International graduates from Finland: Do they satisfy the needs of Finnish employers abroad?

Abstract

It has been recognized that to increase the competitiveness of Finnish higher education institutions in the global education market international graduates’ employability must be enhanced. International graduates from Finnish higher education institutions are rarely employed in Finland for a number of reasons, such as the language barrier and a relatively small job market. This study aimed to understand from the employers’ perspective the possibilities of Finnish-educated international graduates finding jobs in Finnish companies in their home countries, taking Chinese graduates as an example. Using a qualitative approach mainly based on open-ended interviews at 16 Finnish companies in China, the investigation highlighted a dilemma: although the Finnish companies in China were generally inclined to recruit Finnish-educated Chinese graduates, few are employed there. This article explores the reasons behind the dilemma and discusses the implications for both students and universities.