FUURT has provided recommendations to enhance language awareness and strengthen multilingual practices within Finland’s scientific community and workplaces.
As science and academic communities become more international, the range of languages at Finnish higher education institutions has expanded. The traditional linguistic environment of Finnish and Swedish in science and education now coexists with the increasing prominence of English. While the growing use of English promotes scientific internationalisation and the inclusion of international researchers within the work community, it can also hinder their integration into Finnish society if the learning of domestic languages is not sufficiently supported. Language skills may become a barrier to employment for international experts, despite their high-level research expertise.
In the summer of 2023, FUURT’s Board established a working group to examine the language-related challenges and opportunities within researchers’ workplaces. The working group reviewed language strategies of higher education institutions, relevant research data, and consulted numerous experts. It particularly emphasised the perspectives of international researchers. Input from FUURT’s international active members and their experiences and needs helped outline ways to make Finland’s academic field more open and multilingual. The report, Towards flexible multilingualism! FUURT’s recommendations to strengthen language awareness and multilingual practices, emerged from the group’s work.
Promoting multilingualism and language awareness requires planning and resources
The report provides clear recommendations for workplaces to improve language awareness. Organisations need to recognise that their employees may speak different languages and represent different cultures. In practice, this involves promoting parallel language use, establishing common language strategies, and enabling language training for international employees. This ensures that all employees can fully participate in their work community, even if their native language is other than Finnish.
Workplace multilingualism can be supported by active language strategies, which provide clarity on how and when different languages are used. Developing and updating language strategies helps ensure language choices are consistent and support the organisation’s goals. The implementation of multilingualism requires planning and resources — for instance, translation services and clear guidelines on the languages used in meetings and materials. It is advisable to make language choices consciously and openly and communicate them clearly in advance to the entire workplace community. Parallel language use may, for example, mean that multiple languages are used simultaneously in meetings and events.
Although many academic environments can function primarily in English, knowledge of domestic languages is often essential for broader integration into Finnish society. The report suggests that employers should offer opportunities for language studies during working hours. Learning Finnish and Swedish supports the career development and settling-in of international employees and contributes to a more equitable distribution of tasks.
FUURT also develops its own practices
FUURT applies these recommendations within its own operations as well. We are committed to multilingualism and offer our members services in Finnish, Swedish, and English. Many of our community events are multilingual, as a continuously growing share of our active members come from international backgrounds. We invest in English-language materials, training, and orientation. Our goal is for international active members and participants to engage in the Union’s activities on an equal footing and receive the support they need, including for tasks related to positions of trust. We ensure that the language choices in our various activities are justified and communicated openly within our community.
Read the full report and explore the recommendations here
FUURT language policy working group 2023–2024
Members: Head of Department Terhi Ainiala, University of Helsinki (Chair), Project Researcher Sara Backman, University of Eastern Finland, and Board representatives Marko Helenius (Tampere University) and Hanna Lempinen (University of Lapland; as of 1.1.2024, Natural Resources Institute Finland – LUKE), with Senior Adviser Miia Ijäs-Idrobo as Secretary.
In addition to its official members, the working group has also heard from multiple different experts. The group has also examined the language strategies of different higher education institutions that were drafted or updated actively in recent years. The working group’s term ran from 1 September 2023 until 30 June 2024.
“Towards flexible multilingualism! FUURT’s recommendations to strengthen language awareness and multilingual practices” was approved by the Union Board at its meeting on 24 August 2024.