Espoo – don’t waste international expertise!

Espoo must be an attractive place to study, work, and live, as well as develop into an international centre of expertise. It is alarming that up to 44% of international students have not gained work experience in Finland.

‘The city must take action to address this issue. International students consider nationality or ethnicity to be one of the most significant barriers to employment, which means that, unfortunately, structural racism is still thriving in our society. We must pave the way for more efficient pathways for students to enter the Finnish labour market’, comments AYY Board Member Jenni Toivonen.

AYY urges Espoo to take active measures to improve the employment of international students. This can be achieved by strengthening cooperation between companies and students, and encouraging businesses to offer thesis assignments. The City of Espoo must also provide thesis opportunities for international students. Additionally, Espoo should take the lead in ensuring that the number of international employees in the city corresponds to their share of the population.

We suggest concrete measures for the city, such as the more extensive use of anonymous recruitment, positive action, easing language requirements, and providing training on unconscious biases. Additionally, the collaboration between employment services and students, higher education institutions, and municipalities must be strengthened to ensure that a growing number of international students can find work in Espoo during their studies and after graduation.

‘Espoo must be Finland’s most attractive city for international experts and support international students in their transition to working life. By promoting the employment of international students, Espoo ensures that more students can build their home here after graduation’, Toivonen describes.

Further information:

Jenni Toivonen, AYY Board Member Tel. 040 026 5544

The statement is part of AYY’s municipal and county election campaign.