Xamk Supports International Students’ Practical Trainings with Grants for Employers

Through these grants, Xamk seeks to enhance the employment opportunities and professional integration of international students into campus cities.

– In the practical training, the student and employer can get to know each other, says Xamk’s integration coordinator Henna Hirvonen.

Grants for hiring international students were first awarded last academic year, receiving positive feedback from both students and employers.

Responses from a feedback survey sent to employers after the practical training indicate that the grant has been an effective incentive for hiring international students.

– I gladly challenge other employers to utilize international talent; the barrier to hiring an international student is not financial, one employer noted in the feedback.

– It was a good exercise to hire a student from outside the EU and learn what it means to be an employer, another employer commented.

Hiring an international student not only provides valuable learning experiences for the company but also offers additional benefits.

– Students bring the latest learnings in the field and fresh insights. The language of the internships is English, so language skills also improve, Hirvonen summarizes.

According to feedback, students have been motivated and committed to their work.

– The student was fully engaged. The student committed to completing the tasks delegated to them, one employer recorded in their feedback.

The application period for the grant program is now open. Companies and organisations can apply for the practical training grant programme until February 13, 2025. The maximum number of internship positions is approximately 15, depending on the duration of the trainings.

Practical trainings are primarily scheduled for the summer and can last from 1 to 2 months. The trainings are paid, with a minimum salary of €1,400 per month for the student. Upon successful completion of the training, the company can invoice Xamk for the minimum salary amount, which is €1,400 for one month and €2,800 for two months.

The practical training facilitated through the grant program are related to the following fields of study: Digital International Business, Environmental Engineering, Game Design, and Information Technology.

For more information, please contact:

Henna Hirvonen, Integration Coordinator, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, henna.hirvonen@xamk.fi, 0504621764.

More information is also available on the website.