International competence is a necessity in today's world of work. Because of this, every higher education student should be provided with opportunities to acquire international competence during their studies. Traditionally, one of the key means of acquiring international competence has been international mobility periods.

Kuva, jossa kaksi nuorta istuu vierekkäisissä nojatuoleissa sisätiloissa. Toinen lukee kirjaa ja toinen käyttää kannettavaa kannettavaa tietokonetta.
Photo: Negin Aladdin

This page brings together resources relating to the promotion of international student mobility.  

The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) monitors the development of international student mobility on an annual basis. Between 2016 and 2019, long-term student mobility decreased significantly, especially among higher education students. The average reduction across the higher education sector was 25%. The COVID-19 pandemic put an almost complete stop to international mobility for a short while, but since then the numbers of mobility periods have recovered nearly to pre-pandemic levels. However, there is still some way to go to reach the figures recorded during the peak years of international student mobility.

Between 2022 and 2024, EDUFI engaged in national cooperation focusing on exploring ways to increase international student mobility. Many methods were identified, with one of the most important ones being the sharing of information in a timely and comprehensive manner with both students and staff, so that promoting mobility becomes a shared goal. As regards communication, effective methods include sharing peer stories and reinforcing the benefits of and appreciation for international competence.

Flexibility in studies supports mobility: for example, exchange windows and personalised study paths facilitate mobilities. Various forms of mobility, such as short-term and blended mobilities, as well as traineeships, also offer alternatives for different life situations. Furthermore, streamlining exchange processes and developing internationalisation at home can increase students’ willingness to participate.

Promoting student mobility requires higher education institutions to have sufficient resources, strengthen the international competence of their staff and secure management commitment. It is also essential to develop funding models that encourage mobility and internationalisation. 

Identified means of increasing student mobility
In the first document under this section, you will find a list of the identified reasons behind the decline in student mobility, as well as measures identified through collaboration to increase student mobility. The second document lists specific measures devised by Finnish higher education institutions to increase student mobility, as discussed at the 2024 session of the Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs.
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In 2025, Finnish higher education institutions, together with higher education stakeholders, prepared a set of recommendations to increase international competence and mobility in higher education.  

National recommendations to increase the international competence and mobility of higher education students: 

  1. Set a growth target to increase mobility from the current level. Separate targets and associated actions can be defined for each field of education.
  2. Monitor the development of mobility rates as part of the monitoring of the performance agreement for higher education institutions and in relation to the objective already included in the agreement to "promote diverse student and apprentice mobility, taking into account different student profiles."
  3. Ensure widespread awareness of the means to increase mobility. Choose the means that are best suited to each higher education institution and field of education, and ensure the necessary resource allocation.
  4. Ensure the commitment of higher education institutions’ management to promoting international competence and mobility.
  5. Have the fields of education and academic staff of higher education institutions commit to promoting internationalisation. Take this into account in curricula, in terms of both their structure and content, and ensure the seamless recognition of studies. Increase the international competence of staff, taking into account the specific needs of each higher education institution and field of education. Commit to systematically guiding and encouraging students from the start of their studies.
  6. Communicate the importance of international competence in society and in working life in a consistent manner.
  7. Develop common digital solutions for supporting the management and mobility of Erasmus+ and other funding programmes to make them more user-friendly and functional. Ensure funding for student mobility through EU programmes, other exchange programmes and higher education institutions’ own funding.
  8. Increase information and understanding of the effectiveness and benefits of short and/or blended mobilities in developing international competence. 
Workplan template for the recommendations to increase the international competence and mobility of higher education students
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In matters relating to international mobility in the higher education sector, you can contact the specialists of EDUFI’s International Higher Education Cooperation Unit.

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