A growing community beyond the programme
Since its launch in 2020, more than 150 international students have participated in Vaasa International Talents.
Together, they form a growing alumni community connected to Finnish working life and the Vaasa region.
Alumni come from diverse study backgrounds and cultures, but share a common experience of developing skills, confidence and professional networks through the programme. Many remain connected to Vaasa International Talents by sharing their journeys, supporting current participants and staying engaged with employers and regional actors.
Based on feedback and follow‑up data from previous programme rounds, many participants have moved into employment during or after the programme, most often in roles related to their education and skills. For example, after Round 4, around 70% of participants were working a few months after completion, and in Round 5, this figure reached 100% based on respondents of the survey. In addition, between 75% and over 90% of those employed reported working in roles corresponding to their education and skills. These figures reflect individual pathways and may vary between participants and programme rounds.
Since 2020, over 20 employers and working life actors in Ostrobothnia have been involved in Vaasa International Talents in one way or another through mentoring, job shadowing, internships, company visits, guest lectures and other forms of collaboration.
Through alumni engagement and employer collaboration, Vaasa International Talents helps:
- Strengthen regional talent retention
- Improve understanding of international talent among employers
- Support smoother integration into Finnish working life
- Build a more open, diverse and internationally connected working life ecosystem in the region
