Financing internationalization of higher education in Finland

• In Event: The internationalization of higher education and national reactions to critical trends: A student research panel

Abstract

Internationalization is a developing phenomenon, which creates new opportunities for systems of higher education, and increases competition among them. However, the differences in university experiences and resources often determine how successful they will be in delivering their programs to foreign students, as well as developing cooperation in education and research with various stakeholders around the globe. This paper discusses transformations, which took place in the Finnish higher education system in order to increase the share of non-state financing in education and research activities of the country’s universities and polytechnics. The findings reveal that diversification of funding has been successful only in a small number of universities, thus they face a challenge of dependence on the government’s financing. As the Ministry of Education proposes a new set of the reforms for higher education institutions’ funding schemes, academia attitude remains inconsistent. Discussion of the introduction of tuition fees for non-EU students evolves at the same time. Thus, a question of export of education and expertise establishment in the Finnish higher education setting needs further research. Through conducting interviews with higher education stakeholders, this study aims to identify transformations that take place in academic community, and their effect on success of the ideas of education export in Finland. The study provides an additional perspective to the panel by demonstrating the role of higher education institutions, academics, and students in transformation of traditionally state-oriented higher education system into the internationally comparative one.

Author

• Lelyzaveta Shchepetylnykova, The George Washington University