02.07.2026 | Articles
Would you like to know more about the Finnish work environment: to understand the nuances of the culture, practices, and legislation of working in Finland?
Start to Finnish training is moderated and designed by Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland, in cooperation with affiliate unions, public sector organizations, and the course pilot universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland.
Originally the training was designed and launched for international degree students in 2024. The aim of the course was to give a comprehensive picture of Finnish working life. Later, it became clear that there was a strong need for the information also among foreign nationals already working in Finland.
Jutta Linna, International Affairs Senior Specialist at Akava, is the architect and moderator of the Start to Finnish course. She has been working at Akava since 2021 and is currently focusing on integration and immigration policy as well as on advocacy communications.
According to Jutta Linna participants consistently rate the course as a highly valuable and comprehensive learning experience.
“Start to Finnish training material is designed especially to support employees from international backgrounds. The training is not only intended for newcomers, but also for those who have been on parental leave or unemployed and are returning to working life. In that case Start to Finnish provides a solid entry point into Finnish working life. The training is well suited especially for those who have already gained some work experience in Finland”, explains Linna.
Start to Finnish training consists of four learning modules related to career development plus one orientation module about Finnish society in general. The training includes also voluntary tasks and self-reflections at the end of each module.
The materials are available on an online platform, allowing you to delve into different stages of career development at your own pace. If you do not want to complete the entire training at once, you can always complete it in parts.
As well as Finnish legislation and regulatory aspects related to working life, Finnish culture and practices are also covered in the training material. The training utilizes AI tools, such as mind maps, polls, and encourages sharing experience and networking.
“Participants who have completed the course describe the course as exceptionally valuable and comprehensive learning opportunity”, ads Linna.
Start to Finnish® training will be available on our website at asia.fi/tapahtumat (event calendar) in May, and we will keep you informed via our newsletters. Notice that the course is not a Finnish language course and it has been constructed in English.
Text: Heidi Salonen, Communications Manager at ASIA Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
The article has been published on ASIA magazine 2/2026
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