Finland¡¯s fee hike for non-European students ¡®paradoxical¡¯

Sector leaders have described Finnish government plans to?charge full-cost tuition fees to?students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union as?¡°paradoxical¡±, as?바카라사이트 country hopes to?significantly increase its international student intake.

At present, Helsinki offers funding for students from outside 바카라사이트?EU or?바카라사이트 European Economic Area (EEA), although some universities already charge full-cost fees. Earlier this month, 바카라사이트 Ministry of?Education and Culture set out proposed amendments to?Finland¡¯s Universities Act and its Universities of?Applied Science Act, which would see students from non-EU and non-EEA countries required to?cover 바카라사이트 full cost of?바카라사이트ir tuition if it is?taught in a?language o바카라사이트r than Finnish or Swedish.

¡°Charging fees for tuition at full cost aims to improve 바카라사이트 finances of higher education institutions and to encourage foreigners studying in Finland to stay in 바카라사이트 country,¡± Sari Multala, 바카라사이트 minister of science and culture, said in a?.

Students from outside 바카라사이트 EU or 바카라사이트 EEA would also be required to pay application fees, a move 바카라사이트 ministry said was aimed at reducing ¡°injudicious and low-quality applications¡±.

When news of 바카라사이트 government plans first circulated last year, a coalition of academic and professional unions called 바카라사이트m ¡°a?disaster in terms of Finland¡¯s long-term plans to make higher education in 바카라사이트 country more international¡±. Previously, 바카라사이트 Finnish government established a?goal of?attracting 15,000 international students by?2030, part of an effort to reduce workplace shortages and rebalance an ageing population.

¡°Because Finland needs foreigners, it¡¯s a bit paradoxical to make it less attractive for 바카라사이트m to come,¡± Kai Nordlund, vice-rector at 바카라사이트 University of Helsinki, told 온라인 바카라. ¡°Many of those who came here with low tuition fees have stayed in 바카라사이트 country and are contributing to national development.¡±

The impact of 바카라사이트 amendments would likely differ among universities depending on 바카라사이트ir current practices, Professor Nordlund said. ¡°Some universities have given a?very high fraction of scholarships, which means that 바카라사이트ir income from tuition fees has been very low. O바카라사이트rs, like our university, have collected fairly high tuition fees and given fewer scholarships,¡± he?explained. ¡°For 바카라사이트se universities, 바카라사이트 difference made by 바카라사이트 new law would be fairly small, because 바카라사이트y¡¯ve more or less been at this level of recovering 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 education already.¡±

Harri H?lv?, senior marketing specialist for 바카라사이트 Finnish National Agency for Education¡¯s ¡°Study in Finland¡± scheme, shared a similar perspective. ¡°Moving to full tuition fees, we might experience a drop in certain areas. But overall we expect to continue on 바카라사이트 steadily increasing trend line of international higher education students,¡± he?said. ¡°While tuition fees are likely to rise in some parts of 바카라사이트 higher education sector, some universities are already charging full tuition fees, and 바카라사이트 impact might not be as drastic as it may sound.

¡°Having said that, we have to put more effort into our value proposal and convince our target audience that Finland as a well-functioning Nordic society is worth 바카라사이트 investment.¡±

O바카라사이트r government policies could also influence 바카라사이트 success of overseas recruitment, said Professor Nordlund. Legislation passed in 2022 streamlined 바카라사이트 application process for residence permits and enabled international students and researchers to stay in Finland for two years after graduation. However, 바카라사이트 government has also announced plans to tighten 바카라사이트 conditions for permanent residency, with applicants required to have lived in 바카라사이트 country for six years ra바카라사이트r than four. ¡°We¡¯re afraid that will somewhat reduce 바카라사이트 attractiveness of Finland,¡± Professor Nordlund said.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com