More and more higher education courses in Finland are taught in English

Helsinki University Chancellor Kari Raivio: Finnish language not threatened, but requires nurturing

Kari Raivio

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An increasingly large share of the education packages offered in Finnish universities and polytechnics is being taught in English.
      For some time now the polytechnics in particular have distinguished themselves by offering entire degree programmes in English, mainly for the benefit of foreign students.
      The universities, in turn, have concentrated on offering smaller education packages in English for exchange students.
      The European two-stage model for Finnish university degrees introduced this autumn, plus specific master's degree programmes, will add to the selection of larger blocks of studies taught in foreign languages.
     
In Finnish polytechnics, there are already around 30 degree programmes available in English.
      The universities, on the other hand, are estimated to have about 100 master's degree programmes on offer in English, as well as various smaller courses.
      Of the "official" master's degree programmes sanctioned for universities by a decree passed in July, more than half are either bilingual or taught entirely in English.
      "I am not worried about Finnish as an academic language. Its status is not threatened, but it does require nurturing", said University of Helsinki Chancellor Kari Raivio on Wednesday in Järvenpää, while addressing a Finnish National Board of Education forum that focused on teaching of Finnish and literature.
      Some of the listeners were considerably more concerned than Raivio.
      According to Pirjo Hiidenmaa, head of the Language Planning Department at the Research Institute for the Languages of Finland, in some universities the new language and communication courses - which are in accordance with the renewed degree requirements and measure ten credit units in extent - interest in the mother tongue Finnish has been neglected.
      Both Raivio and Hiidenmaa emphasise the importance of understanding terminology: it has to be made clear what foreign words mean in Finnish.
     
At the University of Helsinki there are some 400 courses available in English, but so far the Master of Social Sciences is the only degree programme available entirely in English, Raivio explains.
      One of the university's six new Master's degree programmes accepted in July, the biotechnology programme, has also been made available in English.
      In comparison, six of the nine programmes available at the University of Jyväskylä are taught in English.
     
In the Dutch Leiden University, the majority of the Master's degree programmes are taught in English. Raivio feels this is "taking it too far".
      "Finnish really isn't that difficult. It is just different, but interesting", Raivio claims.
      Raivio also emphasises the importance of teaching Finnish to foreign students. "Perhaps this might urge them to stay in the country." This year nearly 5,000 applications from foreign students were received to study at Finnish universities and polytechnics.


Links:
  University of Helsinki
  Helsinki Polytechnic
  University of Jyväskylä
  Leiden University
  Research Institute for the Languages of Finland
  CIMO - Centre for International Mobility

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