IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION- EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF FOREIGN STUDENTS AT ARCADA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIES SCIENCES

Abstract

Arcada is an international university of applied sciences with 2500 students. Arcada offers modern education in Swedish and English within Business Administration, Tourism, Media and Technology, Sports and Health Care and Social Services. There is a significant population of foreign students at Arcada. They represent 50 different nationalities, which is about 10 per cent of Arcada’s total number of students.

This study analyzes different approaches in creating more interaction and activities between foreign and Finnish students. The theoretical part of the thesis describes factors influencing immigration and integration in general. It also describes the present situation regarding immigration to Finland. The desk research material for the thesis is collected from official reports, internet, and newspapers.

The empirical part analyses immigration and integration in practice. In particular, it analyses the expectations and experience of foreign students at Arcada. The empirical study is a survey based upon a questionnaire distributed to the foreign students of Arcada.

Based on the findings, European and American students seem to have fewer problems in coping with the Finnish culture compared to other nationalities. The cultural gap seems to be more obvious and bigger among Asian and African students, resulting in less interaction with society than is the case for Europeans and Americans.

The study ends with some recommendations on how to assist foreign students at Arcada to interact with the Finnish culture.