Integration policies and adult second language learning in Finland

‘Learn Skills and Get Employed’: Constituting the Employable Refugee Subjectivity through Integration Policies and Training Practices

“…Officially, the Finnish integration policy is based on the idea of inclusive democracy, equality, and an individualized integration plan, which makes refugees' integration appear to be smooth (FMEE, 2016;MIPEX, 2015;Finnish Integration Act 2010;Saukkonen, 2017;Pöyhönen & Tarnanen, 2015). Previous research reminds us that the welfare system, with its claimed inclusive mechanisms, has not fully embraced refugees in the labour market and higher education (Martikainen, Valtonen & Wahlbeck, 2012;Blomberg et al, 2008).…”

Adult migrant language education in a diversifying world

“…Given the factors sketched out above, and the dynamic complexity of contemporary migration, it is not surprising that policies concerning language education for new arrivals in 6 most states are inconsistent, contentious and contradictory, even in countries with long histories of inward migration like the US and the UK. Some historically sending countries such as Ireland and Finland are legislating for language diversity for the first time (Sheridan, 2015;Pöyhönen and Tarnanen 2015), contributing to an overall picture of an uneven response to the diversity associated with migration. This is not to deny, though, that national governments expect that new arrivals should use the dominant language of their new country.…”

“…Regarding young and adult migrants, vocational education plays a crucial role in promoting the national agenda. Prioritising vocational education is usually justified by the demographic trend of the country towards an ageing population and the decline in the size of the workforce, especially in the service sector and in health care (Pöyhönen & Tarnanen 2015). Vocational education would in the best scenario be an effective, direct channel to employment (Kilpi-Jakonen 2011).…”

“…Finland has introduced new policy initiatives in order to make adult migrant language education more effective (Pöyhönen & Tarnanen 2015), but education for asylum seekers is rarely a high priority, and when it is, the discourses around AMLE are focused on issues of internal security and social cohesion. Language education for asylum seekers has also been interpreted as a waste of resources by the state, since figures from 2016 show that only about a third of asylum seekers will receive a decision which will allow them to remain in Finland.…”

“…The national curriculum for integration education for adult migrants in Finland focuses on individuals and the ways in which fulltime language education facilitates transition to the labour market. In tendered integration education programmes, which have to follow the national curriculum, finding a job is a shared strategic aim for national and local authorities as well as teachers working for public and private providers of education (Pöyhönen & Tarnanen 2015).…”