefit both individual employees and organisations, as well as the Finnish working life and labour market more broadly.
Through spouse programmes, Talent Hub support and services should reach out to international talents’ families as well.
In cooperation with e.g. counties, employment services, universities, and the third sector, measures to promote integration of international talents can be developed in a way that will strengthen their knowledge and understanding of Finnish culture and society, and promote their integration and active participation in our society, as well as increase contacts between immigrants and native population.