How to improve the employability of non-Finnish speaking foreign students in healthcare industry in South Savo and Kymenlaakso regions

This study focused on mapping the current scenario of healthcare in Finland and providing relevant data to be used by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences’ (Xamk) Talent Boost team when designing and implementing projects that will promote the future employability of non-Finnish speaking foreign students who acquire their Nursing degree in Finland. A growing elderly population and the decrease in the number of Finnish healthcare professionals entering the market motivated the creation of the new Nursing degree program in Kotka and the Talent Boost program that operates nationwide. Attracting foreign students is a response to the shortage of workforce in the field faced all around Finland and worsened by new legislation increasing the ratio per patient recently passed. This study used a qualitative research method plus an interpretive approach. Inductive analysis was used to assess the data collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants who are experts in the field in the South Savo, Kymenlaakso and Uusimaa (as benchmark) regions. Individual interviews were conducted remotely. The key findings in this study consist of the extreme relevance of the Finnish language, how poorly prepared employers are to employ and manage foreign workforce and the struggle foreigners face when attempting to integrate in Finnish social life. Underemployment and emigration of foreign students after graduation have been identified as a possible by-product of limited fluency in the local language. This study is concluded with practical suggestions offered to promote the employability of foreign workforce in the healthcare environment in Finland, such as partnering with local actors who promote language immersion activities and social integration as well as activities which facilitate networking between employers and foreign students