This project aims to foster better intercultural understanding and professional inclusion of students with language and networking challenges through the development of a scalable and effective integration framework.
Nordic countries are invested in creating a more diverse workforce for social and economic wellbeing. Many students with international backgrounds have identified language and networking challenges as obstacles to integration.
Universities offering professional education programmes are therefore in a unique position to address this concern through close collaboration with organisations and business, as well as peer mentorship, during the practical training periods.
This project aims to foster better intercultural understanding and professional inclusion of those students through the development of a scalable and effective integration framework.
Participants
More about the project
Building on the success of a pilot by Arcada University of Applied Sciences (Finland), an initial network that includes partners from OsloMet University (Norway) and Malmo University (Sweden) aims to:
- co-design and develop a model and toolkit that can be used in different Nordic HEIs (2025)
- create a larger network with Nordic HEIs who offer practical training (2025/2026)
- organize workshops to share insights and co-create strategies between educational institutions and relevant industry partners (2026) and
- pilot the model in all participating countries (2027)
This is an interdisciplinary approach, and the resulting framework will leverage the strengths and insights of diverse Nordic professional educations to better support students with international backgrounds in their professional and social adaptation.
Expected output includes the model and toolkit, a comparative report on integration practices through education initiatives in Nordic HEIs, enhanced collaboration between Nordic HEIs and industry partners, as well as improved employability and professional adaptability for student participants.
