Serie R: Language, Work, and Belonging - Insights from the MISAS Project

The report "Language, Work, and Belonging - Insights from the MISAS Project" has been published in Novia's Publications and Productions Series R: Reports  16/2026 i October 2026.

Foreword

Migration and Integration in Finland – Perspectives from the MISAS Project

This e-book examines migration and integration in Finland. It is linked to the MISAS project— Model for Integration of Foreign Students through Language Immersion Studies and Work-Life Collaboration—implemented by Novia University of Applied Sciences and Arcada University of Applied Sciences in 2025–2026. The publication gives a voice to educators, project experts, international students, and alumni, who share their thoughts and feelings about integration and how it can be strengthened.

The History and Future of Migration in Finland

In my childhood in the 1970's, Finland was a relatively homogeneous country. Its recognised minorities and including the Sámi in Lapland and the Roma, and most people spoke Finnish, Swedish, or Sámi. At that time, Finland was largely a country of emigration: many Finns left for the United States and Canada, and later for Sweden, in search of better opportunities. 

Even before and after independence in 1917, Finland granted asylum to some Russians, Estonians, and Russian Jews. A small number of other foreigners arrived for study, work, or marriage. In the 1970s, Chilean refugees came to Finland, and from 1979 onwards Finland also received refugees from Vietnam (Finland 100, n.d.; Koikkalainen, 2021). In the 1990s, Ingrian Finns—descendants of Finns from the Soviet Union—were allowed to return to
Finland (Koikkalainen, 2021). The arrival of a larger refugee group from Somalia in the same decade, marked an important shift in the balance between incoming and outgoing migration (Kananen & Haverinen, 2019; Koikkalainen, 2021). Gradually, Finland began to see itself as a country of immigration, and its policy orientation moved from assimilation towards multiculturalism (Koikkalainen, 2021).

Today, the number of first residence permit applications is influenced by the political and social situation in key countries of departure, and Finland’s labour market conditions, the intake in international degree programmes, and overall attractiveness as a place to live and study. (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026). In 2025, a total of 13,565 applications for a first residence permit for studies were submitted—4% fewer than in the corresponding period the previous year (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026). The Finnish Immigration Service anticipates that the number of applicants for study-based residence permits will remain high, although applications are not expected to increase in the next few years
(Finnish Immigration Service, 2026). The introduction of full-cost tuition fees in higher education and upper secondary education is expected to reduce the number of international students, at least in the short term (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026; Ministry of Education and Culture, 2025). 

Forecasting trends in work-based immigration involves considerable uncertainty, as the number of residence permit applications depends primarily on economic developments (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026). Nevertheless, population ageing and persistent skills shortages are likely to sustain demand for foreign labour in Finland, even during periods of economic fluctuation (Finnish Immigration Service, 2026).

Migration and Integration Here and Now

Current immigrant populations are even more diverse and complex, and we can speak of superdiversity. This also applies to students. Some migrants intend to settle permanently, others plan to return, and some lead transnational lives, moving between countries and maintaining ties in more than one place.

Finnish education enjoys a strong international reputation, even though the current economic situation is challenging. Each year, Finland welcomes international students— sometimes together with their families—who leave their home country behind, pay tuition fees, and must demonstrate sufficient funds to enter the country. They need to find affordable housing and ways to support themselves. They must also learn the language and navigate a new culture, often while trying to secure employment to stay. In other words, student migration and integration is a multifaceted phenomenon. Therefore we have compiled this collection of texts to explore the topic from multiple perspectives and to give voice to the target group itself, whose members have generously contributed their own writings to this publication. —There is still much work to be done to strengthen integration.

The Publication – Why is it Crucial?

The publication is divided into three parts. The first explores working life, addressing themes such as alumni entrepreneurship, migrants’ often invisible skills, and the value of gaining local work experience. The second examines the local language as a key to access and participation. The third highlights the role of onboarding and networking in fostering integration. The publication aims to give the target group a voice by including writings that its members have generously contributed. However, much work remains to be done to strengthen integration.

With this publication, we warmly thank and pay tribute to Ms. Camilla Ekman, our former Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Novia, who initiated the project and prepared the funding application. We are also deeply grateful to Dr Pia Jünger, the MISAS project manager, for her commitment and guidance throughout the project, as well as to Ms. Hanna Guseff, the current Dean, and Mr. Kenneth Nordell, Research Manager, for their support. Our heartfelt thanks go to all authors and respondents who contributed their time and experiences, and to the faculty editor, Ms. Maria Engberg, and the graphic designer, Ms. Emilia Nuottimäki, at Novia. Finally, we thank our generous financers and their active representatives and the steering group for the project for their engagement.

Reija Anckar, Head of MBA Programmes at Novia

About the publication

MISAS - Modell för integrering av utländska studerande via språkbadsstudier och
arbetslivssamarbete
Language, Work, and Belonging - Insights from the MISAS Project

Editors: Reija Anckar och Maria Engberg
Authors: Reija Anckar, Nasimsadat Ebrahimnejad Rahvar, Vida Moghaddam, Maria Pick,
Benedicta Edovia, Chamal Jalath, Sana Saleem, Pia Jünger, Terese Herrgård-Backlund,
Eva Holmberg, Laura Johansson och Sara Razmju
Layout: Emilia Nuottimäki
Photos: Adobe Stock

Publisher: Yrkeshögskolan Novia
Wolffskavägen 33, 65200 Vasa, Finland
© Yrkeshögskolan Novia,

Novia publikation och produktion, serie: R, Rapporter 17/2026
ISBN: 978-952-7526-87-3
ISSN: 1799-4179
CC BY 4.0