European, global and intercultural dimension in curric ulum development

Strategic guidelines on internationalisation in higher education and research

The Vision for the Internationalisation of Higher Education and Research  guides higher education institutions (HEIs) in aligning their own strategies with themes considered collectively significant. The vision was prepared by the International Affairs Forum, appointed by the Ministry of Education and Culture, in broad collaboration with HEIs and stakeholders.

The vision’s target state is that Finland is a responsible, welcoming and open forerunner in international cooperation. The vision comprises five broad sets of objectives:

• International cooperation is guided by values and principles
• Finland is an attractive and competitive competence hub for talent
• Finland is a responsible and welcoming country where entering and staying in the country is smooth and easy
• Finland participates in international cooperation to address global sustainable development challenges
• Finland promotes strong national and international cooperation in higher education

Internationalisation is regarded as an important aspect in higher education and research. The Ministry of Education and Culture monitors and follows the international profile and international acitvities of higher education institutions in the target and performance negotiations between the ministry and the institutions.
 

Partnerships and networks

There are several programmes and funding instruments that aim to promote international cooperation, networking and partnerships in higher education institutions. They are coordinated by a Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus).

Higher Education Partnership (HEP) Programme supports cooperation projects between higher education institutions in Finland and the developing world that are designed to enhance higher education provision in these countries. The projects support higher education institutions in developing their subject-specific, methodological, educational and administrative capacities. Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs provides funding for the programme through its development cooperation funds. 

The Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) programme aims to create and strengthen cooperation between Finnish higher education institutions and the target regions and countries selected to the TFK network, and to design new operating models for cooperation. The programme funds educational cooperation between higher education institutions through cooperation and mobility projects. 

The Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) programme offers scholars threatened or persecuted in their home country the chance to continue their work in a safe environment. The programme is established by the U.S. Institute of International Education (IIE) and Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) co-funds the programme in Finland and coordinates the cooperation with the Finnish higher education institutions. 

The Nordic Master programme offers funding to joint Nordic programmes at the Master's level. This initiative of the Nordic Council of Ministers supports both the Master's programmes themselves and their students' international mobility in participating institutions of higher education. There will be no new Calls for Proposals in Nordic Master. 

In addition, Finnish higher education institutions are active in the European Union funded Erasmus+ actions that strengthen international cooperation, such as the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships and the European Universities Initiative.