Metropolia launches a new Welcome Hub service to support international students

Metropolia has opened a new Welcome Hub settlement service in October to support international students in their transition to life in Finland. The Hub offers personalized guidance, information about essential public services, and practical tips to ease everyday life. Support is provided through counseling, networking opportunities, events, and info sessions.

Community is a central part of Metropolia’s activity. That’s why Metropolia aims to support students and their families in settling into the university of applied sciences’ community, the Helsinki metropolitan area, and Finland. According to Sofia Lähdeniemi, Head of International Relations at Metropolia, the number of international students is growing rapidly, and the need for new types of integration-supporting services has been recognized.

“As a higher education institution, we have a responsibility to help students from different countries adapt seamlessly and easily to Finland, so they can quickly focus on their studies after arriving. We want international students to feel safe and welcome when they arrive in Finland and begin their studies at Metropolia, knowing that support is available. Our goal is to work in a networked way together with various authorities, service providers, and organizations,” Lähdeniemi says.

Welcome Hub also encourages students to actively promote their own integration into Finnish society.

“When students get positive experiences of success and gain confidence in their ability to navigate life in a new home country, integration into society becomes easier. The goal is that after graduation, it will be easy for students to stay and build their career paths in Finland,” Lähdeniemi continues.

Welcome Hub assistant and Metropolia student Darja Kononova, highlights the practical benefits of the Hub in students’ daily lives:

“As an international student, starting a new life in Finland can be challenging – dealing with authorities, practical arrangements, and a completely new culture can feel overwhelming. Welcome Hub was created exactly for this purpose: it offers a place where students receive support, advice, and most importantly, the feeling that they are not alone.”

More information:

Sofia Lähdeniemi
Head of International Relations
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
sofia.lahdeniemi [at] metropolia.fi (sofia[dot]lahdeniemi[at]metropolia[dot]fi)