Providing customised guidance and creating collaborative opportunities for International Professionals to establish and use their skills in Finland.
Join our CommunityWhy We Exist
We exist as a solid network of support and individualised guidance for international professionals living in Finland. In addition, many professions in Finland are regulated and those who have been qualified abroad for a profession that is regulated in Finland will need to apply to the relevant authority for a decision on whether or not they are also qualified for the same profession in Finland. Several international professionals living in Finland are either unemployed, underemployed, or working outside the scope of their expertise. This has a negative impact on Finland’s economy as these professionals are unable to use their skills to contribute to the Finnish society. Consequently, the Finnish economy is unable to benefit symbiotically from international talent already living in Finland.
What We Do
Through a diverse range of projects and services, we assist international professionals qualified for a profession abroad to overcome obstacles hindering them from utilizing their skills in Finland. We provide customised recognition of previous qualifications support, informative events and webinars, career coaching, mentorship and networking opportunities. We also offer one-on-one guidance as they take huge career steps toward transitioning into the Finnish workforce and advancing their skillset to contribute to the society they now call home.
Our Services
Recognition of Previous Qualifications Support
We offer Step-by-Step individual support in the Recognition of previous qualifications process, starting from the preparation to the final application, and beyond! We assist them to find the suitable educational institutions as they take concrete steps towards completing the required complementary courses as recommended by the recognition authority.
Get Acquainted Info Sessions and Workshops
Become familiar with the Finnish labour market, working culture, job search, and information specific to your own profession. As an International Professional, it is important to understand how your qualifications gained abroad can be put to good use in Finland, and how they compare to the Finnish terminologies and rankings system.
Mentorship and Peer Support
Our mentorship project is aimed at providing an opportunity for participants to benefit from the knowledge and experience of established professionals in their chosen field. Mentees can tap into the existing knowledge, skills, and experience of a mentor in order to advance in their careers. Our peer support club sessions are held both in person and online, all over Finland. Each club session focuses on a specific area of integration, ensuring an all round support system for participants.
Career Guidance and Networking events
We guide International talents in creating their own unique career pathways or exploring alternative career paths in Finland through group or individual coaching sessions. We assist them in assessing their skills, identifying their strengths as well as their personal limitations to building a career in Finland. We also organise networking events as an opportunity for making connections, building a professional network, and meeting companies and recruiters.
Our Projects
Degree AMPLIFY
An ongoing yearly project that focuses on helping international professionals in Finland to better understand the process of Recognition of their foreign diplomas. Most importantly, our specialists who have gone through the same process themselves successfully, will guide the new applicants throughout the application stages, step by step, so that they do not have to go through the process all by themselves.
Degree AMPLIFY awarded as an Innovative Good Practice in Socio-labour inclusion
Our project Degree AMPLIFY has been recognized as one of the finalists of the VII Call for Good Practices by the European Network of Innovation for Inclusion, in the socio-labour inclusion category.
Thanks to this award, we were actively involved in the Study Visit and Workshops in Madrid, and also presented Degree AMPLIFY module in the XI FORUM ON INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EXPERIENCES AND TRENDS ON SOCIAL INNOVATION FOR INCLUSION organised by the European Network of Innovation for Inclusion on June 9th, 2023.
During the Study visit and the European forum, we learnt about the latest best practices to continue working towards a more inclusive Finnish ecosystem for international professionals in Finland.
One Mentor One
A mentorship project where community members can tap into the knowledge and experiences of those who have been there before them in order to build their careers or create meaningful professional paths for themselves in Finland. Our mentorship project runs on a yearly basis. You can follow our social platforms and join the Facebook community to stay up to date on the next application period.
SATAtalents
This is a 3-step project aimed at upskilling, boosting and ensuring the employability and retention of international talents for Satakunta region. Many immigrants come to the Satakunta region for its excellent education. However, a good number of them struggle to find their place in the region, so they end up moving to other regions. The project is aimed at alleviating the problem of getting into the Finnish workforce through individualised assessment of skill set, identification of areas of professional strengths as well as personal obstacles to employability. Towards the end of the project, participants are provided with a networking and recruitment opportunity and be matched with local companies in the region.
Satakunta International People’s Fair
Satakunta International People’s Fair is a yearly event organised by International Professionals Finland, in cooperation with cities, companies and organisations in the region. The event has 3 main objectives:
- Get to meet the international people living, working or studying in Satakunta.
- Recognise and reward people and companies who have been actively contributing to an inclusive social and work life in Satakunta.
- Create a more inclusive and international atmosphere that will encourage the attraction and retention of skilled labour in Satakunta.
#SIPF2023 Partners and Sponsors
For #SIPF2024 sponsorship inquiries, please contact us at info@interprofinland.fi
Peer Support Clubs
Our peer support project is an opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and connect with one another, and facilitate their integration into the Finnish society, while enjoying a favourite hobby, cup of tea or coffee together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Each club session focuses on a specific aspect of integration. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts and peers, share experiences, ask questions, and actively participate in the activities. Participation is free of charge for all.
Connect & Integrate
Our Peer Support project for international people in Pori is themed “Connect & Integrate”, and it’s organised in partnership with Satakunta University of Applied Sciences – SAMK and City of Pori.
Club sessions are held on a monthly basis at different locations in the city depending on the objective of the session.
Get up-to-date information about our project activities and upcoming events HERE.
Some testimonials from our participants
Taking part in the Degree Amplify project opened my eyes to information I didn’t know before. For example, I got to understand the main idea about recognition of diplomas in Finland, how to go about it and what are regulated professions in Finland, and details related to my diploma in electrical engineering.
I found out that I need to apply for a license from Valvira, in order to work as a psychologist in Finland. This was something new and confusing for me. I felt alone not knowing where to start. My Degree AMPLIFY mentor provided me with new information and answered all my worries and questions.
My mentor guided me in discovering my interests and assisted me in overcoming some work-related challenges.
I was able to save time because my mentor knows how the diploma equivalency process works and gave me great advice about it.
If you need any support, or have any questions, feel free to reach out to the organization, they are as helpful as good family members.
I highly recommend everyone to get involved in events like the #satatalents project. You will gain more than you think.
Read their full testimonies HERE.
Our Community
Professionals
Professions
Nationalities
Years old
Our Partners
Below are some of our cooperation partners, and also companies and organizations we have worked with. If you would like to cooperate with us, please feel free to reach out to us and let’s brainstorm ideas on how we can do some great work together.
