Education
The introduction of tuition fees for students from outside the EU and EEA has led to a decline in new international enrolments in Finnish upper secondary schools and vocational institutions this autumn. While the full impact of the legislative change remains uncertain, early reports indicate a sharp drop in applications,
Education
The City of Rauma has successfully reduced unnecessary daycare reservations by introducing a fee for unannounced absences, leading to fewer open care groups this summer. Yle reports that the new policy requires parents to cancel reserved care slots at least ten days in advance to avoid a charge, which amounts
Society
The Lappeenranta Region Student Housing Foundation (LOAS) has reported a rise in unauthorized shared living arrangements among international students, driven by financial difficulties and a lack of affordable housing. The issue has become more visible in recent years as student numbers grow, with LOAS intervening more frequently to address violations
Crime
Two separate incidents involving threats at vocational colleges in Finland were reported this week, prompting police responses and precautionary measures. Saarijärvi Campus Lockdown After Student Threats The Northern Central Finland Vocational College in Saarijärvi took swift action on Wednesday after an adult student made threats toward students and staff. Helsingin
Politics
Several Finnish universities are preparing to challenge the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s decision to reject research funding for social work projects, with appeals expected to be filed in the administrative court. The ministry, led by Minister Wille Rydman (Finns Party), denied rectification requests from six universities—Tampere,
Politics
The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) has taken a firmer stance on immigration and integration, proposing new obligations for immigrants, including language learning as a condition for social security. The shift comes as Helsinki grapples with a heated debate over school district boundary changes aimed at reducing segregation, while
Health
A new registry study by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) shows that mental health problems were the primary reason for over 40 percent of visits to the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS) during the academic year 2023–2024. The study, which examined healthcare service usage among higher education
Education
The Ministry of Education and Culture has decided to reclaim approximately 2.8 million euros in state subsidies from the City of Turku, including interest, after determining that the funding was granted for students who were not under the city’s direct educational responsibility. The total amount to be reclaimed
Politics
Klaus Törnudd, a prominent figure in Finnish foreign policy and diplomacy, has died in Helsinki at the age of 94. His family reported the death to the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Monday (Yle; MTV Uutiset). Törnudd had a distinguished career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he held
Education
The Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) has issued a strike warning to six universities of applied sciences, threatening a three-day walkout beginning on 1 September if no agreement is reached in an ongoing labour dispute. The warning concerns negotiations over a new collective agreement for the sector,
Education
The University of Helsinki has fallen out of the top 100 universities in this year’s Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), marking a significant shift in its long-standing position among the world’s leading academic institutions. The university now ranks in the 101–150 bracket, as the
Culture
The Finnish classical music community is mourning the loss of Erkki Rautio, a celebrated cellist, educator, and former rector of the Sibelius Academy, who has died at the age of 94. Rautio passed away earlier this week, leaving behind a legacy as one of Finland’s most influential figures in