SIMHE - Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education

Towards a more sustainable Finland with SIMHE and Talent Boost operations

Finland needs more high-skilled workforce. International professionals are a tremendous pool of talent for Finland. Our mission is to help these talents find employment in their own field in our country.

Metropolia provides SIMHE services (Supporting Immigrants in Higher Education in Finland) for highly educated immigrants to recognise their competences and to guide them to suitable study and career paths. We also develop guidance and support for Metropolia international degree students to find employment in Finland. The operations are funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Metropolia started SIMHE services together with the University of Jyväskylä in 2016. Nowadays there are higher education institutions responsible for SIMHE services around Finland. Learn more about SIMHE services in higher education institutions on the EDUFI website.

Statistics on immigrants´ and asylum seekers´ guidance

We collect statistics on our customer meetings to develop and target our services better.

SIMHE services started in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences during spring 2016.

Metropolias´SIMHE personal guidance consists of a 1-hour-appointment, preparation based on the information provided by the customer in advance, and an email summary sent afterwards, including the key points discussed at the appointment and useful links for the customer.

Recognition of Competence includes at least one individual discussion with a Metropolia expert, based on which a document describing the customer's competence is drafted. Typically the service also includes group guidance sessions. As in the past years the service has been integrated in different projects and other service concepts, the number of group guidance sessions might vary slightly.

In addition, we provide digital services:

SIMHE-Metropolia FB page and Customer Newsletter with tips on opportunities targeting immigrants with a higher education background.
Regularly published blog with useful insights to customers in our Various Variables blog.

Usage of immigrants´ and asylum seekers´ guidance services during years 2016-2023
Type of guidance	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	Q2-Q4/2016
Personal guidance	979^5,6,7,8	734⁵	482⁵	325	338	330	250	100
Guidance Generalia	17	142	237	194	212	256	208	115
Other group guidance	137⁶	283^5,6	466^1,5	602^1,2	73	258	-	-
Recognition of competence	77⁵	176⁵	156³	10⁴	32⁴	19	96	70
TOTAL	1210	1335	1314	1131	655	863	554	285

In addition to SIMHE services, some of the figures include (incl.) customers of the following projects:

¹ Incl. SIMHE Continuation (project ended on 31.8.2021)
² Incl. SIMHE path (project ended on 31.12.2020)
³ For some of the Spouse Program's Career Track participants and for the participants in the Career Boost programmes in the project Developing Competence Center Functions in the Helsinki Region (projects ended)
⁴ Within the SIMHE path (project ended on 31.12.2020)
⁵ Incl. Developing Competence Center Functions in the Helsinki Region (project ended on 30.6.2023)

⁶ Incl. the projects targeted for people who fled Ukraine
⁷ Incl. TEAP project for Health Care professionals qualified abroad
⁸ Incl. Get Work Vantaa project´s clients guided by Metropolia´s Career Coach

Metropolia SIMHE services

Metropolia SIMHE services provide guidance and counselling, recognition of competence and opportunities to develop competence for immigrants with a higher education background - either eligible to apply for higher education or with some studies or a full degree completed in higher education.

Discover our services for international professionals and future talents

Services to immigrants

What kind of services and what opportunities do international professionals and future talents have with us? We help you find your study and career path in Finland.

Career Guidance for immigrants

A one-to-one discussion with a Career Coach helps you to map your competences and identify suitable study and career paths in Finland.

Guidance Generalia webinars

Guidance Generalia webinars are open to all immigrants interested in the topic. The topics are selected to help you navigate your study options and develop your career prospects in Finland.

Check the upcoming webinars

Recognition of competence

How can you get started with recognising your key competences? Metropolia also provides recognition of competence by a professional in selected fields of study and for limited target groups.

Higher education preparatory programme for immigrants

Do you wish to study for a degree in Finnish in a university of applied sciences? Metropolia provides studies to prepare you for this. The courses are taught in Finnish.

Study opportunities and developing competence

Are you interested to study Finnish or to develop your field-specific competence? Metropolia offers you a wide range of options from individual courses to tailored programmes and full degrees.