Internationalization of the Curriculum in Finnish Higher Education: Understanding Lecturers’ Experiences

Abstract

This qualitative study presents an example of the internationalization of the curriculum (IoC) in a non-English speaking country, Finland, by including the lecturers in the debate. The topic is highly relevant, since IoC is becoming a focus area in Europe, and internationalization has been identified as an area in need of improvement in the Finnish system of higher education. The findings demonstrate that many lecturers are familiar with the meaning of IoC, but its implementation is highly dependent on the priorities at the institutional level. The lecturers can incorporate inclusive curriculum content and perspectives of the future profession in their teaching, but they do not have competencies, resources and tools to adapt their teaching styles to an international, culturally diverse teaching and learning environment. Thus, IoC in Finland calls for the establishment of a new program design culture supported by the institution with the focus on international and intercultural learning outcomes and assessment practices.