The goal is to support the employment of international students and help them settle.
A new bilingual preschool teacher training program will launch at the University of Jyväskylä in the fall of 2027. It is intended for students who do not speak Finnish or Swedish. The training combines the study of Finnish and preschool education pedagogy. As part of the program, students must reach a language level that allows them to work in Finland.
The program is designed for three years and leads to a bachelor's degree and qualification as a preschool educator. The curriculum corresponds to a similar program in Finnish.
The study of the Finnish language is integrated into the educational process and will take place during classes, projects, and practice, rather than in the format of separate courses. To work in preschool institutions, a student will need a practical level of proficiency in the language, which, according to program director Peppi Taalas, requires high motivation.
"The requirements are very high. Nevertheless, we are ambitious," says Taalas.
Taalas believes that initiative and interest in the Finnish language are the foundation for its successful acquisition. Students will be encouraged to use the language not only in classes but also in their free time. The University of Jyväskylä received 300,000 euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture to develop this program. In total, grants were awarded to three universities and one university of applied sciences. The goal is to support the employment of international students and help them settle in Finland, as well as to address the shortage of staff in the field of preschool education.
Applications for the new program will open in the spring of 2027, and the first 25 students will begin their studies in the fall of the same year. The program is being implemented in collaboration with the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), which has a similar bilingual nursing training program.
