MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/1.

SECOND UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

ETHICAL FORUM, 16 OCTOBER 2003

UBIQUITOUS ENGLISH? THE EXTREME CASE OF FINLAND

Anita Lehikoinen, Counsellor for EducationMINISTRY OF EDUCATION

FINLAND

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/2.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

20 + 29 HEIs - very national Finnish/Swedish-system First strategy for internationalisation of higher

education in the late 1980s Quality of education (and research) and wider

provision of education Student, teacher and staff exchanges were seen as

tools for internationalisation Ambitious quantitative goals set for student

exchanges ― articulated as a number of outgoing students

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/3.

WHY ENGLISH-LANGUAGE EDUCATION

For the benefit of international exchange students and Finnish students

Non-degree students could not be expected to know enough Finnish/Swedish

Clearly different approach to foreign degree students - knowledge of Finnish/Swedish required

First programmes in architecture, pulp and paper, Northern Studies, Finnish Culture, Design

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/4.

UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS― TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES

Polytechnic system established in the 1990s Internationalisation one of the key

objectives from the start Needs of the working life Competitive edge compared to universities Degree programmes in English A few programmes in German (with a little

success)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/5.

SITUATION NOW

5 - 10 % of all HE provision in English English-language courses in all universities and

polytechnics Most programmes in business and technology, music,

design, visual arts c. 350 programmes altogether Successful strategy: attractiveness of Finnish higher

education has increased Balance reached by universities Finland: the little Britain in Continental Europe

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/6.

NEW INTERNATIONALISATION STRATEGY

Internationalisation as a response to globalisation Competition, labour market needs, demographic facts More foreign degree students, teachers, staff Programmes in the fields of HEIs expertise Integration of foreign students in Finnish society after

studies Every European country has the same strategy - what is

our niche? Fee-free education English-taught programmes Quality through international cooperation

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/7.

THINGS TO (RE)CONSIDER Safeguarding HE provision in the national

languages Language proficiency of teachers and students Integration of Finnish and international

students Role of Finnish/Swedish for foreigners What will happen to mobility in the Bologna

process? Competitiveness of Finnish HE Are we committing a linguistic suicide?

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION /Department for Education and Science Policy University Division/pmm/24.10.2003/8.

DEFINITELY NOT!