International talent service ecosystems

One of the key objectives of HIWE is to study how highly-skilled internationals experience living, working and being an entrepreneur in Finland. (Read their stories here.) We want to learn about both the positives and the negatives that come up in their experiences. 

In order to put this research knowledge to good use, we also chart the policy measures and the actors that guide and offer services to internationals nationally and locally. (Read more here). We compare whether the services aimed at internationals meet their needs. 

In final analysis, the results are used to make policy recommendations to improve highly-skilled internationals’ opportunities to find employment, become entrepreneurs and generally integrate into Finnish society. 

Mapping local ecosystems 

On these pages, we present the data we have collected about actors working with international talent in four cities: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Kuopio. 

We have drawn up a map of each location depicting the central actors (presented separately in Finnish and in English). In the maps, the actors are divided into seven categories based on the character of their activity: 

1. Work & Economy, 2. Education & Research, 3. Professional and other networks, 4. Finnish language & culture, 5. Permits & Notifications, 6. Housing & Transportation and 7. Wellbeing & Leisure. 

The categories have been prepared based on previously conducted research interviews and by consulting multiple actors in each city. 

The maps portray mainly local actors, but also some key national actors and networks which have regional or local representation. The maps may be of practical interest to internationals themselves, but also involved actors and authorities, researchers, the media and even individual citizens. 

More detailed information on actors is available through the attached links. Regarding the maps presented in English, the links have been made to English-language websites when such exist. 

The maps illustrate intriguingly what kind of multidimensional and constantly expanding field the actors working locally with international talents constitute. Actors at the national level, especially public authorities, are generally known and have a strong public visibility, but local actors and networks are less well known. 

However, since the lives of international talents are always located in a specific place and the institutions and services operating there, the local context also plays an important role in their integration into working life and society. This is what we wanted to highlight with the four examples of local actor ecosystems depicted on these pages. 

On national ecosystems 

At the national level, the immigration-related policy is decided by the Finnish government. The goals of each election period are expressed in the government program. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government Programme for the election period 2023-2027 can be read here. 

The Ministry of the Interior (SM) is responsible for formulating Finland’s migration policy and for overall legislation on migration and citizenship. The Ministry guides and develops the administration of migration and coordinates the related issues between different branches of government. Read more. 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM) is responsible for policies and legislation concerning the migration of workers, students, trainees and researchers, and it guides the developing of the relevant permit processes. It is also responsible for the integration of immigrants and for integration legislation. Read more. 

Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) plan and coordinate integration of immigrants at regional level and guide municipalities in the reception of refugees. They are also responsible for preparing for a mass influx of migrants at regional level, together with municipalities and NGOs. Read more. 

The recruitment and integration of international talent is promoted nationally and regionally also through many other actors, networks and programs. For example: 

  • The Talent Boost action program, coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture, is a nation-wide cross-administrative and multi-actor program whose goal is to facilitate the immigration and recruitment of international talents, employees, students and researchers. Read more. 
  • Work in Finland is an advisory service package developed by several public actors to support international talent’s job search and international recruitment by employers and companies. The service is part of the Talent Boost program, and it is implemented by a number of operators regionally and locally as well as online. Read more. 
  • The Integration.fi website is intended for anyone who, in the course of their work, is involved with immigrants or is engaged in immigrant integration and refugee reception. The website is maintained by the Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Read more.