Higher education institutions in Tampere Region encourage international students to speak Finnish

Among international students, not being able to speak Finnish is one of the main barriers to finding employment in Tampere Region.  Knowing even a little Finnish makes it easier to find work and speeds up one's integration into Finnish society.  International students need opportunities to speak Finnish during their studies.  Being served in the Library or in the International Office may be a good place to practise Finnish - with no hassle.

The aim of the playful Puhu minulle suomea (speak Finnish to me) campaign is to encourage students and give international students in higher education opportunities to speak Finnish in everyday situations.  Those mounting the campaign also point out that Finnish as spoken by immigrants is rich and that Finnish can be spoken in many ways.  Those involved in the campaign are the University of Tampere (UTA), Tampere University of Technology (TUT) and Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK).  These institutions' respective international offices, career and recruitment services, libraries, student cafeterias, study advisers' offices and student unions were keen to join in the campaign.

Bright pink campaign badges with the slogan Puhu minulle suomea are being distributed among both international students and personnel of the institutions involved.  Each institution will launch their campaign with an event at which more information on the campaign will be provided and badges given out to students.

The campaign procession will be from 11.00 to 13.00 on 7 April at the University of Tampere.  In TAMK the campaign will be launched on 8 April and in TUT on 13 April.  The campaign is set to run throughout April and May, continuing in autumn.  It is arranged by the WorkPlace Pirkanmaa Project with the aim of bringing international students and potential employers closer together.  The roots of the campaign are in Helsinki, and it spread through the Puhu minulle suomea event arranged by the TAKK Adult Education Centre immigrant education.

Further information:

Baltic Institute of Finland
Project Manager Ms. Minna Säpyskä
tel. 050 587 0357
minna.sapyska@tampere.fi

University of Tampere Career Center
Coordinator Ms. Laura Lindeman
tel. 040 190 4064
laura.lindeman@uta.fi