Sohaib Khan, originally from Pakistan, arrived in Kuopio 20 years ago. So far, he has made his career in public health education and dreams of new beginnings. Sohaib, who has settled in Kuopio, has a message for all of us on how we can help international students get involved in life in Eastern Finland.
When the train arriving from Helsinki glided to Kuopio station on a late September evening, the young man sitting on it glanced at the dark platform with mixed feelings. Sohaib Khan had received a study place in the English-language Master's degree programme in Public Health at the University of Kuopio (now the University of Eastern Finland). Born and raised in a small rural village, Sohaib had first moved to a bigger city to study medicine. After graduation at the age of 23, he hadn’t wanted to settle down yet, as his mind was searching for ever wider expanses. The jump into an unknown land had seemed like an exciting adventure, but now, standing alone on the platform with his suitcases, he questioned his decision heavily.
However, the journey continued from the train station towards the student apartment, where he was greeted by a German roommate who was happily drunk. The first contact with the new living environment was quite memorable, but gradually, life settled into its ways. Studying at a Finnish university was a pleasant surprise, as Sohaib felt he was treated as an equal adult with both freedom and responsibility. He graduated with excellent grades as the first in his degree programme.
Sohaib had no plans to stay in Finland and returned to Pakistan. Immediately after the return, a devastating earthquake occurred in the country, in which 70,000 people died. Sohaib volunteered to help victims for six months. However, in the country recovering from the natural disaster, there weren’t many jobs available, and Sohaib decided to return to his studies, this time for a PhD. When the university in Kuopio gave the green light to Sohaib's proposal for a research topic, he packed his bags again and returned to the heart of Savo.
Learning the culture in the coffee room
Applying for research funding didn’t appeal to Sohaib, so he got the idea to start teaching. To show his talents, he asked his professor for the opportunity to give one lecture as a test. The professor liked what he saw, and Sohaib first got a three-month contract. Today, he is a tenured university lecturer and assistant professor in the Master's degree programme in Public Health at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition. Sohaib has plenty of energy for teaching, but he also dreams of new beginnings. Photography is a beloved hobby which will bring at least part of his livelihood one day.
Sohaib started getting to know his Finnish colleagues and culture in the coffee room of his workplace.
“I went there daily, and slowly, my colleagues started talking to me. They told me about Finnish customs and helped me in many practical matters”, he recalls.
He considers flexibility, social skills, and networking paramount in adapting to the local culture. The coronavirus pandemic changed many workplace and educational practices, and Sohaib is concerned about the opportunities for today's international students to enter local circles.
“I try to be present on campus as much as possible to support the students personally.”
He hopes that the university will communicate openly and realistically about how challenging it can be to find work in your field in Finland.
“If a student still works as a food delivery driver after graduation, it makes me sad as a teacher. The promise of education as a route to a better life will not be fulfilled.”
Sohaib also calls for greater cooperation between universities and employers to make degree programmes more responsive to the needs of working life.
“FinVector is a great example of an employer hiring international talent to a larger extent. More of these would be needed.”
Cooperation between educational institutions and employers is vital to the success of Eastern Finland
The Talent Hub Eastern Finland cooperation aims to promote the employment of international students in Eastern Finland. The network aims to create meeting places and collaboration between students and employers. One example is a mentoring programme that helps international students learn Finnish working life and build their networks. For employers, it provides up-to-date information on students' skills and fields of study and an opportunity to recruit future workforce.
The Future Talents team also strives for cooperation with companies. It aims to find internships, student project work, on-the-job learning opportunities and part-time jobs. The team markets and sells its expertise and that of its degree programme. For employers, the team offers a new way to find talent.
A new bilingual online course will be opened for international students at the turn of the year. The course introduces the basics of Finnish working life and culture. Students are guided to identify and strengthen their competence. In addition, the course introduces the economic structures of Eastern Finland and examples of different regional operators. The course material bank also collects materials and guides produced by partners.
Talent Hub Eastern Finland is a cooperation project between the University of Eastern Finland, Karelia UAS, Savonia UAS and the vocational colleges Riveria, Sakky and YSAO. The project is co-funded by the European Union. You can find out more about it on our website: https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/talent-hub-eastern-finland/
