The International Work Mikkeli project will develop a new service package aimed at making it easier for international professionals to find employment and settle in the region. At the same time, the project will enhance companies’ ability to recruit the skilled workforce they need.
The joint project is being implemented by the City of Mikkeli, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk, Etelä-Savo Vocational College Esedu and Mikkeli Development Miksei. The City of Mikkeli serves as the lead partner and is responsible for coordinating and administering the project.
Mayor Janne Kinnunen considers the funding decision highly significant for Mikkeli’s future.
”Securing funding for this project is excellent news for us. Developing internationalisation is a strategically important initiative – it directly supports efforts to address skills shortages, strengthens Mikkeli’s ability to attract and retain residents, and turns the city’s internationalisation ambitions into concrete action,” says Kinnunen.
New services for international professionals and employers
During the project, Mikkeli will develop a range of practical services for international jobseekers. The aim is to make finding employment, integrating into working life and settling in the area smoother and more straightforward.
The project will create personalised service pathways to support job searching, help individuals build professional networks and identify their skills and competencies. Training related to Finnish working life will also be provided, and efforts will be made to improve connections between employers and jobseekers.
At the same time, the project will support local businesses in recruiting international talent and making better use of international expertise. This may have a direct positive impact on business growth and competitiveness across the region.
International House Mikkeli to become a permanent service
The solutions tested and proven effective during the project will become part of a permanent service concept called International House Mikkeli. The goal is to ensure that people moving to Mikkeli, as well as those already living in the city, can easily access the services they need from a single location.
”International House Mikkeli will be an open international meeting place for everyone, bringing together services, advice, networks and community activities while supporting interaction between new and existing residents of Mikkeli,” says Riikka Hälikkä, Head of International Affairs at the City of Mikkeli.
”Mikkeli wants to become a more open and attractive city from an international perspective. The city will be better able to attract skilled professionals, local businesses will have improved access to labour, the population base will become more diverse, and retention will increase as more people choose to stay in the region.”
Photo: Pihla Liukkonen