Finnish universities to launch export of education services

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As part of the government programme, a draft bill has been put forward on the sales of tuition to groups of students from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area.
      The buyer of tuition could be for example the Finnish state, any member country of the European Union or the European Economic Area, any state outside the European Economic Area, an international organisation, a Finnish or foreign community, or a private enterprise.
     
The most typical subscriber would be a state outside the European Union, wanting to buy tuition for a group of its citizens who wish to study for a degree at a Finnish university.
      Finnish universities could also arrange joint tuition for foreign students.
     
Finnish universities have regarded free tuition as a problem, because it has prevented them from selling education to order. Under Finland’s current legislation, all tuition leading to degrees has to be free.
      While the international education markets are increasing, Finnish universities see the demand for their education services growing particularly in the Far East and Central Asia.
     
In Sweden, universities have gained profits in the region of EUR 100 million since 2003 when the sales of tuition for foreign students became possible.
      The draft bill does not predict the amounts of extra funding the tuition fees would bring to Finnish universities. It all depends on a range of factors, including successful marketing and the efficiency of international networking. Moreover, the fees should be high enough to cover the related costs.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Parties sharply divided on tuition fees for foreign university students (26.2.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat