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Various Variables
Aiming at recognising competences and guiding educated immigrants

Browsing Tag mapping of competences

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SIMHE path ─ connecting Finnish employers and international talents 

Marianne Autero · 3.2.2020
Shaki
Picture: Marianne Autero

 

“Sisu. I love this word, it explains me very well!” exclaims Shaki, who is a business professional from Bangladesh. She is determined to build her career in Finland, which she has already learnt to call home. To boost her career, Shaki has taken part in SIMHE Path (1) during autumn 2019. The project is run by SIMHE-Metropolia (2) and it aims to build an educational model to promote the swift employment of highly educated immigrants by providing career counselling, mapping of competences, relevant supplementary studies and links to companies.  

Knowing the skills-set required in the Finnish labor market 

Shaki arrived in Finland just about a year ago, in January 2019. She holds an MBA degree and has several years of work experience in the field of accounting in an export-oriented company. She has also run a small online business. In Finland, Shaki would like to find a job related to accounting, investment, and banking.  

Having looked for jobs online, Shaki has noticed that most companies require a fluent command of Finnish. While improving her language skills, Shaki also realised that she needs to focus on how to fit her professional competences into the Finnish job market. This is where SIMHE path came to help her. “I know accounting techniques, but what I lack is the language skills needed to work in Finnish”, Shaki explains. Being able to communicate in Finnish can be a crucial skill in many jobs in terms of profession and interacting with co-workers (3). 

SIMHE path evaluates how your current competences fit the Finnish context 

Shaki first heard about SIMHE–Metropolia’s services (4) on her Finnish course and immediately got interested. Luckily, the call for participants for SIMHE path in autumn 2019 happened to be open, and Shaki’s background in Business Administration matched the participant criteria (5). 

Shaki participated in an orientation session, an in-depth professional discussion with Metropolia’s Senior Lecturer in International Business, a CV workshop, and a feedback session during autumn 2019. As part of the in-depth professional discussion, Shaki also received an evaluation document that she can use for example in job-search as a reference of having her skills evaluated by a Finnish higher education institution. The Mapping of Competences (6) has been one of SIMHE-Metropolia’s services since 2016, and it is currently conducted as part of SIMHE path. 

Shaki has been happy with the process. In her words, it clarified things and helped her envision alternative paths. She will now look into the possibility of taking on additional studies, possibly in the field of ICT. Shaki is determined to make her way into the Finnish job market.  

University-level education, a keen motivation to study Finnish and sisu are a combination that will surely boost Shaki’s career and help her land her to find dream job in Finland. Shaki is open to new opportunities the future may bring: “Now I want to say yes, yes, yes!” she smiles.  

Spring 2020 SIMHE path to connect international ICT professionals with Finnish companies 

There are many immigrants residing in Helsinki and its surrounding Metropolitan area (7). Employment is seen as one of the best ways to integrate into society and it also helps in learning Finnish language.  

In spring 2020, we will pilot another round of SIMHE path, this time in close cooperation with ICT companies. The ICT field is growing rapidly, and up to 70 % of companies in the industry are hiring (8). In SIMHE Path, there will be a new call for participants during February 2020. This time it will be open for those who have completed a degree in ICT. Could that be you? Your competences will be mapped and compared to the companies’ needs, and the aim is to find you an internship in a company matching your background. Stay tuned, more information coming soon!  

Registration for spring 2020 SIMHE-path will begin on 7 February 2020. Link for enrolment will be provided on this blog post on the date.

Writers

Marianne Autero works as a Career Coach at SIMHE-Metropolia services. She focuses on especially in planning, developing and implementing guidance and counselling practices for immigrants and is responsible for the guidance process in the SIMHE Path project. 

Leena Honkasalo worked as Project Planner in the SIMHE Path project.  

Sources:  

1) SIMHE path https://www.metropolia.fi/en/research-development-and-innovation/all-projects/simhe-path/ (Read 20.1.2020) 

2) SIMHE-Metropolia https://www.metropolia.fi/en/about-us/simhe/ (Read 20.1.2020) 

3) Stenberg H., Autero M & Häkkinen, M. 2017. Kielen merkitys korkeasti koulutettujen maahanmuuttajien ohjaamisessa. Kieliverkosto. https://www.kieliverkosto.fi/fi/journals/kieli-koulutus-ja-yhteiskunta-lokakuu-2017-2/kielen-merkitys-korkeasti-koulutettujen-maahanmuuttajien-ohjaamisessa (Read 20.1.2020) 

3) Kyntäjä E. 2018. OECD-raportti maahanmuuttajien kotoutumisesta Suomeen. Virolaiset omaa luokkaansa – pärjäävät parhaiten https://www.tuglas.fi/oecd-raportti-maahanmuuttajien-kotoutumisesta-suomeen (Read 20.1.2020) 

4) SIMHE-Metropolia services https://www.metropolia.fi/en/services/for-immigrants/ (Read 20.1.2020) 

5) SIMHE-path supports employment https://www.metropolia.fi/en/academics/courses-for-immigrants/simhe/ (Read 20.1.2020) 

6) Autero, M. 2018. Osaamisen kartoitus tukee maahanmuuttajan työelämään ohjaamista. Teoksessa Stenberg H., Autero M., Ala-Nikkola E. (Eds.)., (2018). Osaamisella ei ole rajoja: Vastuukorkeakoulutoiminta maahanmuuttajien integraation tukena Suomessa. Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu. URN:ISBN:978-952-328-081-6  

6) Autero M. (2018). Supporting Highly Educated Immigrants’ Career Paths in Finland https://blogit.metropolia.fi/variousvariables/2018/02/13/supporting-highly-educated-immigrants-career-paths-finland/  

7) Helsingin tila ja kehitys 2019. https://tilajakehitys.hel.fi/ulkomaalaistaustaisten_tyollisyys (Read 20.1.2020) 

8) Finnish Software and E-business Association (2019): Talouskasvun hiipuminen ei näy ohjelmistoalalla ja verkkoteollisuudessa. Press release 17.1.2019. Available online: https://www.ohjelmistoebusiness.fi/tiedotteet/talouskasvun-hiipuminen-ei-nay-ohjelmistoalalla-ja-verkkoteollisuudessa/.  

 

 

 

 

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Supporting Highly Educated Immigrants’ Career Paths in Finland

Marianne Autero · 13.2.2018

Since 2016, SIMHE-Metropolia has been actively developing and modelling its services to find out ways to improve highly educated immigrants’ education and employment possibilities in Finland. The number of customers at SIMHE-Metropolia has risen steadily over the past two years totalling in over 550 users for Guidance and Counselling and Recognition of Competences services in 2017.

Creating a sustainable yet flexible method for recognising immigrants’ competences

SIMHE-Metropolia first piloted recognition of competences for highly educated immigrants in the field of technology in spring 2016 with some 30 customers to establish what would be the best method and participant criteria for the process. The current method, Mapping of Competences, has now been carried out in the fields of technology and business thrice since autumn 2016 with some 150 customers. The choice of fields was based on them not being regulated professions in Finland and Metropolia offers Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in both fields.

Mapping of Competences is managed and conducted by SIMHE-Metropolia. The field-related expertise is provided by heads of degree programmes or departments who work in the fields of technology and/or business at Metropolia.

In autumn 2017, the Mapping of Competences service was also offered for suitable customers through Public employment and business services (TE Services) in Uusimaa region with almost 60 customers along with some 25 customers who entered the process through SIMHE-Metropolia’s own registration path. The continuation of the cooperation with TE Services is yet to be realised later in 2018.

Recognition of Prior Learning is also needed for those not currently in higher education

Recognising existing skills and competences is not a new concept in university of applied sciences as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is strongly supported in study planning for example at Metropolia to create individual learning paths for degree students. SIMHE-Metropolia’s service thus augments and modifies RPL concept to highly educated immigrants who are not able to use such services as they are not registered in higher education institution in Finland.

The official Recognition and Comparability of International Qualifications is conducted by Finnish National Agency for Education whereas SIMHE-Metropolia’s service aims at taking a more practical approach for recognising competences by helping customers to make their foreign qualifications and competences also more familiar to the Finnish employers.

Self-knowledge and understanding of the Finnish context make a difference

Education is highly appreciated in Finland, but being a highly educated immigrant in Finland does not always result in swift access to education or work. Immigrants often lack an inherent knowledge of the Finnish society and culture, they may lack sufficient language skills to enter in their field of expertise, and most importantly, they are not certain how their existing competences match with the Finnish requirements. Even though educated immigrants are needed in the Finnish labour market, we tend to run somewhat homespun and closed labour market in Finland (Kauppalehti 29.1. 2018).

As customers are in a centre in Mapping of Competences, the aim is to offer both individual encounters in addition to group meetings throughout the process by helping customers to

  • understand how their formerly acquired skills and competences match with the Finnish requirements
  • find suitable educational paths, when applicable
  • support employment and obtain information and ideas on various ways for job-search in Finland
  • be able to express their competences better

Now I know, where I am

SIMHE-Metropolia’s customers share common features like high level of education and being of foreign origin, but they are yet a very heterogeneous group of people with varied backgrounds, hopes and dreams how to live their lives in Finland. The best achievement over the past two years we have run the service, is to see how we have been able to empower people and give them tools for building possible career paths.

Now that we have developed the ways to support self-knowledge and growth in more localised professional identity through our services, the next steps are to create even more ways to match the job-searching talents with those in need of skilled workforce. The existing events like Recruitment and Matching Morning by COME project help immigrants to meet up and network with employers-to-be.

The road is still rocky and bendy, yet a lot has been accomplished by far. The most important thing is to include immigrants to the Finnish society by not always emphasising what they may not have, but rather embrace a feeble question raised by one of our customers: What if I am perfect already?

More information:

Maahanmuuton vastuukorkeakoulutoiminta Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön julkaisuja 2017:38
https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/80706

Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriön julkaisuja.Työelämä  36/2017 Maahanmuuttajien koulutuspolkujen nopeuttaminen ja joustavat siirtymät -työryhmän loppuraportti ja toimenpide-esitykset
http://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/80625/TEMjul_36_2017_verkkojulkaisu.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Kauppalehti 29.1. 2018
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/uutinen/HzNP4peF?ref=ampparit:730b&ext=ampparit

Mäki, Kimmo. 5.12. 2017 Osaamme sanoittaa osaamista
http://www.amkverkkovirta.fi/osaammeko-sanoittaa-osaamista

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Information about blog

Various Variables -blog introduces information, ideas and experiences about  support services in University of Applied Sciences for highly educated immigrants for recognizing their prior learning and competence and their guidance.

Various Variables blog´s Editorial Board

  • Heidi Stenberg, Project Director, tel. +358 40 535 3388
  • Marika Antikainen, Project Coordinator, tel. +358 40 681 1244
  • Riikka Wallin, Publications Coordinator, tel. +358 40 869 1849

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Editorial Board handles all the publications of Various Variables blog before publishing.



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Heidi Stenberg

has a vast experience in various fields as she has worked in promoting health, in sales and marketing, in conceptualizing services and in the field of education in expert and supervisory positions. Heidi has a Master’s Degree in Education and is also a Public Health Nurse. Learning, developing competencies, leadership and promoting health are in the center of her expertise and competence. Heidi devotes her free time for spending time with her family and friends and she is also active in many areas of sports. Heidi’s motto is: “If you start something today, you’ll notice it was worth the effort in a year’s time”.


Elisa Manninen

Elisa Manninen

has gathered various experience in the field of higher education as well as in guiding international applicants and students in different institutions. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and is a Special Education and a Class Teacher. Additionally she studies to become a Guidance Counselor. In her work at SIMHE-Metropolia, she focuses in guiding customers with immigrant background to pursue their studies and career. Elisa has a keen interest towards social issues, stories behind everything and taking it easy. Favorite quote: “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire” by Confucius.


Emilia Deseille

Emilia Deseille

is passionate about career development of international talents in Finland. Having studied and worked abroad on several occasions, she has experience in starting a career abroad, and feels at home in a multilingual and intercultural environment. Before joining the SIMHE Metropolia team as a career coach and employer relations specialist, Emilia was working in the field of labor market integration in Austria. She has a Master of Social Sciences degree in Development and International Cooperation, and studies in Intercultural Communication and Adult Education. In her spare time, Emilia enjoys dancing and doing other sports with friends, and the language geek in her enjoys learning new languages.


Ari Koistinen

Ari Koistinen

teaches mathematics, computer programming, application software, and modelling and simulation in Metropolia UAS. In recent years, his work has been related mainly to international degree programmes. Ari has also a long experience in hydrological modelling and development of software used in water forecasting. In free time he reads books, travels and does a variety of sports such as gym, climbing, ashtanga yoga and mountain biking.


Leena Honkasalo

Leena Honkasalo

works as project planner in Metropolia’s SIMHE services (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education). She holds a Master of Arts degree in Spanish philology and has professional teacher qualifications. Before joining the SIMHE team, Leena worked in the NGO sector developing global citizenship education. Her special interests include sustainable development, equity and diversity. In her free time, Leena loves spending quality time with family and friends, eating out, visiting art exhibitions and doing yoga.


Marika Antikainen

Marika Antikainen

works as a project coordinator in Metropolia SIMHE services. Her work focuses on increasing employment among international professionals living in Finland. Internationalisation and societal responsibility inspire Marika in her work and life. She has a Master of Arts degree in intercultural communication and a professional teacher’s qualifications. She has also worked several years in international relations in Metropolia and has taught intercultural competence. Travelling and salsa bring an international flavour also to her freetime, balanced with hiking in Finnish forests and other sports.


Niina Tapanainen

Niina Tapanainen

spends most of her working hours with SIMHE personal and group guidance. Niina has a Master’s Degree in Education and is a qualified Guidance Counsellor and Psychology (as a second subject) Teacher. She has worked over a decade in Higher Education Institutions in various posts within the study and student services also with international students and admissions. She volunteers to help youngsters and spends rest of her free time enjoying life: relaxing, dreaming and whatever interesting comes her way.


Oksan Niemi

Oksan Niemi

has experience both in field of education and in agile projects in IT environment. Oksan holds a Master of Social Sciences degree in International Relations. Before joining SIMHE Metropolia as a project manager for two different projects, which concentrate on the employment of higher educated immigrants, she has guided international degree and exchange students and worked with the international partner higher educational institutions. Having graduated from an international degree programme herself and worked in international environment in different business areas, Oksan enjoys working in a global environment surrounded by people with various backgrounds. Oksan devotes her free time to her multilingual family, friends and travelling with them.


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SIMHE on Metropolia.fi pages

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has launched Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education SIMHE project to start services for recognizing prior learning and competence of highly educated immigrants and their guidance.

SIMHE Metropolia

Services for Immigrants

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Sisällöt edustavat kunkin kirjoittajan henkilökohtaisia näkemyksiä, Metropolian johtoryhmän Pelinavaajat-blogi ilmaisee Metropolian virallista kantaa.

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