Explanation: The language barrier makes it difficult for international students to find employment in South Karelia

The majority of companies in South Karelia would be ready to employ international students and experts. However, according to the companies, the biggest obstacle to the utilization of foreign workers is the lack or lack of Finnish language skills.

The information can be found out by studying at LUT University by Patricia Virsinger from the report. Virsinger made his report in the regional city network's Flexible educational models together with business life project as part of the partial implementation of the city of Imatra.

Another major obstacle to hiring international workers is the structure of companies. They are often such that they do not support the hiring of international workers.

-An important consideration is also the fact that local companies do not know the opportunities well enough: a fifth of the company representatives who answered were not aware of the presence of international experts and the opportunities they offer, Visinger says.

Career guidance should be invested in

Studying at LUT University Bayzid Islam on the other hand, found out by what means LUT's International Cooperation Universities have committed their own foreign students to companies in their regions. In addition, the report considers which methods of operation should be implemented in South Karelia.

The biggest obstacle to the integration of foreign students turned out to be the language barrier.

- Information shared at the beginning of the studies about the labor market in the region and the skills needed in working life would seem to help employment, says Islam.

To improve the orientation of international students, he suggests the following ways:

• Investing in career guidance, especially at the beginning of studies (labor market, language studies, and special features and requirements of the region/province)
• Offering language study opportunities also in the evenings, weekends and during the summer holidays
• The university, municipalities and companies in the region are more closely involved in engaging international students.

Flexible training models together with business life (SeutuAIKO) project is part of the network projects of the regional cities' skilled workforce. The city of Imatra is involved as a partial implementer. The project is running from 1.4.2019 April 31.8.2021 to 1.6.2019 August XNUMX. At Imatra, the implementation started on June XNUMX, XNUMX. The project is financed by the Southern Ostrobothnia Federation.

For more information:

Patricia Virsinger, patricia.virsingerstudent.lut.fi (patricia[dot]virsinger[at]student[dot]lut[dot]fi)

Bayzid Islam, Bayzid.Islamstudent.lut.fi (Bayzid[dot]Islam[at]student[dot]lut[dot]fi)