Faktaa. FACTS AND FIGURES

1B

2015

At school, in the university, abroad

Statistics on international pupil and student mobility in Finnish schools, vocational education and training and universities in 2014. Kansainvälisen liikkuvuuden ja yhteistyön keskus Centret för internationell mobilitet och internationellt samarbete Centre for International Mobility

IRMA GARAM AND SIRU KORKALA:

At school, in the university, abroad. Statistics on international pupil and student mobility in Finnish schools, vocational education We will look into how the mobility numbers have developed, what kinds of differences there are between different regions in Finland and which regions and countries the cooperation of educa-

and training and universities in 2014.

tional institutions focus on. Finland holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2016, and we will prepare for it by looking particularly carefully at the mobility between Finland and the other Nordic countries.

Table 1: International mobility of pupils and students in 2014

To the reader Thousands of young Finns spread their wings every year and go abroad – on different visits, on a school exchange, to complete a degree or a qualification or on a trainee placement

Degree studies abroad

Students in Pupils in primary, secondary and upper vocational training secondary general – studying and oneducation1 the-job training

Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad1

International degree students in Finnish higher education institutions

Statistics by Kela

Statistics by Statistics Finland

– visits and school exchanges of varying lengths

or on-the-job learning experience in a work place. At the same time, thousands of people from abroad are acquiring same kinds of experiences in Finland. These people on the move gather valuable international skills and competences that our labour market and societies now need. This mobility also shows in a variety of statistics, collected to follow, for example, the annual

Students in higher education – studying and trainee placements

placements – minimum of – no minimun 3 months duration; on average 7 weeks for outgoing students and 4 weeks for incoming students

Statistics by CIMO

volume of international mobility within educational institutions. Studying statistics provides us with a lot of other important information. For example from equality perspective, it is interesting

International visits and exchanges from and to Finland

1

Academic year 2014–2015

to see how different educational institutions in different parts of Finland and women and men take advantage of the international opportunities available. There are many different perpectives.

Further statistical data and infographics about international mobility is available at CIMO’s website at www.cimo.fi | Services | Statistics on Internationalisation. In addition to statistics, informa-

In this publication, we try to provide an overview of what the statistics tell us about international

tion is also available on mobility of educational staff.

mobility of pupils and students at different levels of education and training in Finland. The data

2

on international visits and exchanges is based on statistics collected by CIMO. Data about degree

From the same address, you can also access the full reports in Finnish on statistical data on vo-

studies abroad comes from the statistics of the Finnish Social Insurance Institution KELA (Finn-

cational training and higher education. Among other things, these reports include more detailed

ish students abroad) and Statistics Finland (international degree students in Finland).

statistics per institution and country.

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

3

General education

Pupil numbers in general education in 2014: – Comprehensive schools (7 to 16 years) 542,932 – General upper secondary schools (16 to 19 years) 103,406*

1

1 in 8 of 16 to 19 year-old pupil go abroad, younger ones less seldom. *Statistics Finland

GENERAL TRENDS Data about the international activities of comprehensive schools and general upper secondary schools was now collected for the second time. The previous collection concerned the academic year 2012-2013; and now data was collected for the academic year 2014-2015. The response rate was now considerably lower than the last time, drop-

Graph 1: Mobility of pupils in comprehensive and general upper secondary schools compared to the total number of pupils in the schools 2012–2013 and 2014–2015 2012–2013

3.7 %

From Finland To Finland

1.5 %

2014–2015

3.1 %

From Finland

ping to 29% from the previous 46%. To Finland

1.4 %

For this reason, we will treat the mobility data collected as a sample: the mobility numbers are com-

mobility has dropped from 3.7% from the previous

pared to the total number of pupils represented by

time.

the response rate, that is, 29% of the total number of pupils in general education. We will assume that

The majority of pupils (74%) going abroad from

this figure will reflect the number of pupils in the

Finland were involved in international activities cat-

schools that responded to the request for statistical

egorised as ”other pupil mobility”. In practice, this

data. This method can be justified because we can

means exchange periods of varying lengths during

assume that the schools that did not respond to the

which pupils go to a school in another country, and

survey also have international activities. The figures

learn its language and about its culture. This kind

from the previous collection were calculated the

of mobility typically takes place within a school

same way, taking the response rate into account,

development project.

and are used for comparison between the academic years.

26% of outgoing pupils were going on a school exchange. In this category, the duration of the

4

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

During 2014–2015, schools that responded to the

exchange period is a minimum of 6 months

survey made 958 trips abroad, with a total of 5,968

and it takes place, for example, through differ-

Finnish pupils participating in them. This rep-

ent exchange organisations. Participants in these

resents 3.1% of the total number of pupils in the

exchanges are most commonly pupils from upper

schools concerned. Based on the survey, the rate of

secondary schools. FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

5

As for the type of educational institution, most

received 2,486 pupils from abroad, representing

mobility takes place at general upper secondary

1.4% of the total number of pupils in the schools

schools. 13.1% of pupils went abroad from the up-

that responded to the survey. The number of

per secondary schools that responded to the survey,

Schools also have other kinds of international activities in addi-

incoming pupils has remained constant as the

compared to the 14.8% in the previous survey.

tion to pupil and teacher exchanges. International activities car-

corresponding figure last time was 1.5%. 35% of

The rate of outgoing pupils from comprehensive

ried out at own school and in the surrounding area seem to play

incoming pupils were exchange pupils.

schools was now 1.4% and 1.5% the previous time.

home and play an important role in it: Over 62% of respondents

901

0,6

13,1

1 585

5,3

2 486

said that their international activities include visits of people from other countries and cultures. There was surprisingly little coopera-

Mobility of pupils in comprehensive and general

tion based on information and communication technologies,

upper secondary schools compared to the total

accounting only for about 19% of international activities taking

number of pupils in the schools included in the

place at home.

statistics during school years 2012–2013 and 2014–2015.

442

505

535

460

400 96

151

225

214

149

91

86

115

51

273

Visitors from abroad also bring the international dimension at

1,4

According to the data collected, it would appear that the interest of Finnish pupils of going abroad has dwindled somewhat. However, the number of incoming pupils to Finland has remained the same.

444

317

their own pupils with immigrant backgrounds (24%).

Comprehensive 1 943 schools General upper secondary schools 4 025 Total 5 968

551

515

took opportunities to learn about the languages and cultures of

From Finland To Finland

comprehensive schools.

546

and lessons or courses in the school (32%). In addition, many

Number of pupils

626

include international events at the school or in the locality (37%)

of total number of pupils (%)

961

ary schools, but remained relatively constant in

654

Pupils of total Pupils from number to Finland of pupils Finland (%)

Finland has gone down somewhat in upper second-

Graph 2: The most common partner countries for pupil mobility in comprehensive and upper secondary schools 2014–2015

656

The most common international activities taking place locally

According to the results, outgoing mobility from

669

responded to the survey reported these kinds of activities.

Table 2: Mobility by type of educational institution compared to the total number of pupils in the schools included in the statistics 2014–2015

702

an especially significant role. Over a half of schools (54%) that

Germany is the most important partner country in pupil mobility: it receives and sends the most pupils.

1 420

You can get international experience in your own country, too

Total

During the academic year 2014–2015, the schools

221

222

Estonia China

Japan

459

According to the results of the survey, girls go

Germany France Russia Spain

Italy

Sweden UK

abroad more often than boys. Over 60% of Finnish participants in pupil exchanges and other international pupil mobility were girls. The same applies to incoming pupils to Finland, as 69% of exchange pupils and 58% of participants in other types of mobility were girls.

Finland is an interesting destination for staff from schools abroad

According to the survey, funding for pupil mobility mostly came from parents and the pupils’ own school. External funding sources are also used, the most important of which is EU programmes.

CIMO also collects statistics on the mobility numbers of school staff. A total of 1,832 teachers and other staff members from the comprehensive and upper secondary schools that responded to the survey went abroad during the school year 2014–2015; 12% of them represented school management.

COUNTRIES AND CONTINENTS OF INTERNATIONAL PUPIL MOBILITY

2,019 staff members from schools abroad came to Finland, a third of them from the management. So school staff from abroad

The pupil mobility of the comprehensive and

seem to be more interested in coming to Finland than the other

upper secondary schools that responded to the

way around. The situation was similar according to the data from

survey focuses on European countries. The most popular destination country – which was also the most common country of origin for those coming

2013–2014. The most popular destinations of Finnish staff were Germany and Sweden, whereas most visitors to Finland came from Russia and

to Finland – was Germany. Germany was the most

Italy. Japan and China also featured near the top of the list of

popular destination for both exchange pupils and

home countries of incoming staff.

those participating in other types of mobility. 6

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

7

Outside Europe, China and Japan were among

PUPIL MOBILITY BY REGION

the most common partner countries. About the same amount of pupils came to Finland from

According to the results of the survey, when the

these countries. 45% of the incoming Japanese and

number of outgoing pupils is compared to the total

14% of Chinese were exchange pupils. USA is an

number of pupils in a region, Central Ostrobothnia

important destination for outgoing Finnish pupils

has the highest rate of outgoing pupils of all Finn-

but the small number of incoming pupils from

ish regions. When we apply the same method of

there knocks it out from the top 10 countries when

calculation to incoming pupils to Finnish schools,

we look at the total volume of mobility from and

Kainuu has the highest rate.

to Finland. In 2014-2015, 120 Finns went to the The response rate by region has been taken into ac-

USA.

count in the calculation. The response rate was the highest in the schools from Päijät-Häme (35%) and the lowest from Åland (4%). There was no reported

Graph 3: Pupil mobility compared to the total number of pupils by response rate per region in school year 2014–2015, % Central Ostrobothnia Southwest Finland Southern Ostrobothnia

4.2

1.7 2.8 1.6

Northern Savonia

0.6 0.7 0.6

Total

Southern Savonia

0.0 1.3 1.1

Tavastia Proper Ostrobothnia Kymenlaakso

countries to organise pupil exchanges. Regions in

3.2

the eastern Finland, such as South Karelia, Kainuu

3.1

and North Karelia are most often partnered with

Graph 4: Pupil mobility between Finland and other Nordic countries in the school year 2014–2015

0

Russia. The top partner country in the regions of

0.3

68

Finland Germany and the UK. Pupils from Lapland most commonly travelled to the UK and Italy.

ICELAND

2.6 2.3

535

MOBILITY TO THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

1.3 2.0

1.9 0.9 1.2 0.6 0.8 0.6

NORWAY

Sweden was the third most popular destination

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

91

17

country of school pupils, but Finland does not attract Swedish pupils at all to the same extent. The From Finland To Finland

SWEDEN

same goes for Denmark and Iceland. There is a near balance between incoming and outgoing pupil numbers only with Norway.

Number of pupils Outgoing Incoming

8

71

38

Ostrobothnia is Spain, in Central and Southern

3.1

2.2

North Karelia Northern Ostrobothnia

Different regions are partnered with different

2.3 2.9

Central Finland Päijät-Häme

3.8

3.1

1.4

Pirkanmaa

4.1

3.7 2.7 3.2

Lapland

South Karelia

Central Ostrobothnia is the most active region: one in 12 pupils from there go on an exchange abroad.

4.4

1.2

Kainuu

Satakunta

the graph x. 8.1

1.5

Uusimaa

mobility from Åland at all, so it is not included in

DENMARK 91

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

9

Vocational education and training

The number of students in vocational education and training in 2013:

2

132,209* 1 in 20 students go on an exchange abroad.

GENERAL TRENDS In 2014, a total 6,388 students in vocational educa-

Graph 5: International mobility of VET students 2005–2014 7 000 students

tion and training (VET) went on an exchange

6 000

period abroad – most commonly on an on-the-job

5 000

training period of on average duration of 7 weeks. The number of outgoing Finnish students has fluctuated between 6,000 and 6,500 students in the past four years. This kind of annual variation has

4 492

4 000 3 000

2 539 1 838

2 000

been typical of VET; mobility figures per institution have changed year after year. This trend seems to be evening out, however. The majority of students

From Finland To Finland

1 000 0 2005

going abroad – 65% – are women.

The number of VET students going abroad to a study or a training period has risen by 42% over the last ten years.

to the total number of VET students following the 2013 curriculum, just under 5% of them went abroad.

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010 2011

2012

2013

2014

Graph 6: International mobility of VET students compared to the total number of students in 2005 and 2014, % 2005

3.6 %

From Finland To Finland

When the number of mobile students is compared

6 388

1.5 %

2014

4.8 %

From Finland To Finland

1.9 %

In 2014, 2,539 VET students came to Finland from abroad. The number of incoming students to Finland has remained constant for years, and it accounts for just under 2% of the total number of VET students in Finland.

10

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

11

COUNTRIES AND CONTINENTS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY

Graph 7: The most common partner countries in international VET mobility 2014 947

986 Number of students

741

From Finland To Finland

697 437

mobility in VET has been very Europe-centred.

0.4 5.4

The top 10 destination countries of outgoing stu-

175

239

453 173

164

Outgoing VET students from Finland favour the

26

neighbouring regions, Estonia and Sweden. The ex-

129

87

311

93.4

2014 were all European.

213

262

120

0.1

293

60

557

576

1 103

757

1 112

1 250

Total

165

117

As long as relevant statistics have been compiled,

dents and countries of origin of incoming ones in 280

265

Graph 8: International mobility of VET students by continent 2014

0.9

EUROPE

NORTHERN AMERICA 4.7

change periods to these regions are typically short, ASIA

whereas exchange periods further afield, to the 0.2

countries of Central or Southern Europe, tend to

536 Germany Spain Estonia Sweden France

94.1

UK

Nether- Russia Italy Denmark lands

be longer. Incoming VET students to Finland come especially from Central European countries.

Of all exchanges, % From Finland To Finland

CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

0.7

AFRICA

0.2

OSEANIA

MOBILITY IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES Mobility in VET between the Nordic countries is not balanced. In 2014, over ten times more Finnish students went to Sweden compared to incoming Swedish students. Considerably more Finnish went to other Nordic countries, too, than came here.

Graph 9: International mobility of Finnish VET students to other Nordic countries and of Nordic VET students to Finland 2014

10

The situation with Sweden has been the same for many years already, but there has been a better

175

balance between Finland and Norway and Finland

55

36

and Iceland previously. For example in 2010, the number of incoming Norwegians and Icelanders was higher than that of outgoing Finns.

ICELAND

697 The Nordic countries attract Finnish VET students: Sweden, Denmark and Norway are on the top 10 list of destination countries.

NORWAY

60

26

SWEDEN

Number of students

DENMARK

213

From Finland To Finland

12

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

13

STUDENT MOBILITY BY REGION When we compare the number of VET students

Graph 10: International mobility of VET students by region, compared to the total numbers of students , %

going abroad to the total number of students in a

Central Ostrobothnia

region, Central Ostrobothnia comes on top, send-

Ostrobothnia

ing the most students abroad. The region has held

Uusimaa

this position for a long time, although temporarily

Southern Ostrobothnia

lost its lead to the Ostrobothnia region last year. When it comes to incoming students, the situation is more varied. In 2014, VET institutions of Kymenlaakso were in the lead, with the most incoming VET students compared to the total number of students in the region.

Kymenlaakso

Northern Savonia

It comes on top again in these recent statistics, when we look at

Päijät-Häme

how many school pupils and VET students are sent abroad in the

Southwest Finland

regions. They have the most outgoing pupils and students compared to the total pupil and student numbers in the region. This

Satakunta

443

3.7

UNITED KINGDOM

3.6

3.4

South Karelia 1.0

2.0 0.6 1.6 2.1

Ostrobothnia

From Finland To Finland

Central Ostrobothnia has been coordinated and strategic, and it

THE AREA OF OPERATION AFFECTS THE CHOICE OF PARTNER COUNTRIES

has been allocated resources. The regional council encourages

Different regions tend to work together with the

enterprises in the region to recruit international students. Interna-

same countries: the most popular partner countries

tional companies in the region also increase schools’ interest in

rule in regional comparison, too. The volume of

international activities.

cooperation with a country is calculated by putting

108

39

41

72

own international strategies, which promotes international activities in comprehensive schools and general upper secondary schools, too.

people per country and per region.

Satakunta

41

34 91

Central Ostrobothnia Southern Ostrobothnia

Northern Savonia

Pirkanmaa

34

40

49

ITALIA 44

50

FRANCE

21

40

25 52

91 47

118

the regions in Ostrobothnia favour Estonia more than others. Norway is the most popular partner

TURKEY Southern Savonia

495

partner countries in almost all the regions. Ingether with Russia more often than others, whereas

North Karelia

Central Finland

Germany and Spain are among the most popular stitutions in the regions of Eastern Finland work to-

42

Kainuu

PäijätSouth Tavastia Häme Karelia KymenSouthwest Proper laakso Finland Uusimaa

47 35

together the numbers of outgoing and incoming The education departments of even smaller councils have their

81

GERMANY

HUNGARY

Northern Ostrobothnia

74

2.1 2.6

trend has been particularly true in VET for many years already. Why is this? International work in the educational institutions in

143

119

3.5

0.6

ESTONIA

4.1

1.7

1.5

43

70

Lapland

183

4.2

1.8

Tavastia Proper

66

4.3

1.8

1.6

SWEDEN

4.8

1.9

60

81

5.1

3.0

Northern Ostrobothnia

53

5.4

4.0

Total

103

5.6

2.0

Kainuu

RUSSIA

5.8

1.7

Southern Savonia

NORWAY

6.1

2.3

Pirkanmaa

operator in several studies conducted by CIMO.

7.1

2.7

Lapland

Central Ostrobothnia has stood out as an active international

8.3

1.9

Central Finland

Why does Central Ostrobothnia do so well?

10.4

3.1

North Karelia

Graph 11: The most popular partner countries in relation to the total volume of student mobility by region (students from Finland and to Finland)

SPAIN

country in VET institutions in Lapland. 14

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

15

Higher education institutions

Number of students in higher education in 2013:

3

310,131* 1 in 30 university students go on an exchange abroad. *Vipunen Database

GENERAL TRENDS Finnish higher education students carry out about 10,000 study periods of at least 3 months abroad every year. In the study periods abroad here we

Graph 12: International mobility of higher education students from Finland 2005–2014 10 000 9 000

include student exchanges and trainee placements

8 000

that are a part of the students’ degree programmes.

7 000

The number of the study periods abroad have kept

6 000

rising since the beginning of the 2000s: in 2000,

5 000

there were only 6,880 study periods abroad so their

4 000

number has increased by 50% in 15 years. The

3 000

growth has, however, halted during the past five

2 000

years and the number has since remained about the

1 000

The relative number of students going abroad compared to the total number of students has also risen in the 2000s. In 2014, just over 3% of all enrolled students went on a study period abroad.

7 154 8 487 4 205 Higher education study periods from Finland Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad

0

same. 63% of outgoing students are women.

The number of Finnish students studying abroad for their degree already corresponds to the number of students in a medium-sized university of applied sciences.

10 171

11 000 students

2005

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2012 2013 2014

Graph 13: International mobility of higher education students from Finland compared to the total number of students 2005 and 2014, % 2005 Study periods from Finland Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad

2.7 % 1.3 %

2014 Study periods from Finland Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad

3.3 % 2.3 %

In addition, over 7,000 Finns are studying for a complete degree in a foreign higher education

16

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

institution. The number accounts for just over 2%

students who receive the national student grant

of the total number of higher education students

from Finland. The number of Finns studying

in Finland. These numbers are based on KELA’s

abroad for the whole degree has increased greatly

statistics on student grants awarded and they cover

in the past few years. The size of this group already FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

17

In addition to the degree students, about 10,000 in-

Graph 14: International higher education students in Finland 2005–2014

Graph 16: International higher education student mobility by continent 2014, %

ternational exchange students come to Finnish uni-

25 000 students

20 255

versities every year, that is, almost about as many as there are Finns going abroad on study periods.

20 000

The number of incoming students has risen pretty

1

9 936

8 955

COUNTRIES AND CONTINENTS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY

10 000

5 000

7 697 0

2005

Study periods to Finland

The international mobility of higher education

International degree students in Finnish higher education institutions

students focuses on Europe. This can be seen espe-

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2012 2013 2014

67

7

18

cially among Finnish degree students: almost 90%

Graph 15: International higher education students in Finland compared to the total number of students 2005 and 2014, % 2005 Study periods to Finland

2.5 %

International degree students in Finnish higher education institutions 2014

2.9 %

Study periods to Finland

and by them having languages spoken by Finns.

ASIA

3

of them study in Europe. The most popular destiwhich is partly explained by their close proximity

CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES Of all exchanges, %

3

AFRICA

The country profile of incoming degree students to Finland is different from others: the number of those coming from European countries is less than a half.

OCEANIA 3 2

The popularity of Europe as the destination for to 2010 when 63% of international study periods

6

1 41

12

88

Finnish students’ study periods was decreasing up

2

Study periods from Finland Study periods to Finland

3.2 % 6.5 %

79

EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

nation countries are the UK, Sweden and Estonia,

International degree students in Finnish higher education institutions

14

2

constantly all through the 2000s. 15 000

1

3

41

EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

2

were directed to a European country. After this, Europe’s popularity has started to grow a little represents the total number of students in a small

again. The importance of Asia as a destination

traditional university or a medium-sized university

region has continued to grow.

of applied sciences in Finland. The Europe-centricity is even clearer when it

18

ASIA CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES Of degree students, %

AFRICA

1

Finnish degree students abroad International degree students in Finland

The clearest growth can be seen in the number

comes to study periods of incoming students

of incoming degree students to Finland, which is

although even among them Europe has been on

more than three-fold since the beginning of the

a slight decline and Asia on the up. In addition to

2000s. The growth has slowed down in the past

the big Western and Southern European countries,

few years, which may be a sign that the universi-

such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy, many

ties have reached the limit of their capacity to

students also come to Finland from Eastern Euro-

The country profile of degree students to Finland

even though their role in other types of mobility ac-

accept students from abroad. The proportion of

pean countries, such as Russia, the Czech Repub-

differs the most, with only just over 40% coming

tivities remains small. The most common countries

international students compared to all students has

OCEANIA

lic, Poland and Hungary. There are clearly fewer

from Europe. The share of Asian students is the

of origin of incoming degree students have been

also grown: now one in every 15 higher education

Finns going to these countries than are coming to

same as that of the Europeans. There is also a fair

China and Russia for years now. But there has been

students is from abroad.

Finland.

number of degree students from African countries

big changes in the other countries on the top: the

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

19

MOBILITY IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

Graph 17: The most common partner countries for higher education students’ study periods abroad 2014 Number of students

1 050

From Finland To Finland

213

seriously unbalanced. There are considerably more Finnish students going to other Nordic countries

444

314 483

479

159

than students coming to Finland. The imbalance

330

210

is systematic and long-standing. The difference is especially great when it comes to Sweden: the number of Finnish exchange students and trainees

216

5

Mobility flows between the Nordic countries is

631

816

333

852

855

944

1 514

1 764

2 613

376

714

500

462

Total

636

644

771

Graph 18: Study periods from Finland to other Nordic countries and from other Nordic countries to Finland 2014

421

501

42

77 ICELAND

to Sweden is six times higher than that of incoming

531

ones. NORWAY

743

The favourite Nordic country of Finnish degree students is Sweden, others favour Denmark.

1 302 1 563 Germany France Spain Nether- China lands

UK

Russia Italy

Austria Czech Republic

Table 3: The most common destination countries and countries of origin of degree students 2014 Finnish students in HEIs abroad United Kingdom

Students 1 914

International students in Finnish HEIs Russia

Students

dents. Table 4 shows the numbers of Nordic degree data is based on information about student grants

The other Nordic countries are not a significant

ganisations in other Nordic countries and it tells us

study destination for Swedish students: only just

how many students have been awarded the national

over 10% of Swedish degree students abroad study

student grant for studies abroad.

in another Nordic country. The Finnish figures

China

1 963

Estonia

1 121

Vietnam

1 619 1 149

USA

411

Nepal

Netherlands

386

Estonia

858

Germany

289

India

759

Denmark

191

Pakistan

705

Table 4: Degree students studying in other Nordic countries on state student grant 2013–2014 From Denmark Denmark

are similar to those of Denmark and Norway from Finnish students are clearly more keen to go to

where about 20% of degree students head to an-

other Nordic countries to get a higher education

other Nordic country.

degree than students from these countries are to

Spain

121

Germany

650

Latvia

110

Nigeria

639

Finnish students studying in Swedish higher educa-

France

107

Iran

594

tion institutions in the academic year 2013-2014,

come to Finland. For example, there were 1,266

WHO APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED TO COME TO FINLAND AND WHO STAY?

whereas there were only 173 Swedes studying in Finland, that is, 7 times less. The same imbalance

In the graph 19, we will compare the numbers of

applies for Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

those who have applied to Finnish universities, who have enrolled as new students, those studying,

20

207

students studying in other Nordic countries. The awarded by KELA in Finland and equivalent or-

1 417

DENMARK

From Finland To Finland

3 044

Sweden

54

SWEDEN

Number of students

There is a similar imbalance among degree stu-

85

number of incoming students from the develop-

Other Nordic students favour Denmark but the

those graduated and those employed in Finland a

ing countries of Asia and Africa, such as Vietnam,

number one destination for Finns is Sweden.

year after their graduation by continent.

Nepal, Nigeria, India and Pakistan, has grown

Denmark clearly gets the greatest pick of the bunch

Finland 158

Iceland

Norway

Sweden

552

2 820

1 502

2

19

173

27

33

Finland

11

Iceland

58

Norway

234

62

76

Sweden Total to other Nordic countries

568

1 266

239

674

871

1 496

869

3 540

2 394

23

22

42

21

11

To

Nordic countries out of the total international mobility of the country, %

10

Source: KELA / Antal studenter med studiestöd från Nordiska länder i utlandet www.kela.fi/documents/10180/1151585/nordenutom.pdf/aafdf774-15a3-4b96-9572-5c12c23ed85b

students or those already studying here. So, African

considerably in a few years. At the same time, the

of Nordic degree students: it gets more incoming

The proportion of African students is clearly bigger

number of incoming students from, for example,

students from all the other Nordic countries than it

among those who applied for a study place and

than those from other countries but on the other

Sweden or Germany, has decreased.

sends to them.

became employed in Finland than among new

hand they stay and become employed in Finland

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

686

applicants are accepted to study here less often

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

21

Graph 19: Foreign applicants, new students, students, graduates and those employed in Finland by continent, based on nationality, % 3

Unknown

more often after their graduation. The proportion

long do not serve their needs as when it comes

of Europeans among applicants is smaller than

to shorter study periods they already account for

their share of newly accepted students.

more than 20%.

36

39

41

39

34

Caribbean and Latin American countries*

28

13

12

14

2 3

2 3

3 3

43

41

40

African applicants get a study place in Finland less often than applicants from other continents but they become employed more often after their graduation.

Europe

3 1

4 29

North America*

26

INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY AT DIFFERENT EDUCATION LEVELS

35

International mobility within higher education in Finland is quite balanced between traditional

International degree students are spread over different levels of education unlike those on shorter study periods. In practice, degree students study at three different levels: for the higher education degree awarded by a Finnish university of applied sci-

Foreign New students foreign 2014 students (N=20 255) 2013 (N=5 193)

Foreign Graduated graduated foreign employed in students Finland a year 2013 after (N=3 147) graduation 2013 (N=1276)

Only when it comes to study periods to Finland, traditional universities take the lead, hosting almost 60% of exchange students and trainees.

*North America and the Caribbean and Latin American countries are combined in applicant data. **Applicants through the joint applications process in autumn 2015. All international students don't apply through this process; for example, many applicants for Master's programmes in universities apply outside this system. Sources: foreign applicants / the Vipunen Database of the Ministry of Education and Culture, other data requested by CIMO from the Statistics Finland.

Study periods abroad, both outgoing and incoming, usually take place at Bachelor level, that is, as part of a degree at a university of applied sciences

128 1 869

80 70 60

ences or for a Master’s or a Doctorate degree from

50

a traditional university. Only a few degree students

40

333

162

203 3 323

2 658

universities, which on the other hand is favoured by

30

international exchange students. This situation also

20

reflects the availability of English-language degree programmes in Finland.

19 5 951

Master’s degree in a traditional university

3 200

410 773

Master’s degree in a university of applied sciences

3 215

The majority of incoming international degree students to Finland are studying for a Master’s or a Doctorate degree. Exchange students, on the other hand, usually attend courses at Bachelor level.

9 226

4 939 3 458

Study periods from Finland 2014

Unknown

125

10 0

Number of students Licentiate and Doctorate degrees

study for the lower (Bachelor’s) degree in Finnish

universities and universities of applied sciences. Foreign applicants** 2015 (N=11 471)

100 % 90

Asia Africa

Graph 21: Study periods and degree studies abroad by education level

Study periods to Finland 2014

Bachelor’s degree in a traditional university Bachelor’s degree in a university of applied sciences

International degree students in Finland 2013

or a lower degree in a traditional university in Finland. This applies especially to Finnish students: 80% of their study periods abroad are at Bachelor

Graph 20: Distribution of exchange and degree students in Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences 100 % 80 70

4 959

3 916

9 673

60 50 40 30

5 212

6 020

10 582

20 10 0

done by students at Master’s level. This may, how-

Different fields of study attract different types of

ever, be slightly misleading due to how the statistics

international student mobility. Outgoing students

are compiled: in Finland, higher education students

from traditional universities are mostly students of

Universities of applied sciences

are automatically entitled to continue their studies

economics and business administration, humanities

up to Master’s level. In practice, many students

and social sciences. By contrast, most international

Traditional universities

have already started doing Master-level courses

degree students study technology and engineering

while they still haven’t completed their Bachelor’s

and natural sciences. The fields with the highest

degree. Students will, however, be regarded as

student mobility numbers are not necessarily the

Bachelor-level students until they have got their

most internationally active if we compare the num-

Bachelor’s degree.

bers to the total numbers of students in these fields.

Number of students

90

Study periods from Finland

Study periods to Finland

International degree students in Finland

FIELDS OF STUDY

level. Only about 20% of study periods abroad are

From this perspective, small arts fields are more Students doing post-master’s degrees seem to do

active in international mobility.

very few study periods abroad, at least ones that

22

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

last over 3 months which is required to be included

In universities of applied sciences, business and ad-

in these statistics. It may be that study periods this

ministration is very popular both when it comes to

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

23

Graph 22: Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad by field of study, academic year 2014–2015 Social services and health Service sector Agriculture and forestry

990

212

Other

44

302 Natural sciences

301 Social sciences

1 543

ing degree students. Technology also attracts many exchange and degree students to Finland. By con-

Education

109

25 Technology and engineering

incoming and outgoing study periods and incom-

Finnish students of social services and health. number

Humanities

1 267 Arts

708

Fields of study popular among Finnish students abroad partly reflect the fields with high level of competition for places at home.

Economics and business

1 653

Finnish degree students tend to study different compared to international degree students in Finland. Humanities and arts, economics and social sciences are particularly popular. Social services

to higher education share some features. It is typical, for example, that – at least in Finland – it seems to be something mainly for girls and women: over 60% of outgoing participants are women.

Finnish students abroad than among international

236 329

compared to number of students in the field 2014, %

change 2009–2014, %

number

compared to number change of students 2009–2014, in the field % 2014, %

–23

666

3

–7

960

4

6

5

8

308

5

25

630

13

72

2

21

449

2

19

438

3

80

Social sciences and law

895

4

–9

1 025

4

1

923

4

40

Economics and business

1 512

7

35

1 275

5

20

1 396

7

97

Medicine

157

1

1

297

2

–1

799

5

95

Natural sciences

301

1

–11

455

2

5

1 895

8

103

Technology and engineering

817

3

–6

1 304

3

23

3 086

10

81

Other

161

4

7

241

5

10

455

9

73

All fields

5 212

3

1

6 020

3

11

10 582

6

71

Biggest numbers

The most active compared to the total number of students

Biggest growth

Table 6: Study periods from and to Finland and international degree students in universities of applied sciences by field of study 2014

The most popular fields of study abroad reflect the

far the most popular partner country, being number one on the

in Finland is one of the most important reasons for

top 10 list at all education levels, followed by Spain. All levels also

going to study abroad1. On the other hand, lot of

have a great deal of cooperation with Russia, Italy and the UK.

exchanges also take place in the fields of economics, humanities, social sciences and arts. Students in these fields may also be more inclined to go abroad. Compared to the previous academic year, the

times more Finnish school pupils and higher education students

biggest increase in studies abroad has been within

go to Sweden to study than the other way round; among VET

social services and health, particularly medicine, on

students the difference is more than tenfold.

one hand, and within social sciences, particularly

Study periods to Finland

Study periods from Finland

number

in Finland. Difficulties in getting a place to study

not attract Swedish students at all to the same extent. About 6

Arts Education and psychology

among outgoing students.

student mobility, regardless of the education level. Germany is by

popular destination at all age groups in Finland, but Finland does

3

and natural sciences are comparatively less popular

fields in which competition for study places is high

dic countries is apparent at all education levels, too: Sweden is a

804

change 2009–2014, number %

International degree students

fields. They represent a bigger proportion among

Finns tend to work with the same countries when it comes to

The imbalance of mobility flows between Finland and other Nor-

compared to number of students in the field 2014, %

Humanities and theology

and health, particularly medicine, are also popular

degree students in Finland. By contrast, technology International pupil and student mobility at all levels, from school

Study periods to Finland

Study periods from Finland

trast, international exchanges are popular among

subjects in higher education institutions abroad

International mobility is dominated by women and the same partner countries at all levels of education

Table 5: Study periods from and to Finland and international degree students in universities by field of study 2014

compared to number of students in the field 2014, %

change 2009–2014, number %

International degree students

compared to number of students in the field 2014, %

change 2009–2014, %

number

compared to number change of students 2009–2014, in the field % 2014, %

Humanities and education

62

4

2

30

2

36

19

1

1 800

Culture

564

5

17

401

4

25

337

3

47

Social sciences, business and administration

1 601

6

27

1 639

6

17

3 423

12

60

Natural sciences Technology, communication and transport Luonnonvara- ja ympäristöala

107

2

70

72

1

13

629

11

39

875

2

15

809

2

24

3 267

8

42

112

3

7

62

1

–43

55

1

83

Social services, health and sport

966

3

12

613

2

21

1 189

3

53

Tourism, catering and domestic services

672

8

4

290

4

18

754

10

57

All fields

4 959

3

17

3 916

3

18

9 673

7

51

Biggest numbers

The most active compared to the total number of students

Biggest growth

law, on the other. The imbalance is not quite as prominent with the other Nordic countries but there are still always more outgoing Finnish stu-

2 Kun opintie vie ulkomaille.

dents compared to incoming ones. The only exception is Norway

Suomalaiset tutkinto-opiskelijat ulkomaisissa korkeakouluissa.

with almost the same number of outgoing and incoming pupils in

CIMO Occasional Paper 2c/2003.

general education.

(When learning takes you abroad. Finnish degree students in higher education institutions abroad. CIMO Occasional Paper 2c/2003, available only in Finnish.)

24

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

25

945 3 793

Graph 23: International higher education student mobility by Finnish region

Study periods from Finland

Study periods from Finland

International degree students in Finland

FIELDS top 3

The number of students by region is from 2013.

Sources: CIMO, Vipunen and Statistics Finland

TO top 3 FIELDS top 3

63 %

Compared to the total number of students 1. Germany 2. Spain 3. United Kingdom UNI: 1. Economics 2. Technology 3. Social sciences

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Social services and health 3. Technology, communication and transport International 9 512 degree students FROM top 3

26

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

UNI: 1. Economics 2. Humanities 3. Social sciences

3 684 Study periods to Finland FROM top 3 FIELDS top 3

3.2 %

57 %

Study periods from Finland

Compared to the total number of students

TO top 3

1. Germany 2. France 3. Spain UNI: 1. Economics 2. Technology 3. Humanities

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Technology, communication and transport 3. Social services and health

Northern Finland Universities: 2 Universities of applied sciences: 3 Students: 36 688

4 166 Study periods to Finland FROM top 3 FIELDS top 3

Compared to 42 % the total number 5.7 % of students 1. Tourism, catering and 1. Asia 42 % FIELDS domestic services 2. EU/EEA 25 % top 3 2. Technology, communication 3. Africa 14 % and transport 3. Social sciences, business and administration

3.3 % Compared to the total number of students

1. Germany 2. Spain 3. Czech Republic

1. Germany 2. France 3. Spain

Western Finland

UNI: 1. Technology 2. Economics 3. Social sciences

Universities: 6 Universities of applied sciences: 8 Students: 116 861

Eastern Finland Universities: 1 Universities of applied sciences: 3 Students: 29 854

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Technology, communication and transport 3. Culture

FROM top 3

UNI: 1. Economics 2. Technology 3. Education

FIELDS top 3

FIELDS top 3

784

2.5 %

TO top 3 FIELDS top 3

Universities: 5 Universities of applied sciences: 10 Students: 126 728

56 %

Compared to the total number of students 1. Germany 2. France 3. Czech Republic UNI: 1. Technology 2. Natural sciences 3. Social sciences

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Social services and health 3. Technology, communication and transport 43 %

1. Natural sciences 2. Tourism, catering and domestic services 3. Social sciences, business and administration

70 %

Compared to the total number of students 1. Germany 2. Spain 3. Russia UNI: 1. Economics 2. Humanities 3. Social sciences

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Social services and health 3. Tourism, catering and domestic services

Southern Finland

3.1 %

Compared to the total number 5.0 % of students

1. Asia 44 % 2. EU/EEA 18 % 3. Rest of Europe 18 %

Study periods from Finland

1 146 Study periods to Finland

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Social services and health 3. Technology, communication and transport

FROM top 3

55 %

Compared to 44 % the total number 7.8 % of students 1. Tourism, catering and 1. Asia 39 % FIELDS domestic services 2. EU/EEA 26 % top 3 2. Technology, communication 3. Rest of and transport Europe 18 % 3. Social sciences, business and administration

FIELDS top 3

60 %

Compared to the total number of students

International 1 852 degree students

International 6 584 degree students FROM top 3

Study periods from Finland

Compared to the total number of students

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Technology, communication and transport 3. Social services and health

The regions follow the old provinces. Provinces of Oulu and Lapland have been combined.

3.7 %

64 %

1. Germany 2. Spain 3. United Kingdom

TO top 3

Study periods to Finland

4 685

3.2 %

2.6 %

940 Study periods to Finland FROM top 3 FIELDS top 3

3.1 %

55 %

Compared to the total number of students 1. Germany 2. France 3. Spain UNI: 1. Social sciences 2. Education 3. Economics

UAS: 1. Business and administration 2. Technology, communication and transport 3. Social services and health

International 1 779 degree students FROM top 3

Compared to 46 % the total number 5.8 % of students 1. Natural resources and 1. Asia 38 % FIELDS the environment 2. EU/EEA 34 % top 3 2. Natural sciences 3. Rest of 3. Technology, communication Europe 14 % and transport

FAKTAA. FACTS AND FIGURES

27

ity and co-operation. As an agency of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, we promote internationalisation in a variety of ways. We co-ordinate exchange programmes, trainee opportunities and scholarship schemes, and implement and inform about EU programmes in Finland. We support the teaching of Finnish language and culture in universities outside Finland and raise the international profile of Finnish education. We collect, produce and share data and knowledge on internationalisation with experts, decision-makers and the general public. Our vision is a genuinely global-minded Finland. The CIMO study, analysis and evaluation team produces data to help in the planning and development of international co-operation. CIMO compiles statistics on international student mobility and conducts surveys on the internationalisation of education and youth work, and on current issues of international collaboration. FAKTAA – Facts and Figures is a series of publications on the key findings of CIMO’s study, analysis and evaluation team. The publications are available both in print and as pdf documents at www.cimo.fi, some also in English. The full reports are available as pdf publications in the series of Facts and Figures (Tietoa ja tilastoja) at www.cimo.fi, mostly in Finnish.

Edited by Tiina Lehmusvaara.

Towards a global-minded Finland ISSN 1798-3657 (pdf) ISBN 978-951-805-671-6 (pdf)

Graphic design and graphics: Liisa Valtonen, photographs: Satu Haavisto and Antero Aaltonen

CIMO is an expert organisation providing services on international mobil-