NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONALISATION OF FINNISH UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Finland was accepted in the European Union’s Erasmus Programme, launched in 1987, together with the other EFTA countries in the academic year 1992–
1993. At that time, the easiest way to participate in this European cooperation was to join existing sectoral ICP networks (Inter-University Cooperation Programmes) and their student and teacher exchanges as well as develop curricula and intensive courses. The first programme adopted by the European Council was Comett, which preceded Erasmus. Participation in all the other European Union higher education programmes became possible when Finland joined the EU in 1995. The first Erasmus Intensive Language Courses (EILC) in Finnish were available in 1996. Since the end of the 1990s, bilateral Erasmus agreements have been prioritised, though even bigger networks have been
needed in research and development projects. Since 1997, HEIs were also required to publish and commit to the European Policy Statement (EPS), a strategy for developing European-level cooperation. For many HEIs it was the first strategy of their internationalisation. (Garam & Ketolainen 2009;
Ketolainen 2007.) In 2015, the Erasmus programme was finally opened also for the networks between the HEIs in Europe and those outside the European Union, and the new Erasmus+ Global Mobility was launched.
The Nordic Nordplus programme and Nordic networks had already provided exchange opportunities for Finnish HEIs since 1988, and UASs were also able to participate in this programme since the beginning of the 1990s. Finnish programmes such as FIRST (Finnish-Russian Student and Teacher Exchange), North-South-South Higher Education Institution Network programme and Asia – Education Cooperation programme have also supported networking in mobility and projects.
The Centre for International Mobility CIMO (currently Finnish National Agency for Education EDUFI) was established under the Ministry of Education in 1991 to support Finnish HEIs in their international activities, especially student and teacher exchange. From the very beginning, experts responsible for international affairs also formed networks and mailing lists (e.g. Campo) to increase their knowledge concerning the internationalisation of HEIs. Some of the main aims also included collecting best practices and peer support. This network cooperation also resulted in a yearly conference on the administration of international affairs in the mid-1990s. (Garam & Ketolainen 2009.) The Finnish International Educators’ Days (korkeakoulujen kansainvälisten asioiden kevätpäivät) is still the main event in international education cooperation in Finland organised by HEIs and CIMO. Regular meetings between international offices of HEIs and CIMO exist as a permanent cooperation practice.
Nowadays, social media such as Facebook and other channels are also available in relation to different programmes like Erasmus+ and others. CIMO has had a very important role, as well as a very unique role compared to similar organisations in many other countries, as a national office supporting the internationalisation of Finnish HEIs and cooperating with other stakeholders abroad. In Europe, the biggest event in international education cooperation is the EAIE (European Association for International Education) conference, with thousands of participants every year.
The Finnish National Network for East and Southeast Asia of Finnish HEIs (Asia Network) was established in 1997 based on the report and action plan of the Ministry of Education. Four years later, in 2001, the Network was divided into two different networks, a network of the universities and a network of the
UASs, courtesy of the Ministry. Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences was the coordinator of the Network of UASs, though the Ministry of Education also granted network activities. Entrance examinations organised in Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, China, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam from 2001 onwards was one of the most innovative activities of the Asia Network of Finnish UASs. The Network also published the first joint brochure of the UASs introducing the degree programmes conducted in English and produced virtual Asian Studies and yearly Asian Orientation Days for exchange students going to Asian countries. In addition, staff members´
capacity building and knowledge related to Asia was supported. In 2009, however, the additional funding granted to the network by the Ministry of Education ended and, among other activities, a new solution to organise entrance examinations abroad was needed. (Marten 2009; Vanhanen 2013.)
The Pinnet Network of the managers of international affairs of the UASs was established officially in 2004, and after that the Network was granted funding by the Ministry of Education for a period of six years. This was already based on long-lasting cooperation between the UASs. Turku University of Applied Sciences was the coordinator of the Pinnet Network. The Network’s main aim was to respond to the challenges caused by the Bologna Process, a rapidly changing global operational environment and the national aims concerning internationalisation of higher education and research in Finland. (Salonen
& Virtanen 2009; Ketolainen 2009.) Developing and sharing best practices, and increasing quality assurance and expertise in internationalisation as well as peer support, have been the most important results of this network cooperation. The Pinnet Network shared knowledge related to the institutional internationalisation and review of international programmes. The network members became familiar with e.g. the OECD’s International Quality Review (IQR) process, one of the first international initiatives to assist institutions in evaluating and improving the quality of their international activities, and the MINT (Mapping Internationalisation) tool developed by Nuffic, as well as the European IMPI (Indicators for Mapping and Profiling Internationalisation) tool (van Gaalen 2010). Criteria for strategic alliances, partnerships and partner analyses were also described together.
Divided into active regional working groups, the Pinnet Network also had sub-projects related to marketing UASs internationally and producing virtual programmes supporting international mobility, among other things.
The Network also actively participated in the preparation of the strategy for the internationalisation of HEIs together with the Ministry of Education, and at the Ministry’s request it produced a “vision 2015” for the internationalisation
of the UASs. (Salonen & Virtanen 2009.) Currently, the Pinnet Network is active in developing international activities of the Finnish UASs together with e.g. the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Rectors’ Conference of the Finnish UASs (Arene), the network of the managers of international affairs in the Finnish Universities (Aivoriihi), the FINNIPS Network, the network of the managers of student affairs in the Finnish UASs and the experts of education export. In 2007 the Pinnet Network also had a representative in the Executive Group of the Development of the Joint Application System for the international degree programmes.
The Finnish Network for International Programmes (FINNIPS, former FINNIBS) was established at the end of 2009 based on the need to recruit students abroad and organise entrance examinations in target countries. The Network was also partly a response to the ending of the Network for East and Southeast Asia. In the beginning, the network cooperation was between four UASs and their International Business Programmes, but soon this cooperation expanded in total to 14 UASs and 43 degree programmes taught completely in English. (Vanhanen 2013.) At best, the cooperation has brought together 22 UASs and up to 67 degree programmes (Vanhanen 2015, 12). Currently, in 2019, the FINNIPS Network is still active, though the number of partner UASs and their English-taught degree programmes is a bit lower due to UAS mergers and introduction of new selection methods. However, in addition to ten years of solid cooperation, the Network has faced completely new challenges related to the new phase of commercialising international education. The FINNIPS Network also has an important role in sharing knowledge between UASs, maintaining contact with the stakeholders and ensuring the quality of the entire chain that is involved in getting international degree students to Finnish UASs.