The Ministry of the Interior’s draft amendment to the Aliens Act would allow permanent residence permit at a Finnish higher education institution for those who have completed a master’s from the University of Applied Sciences or a bachelor’s degree from a University. This proposal places students of University of Applied Sciences in an unequal position in relation to those with a bachelor’s degree at a University, even though it is a degree of the same level.
Thus, the current proposal places Higher Education students in an unequal position. This unfair policy is in conflict with the objectives of education and work-based immigration in Finland and weakens the attractiveness of the University of Applied Sciences degree among international students.
Tamko demands for the proposal to be made equal and submitted a statement on the bill to the Ministry of the Interior.
Read Tamko’s statement below:
The Ministry of the Interior’s draft government proposal for an act amending the Aliens Act proposes the possibility of a permanent residence permit at a Finnish higher education institution for those who have completed a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree from a university.
This proposal places students of University of Applied Sciences in an unequal position in relation to those with a bachelor’s degree at a university, even though it is a degree of the same level (level 6 of the Finnish Qualifications Framework).
According to the Finnish Roadmap for Education-based and Work-Based Immigration 2035, the aim is to triple the number of new foreign degree students by 2030, and at the same time, the goal is for 75 percent of them to find employment and stay in Finland after graduation. The bill is in conflict with the objectives of higher education policy and weakens the attractiveness of a university of applied sciences degree among international students.
This bill will further weaken the position of international students. The Student Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences Tamko proposes that the bill be changed to make it equal for students so that a bachelor’s degree also enables a permanent residence permit in Finland.
Straight link to statement service (only in Finnish): https://www.lausuntopalvelu.fi/FI/Proposal/Participation?proposalId=3a905131-9f8d-4230-ac10-42a1944fda79