Finland Navigator for international maritime employees in Rauma

Finland Navigator pilot1 course attendees, Litana Finland Oy

International House Rauma and Seaside Campus organised two pilot Finland Navigator courses for more than twenty employees of Litana Finland Oy, a subcontractor operating at Rauma shipyard. The Russian-language courses were held at the Seaside Industry Park Rauma training facilities.

International House Rauma planned and delivered the training, while Seaside Campus coordinated the facilities, practical arrangements and company cooperation.

International employees play an important role in Rauma’s maritime cluster. Alongside workplace induction, clear information about Finnish society, local services and everyday practices can help employees settle into their new environment and manage daily matters.

Practical information about work, services and everyday life

The course covered working and living in Finland, with a particular focus on Rauma. Among the many topics discussed were employees’ rights and responsibilities, healthcare and wellbeing, the City of Rauma’s website and services, and summer activities for children.

‘Some course participants have already visited Kieliklubi (language club) which we introduced during the training. Kieliklubi is a weekly language and integration club organised by International House Rauma. It provides immigrants with a welcoming place to practise Finnish, meet local residents, learn about Finnish culture, and find out about services and current events in Rauma’, says Agnese Beca, the course instructor and the host of Kieliklubi.

Mia-Maria Mattila (left) and Agnese Beca, International House Rauma

Participants were also shown where to find reliable information and further support after the course.

‘When discussing integration, attention is often focused on people seeking employment. However, many international residents arrive in Rauma with a job already waiting for them. These pilots showed that employment alone does not automatically lead to inclusion. Access to information, services and local networks helps people and their families build a life in Rauma. International employees and their families are important for the future of Rauma and its industries,’ says Mia-Maria Mattila, international coordinator at International House Rauma.

Feedback highlights the practical value of the course

In the feedback survey, all participants reported gaining more information about services in Rauma and Finland, and everyone found the course useful.

For employers, Finland Navigator complements workplace induction by helping international employees understand the society in which they live and work. It can make it easier to use local services, manage family matters and become familiar with Finnish practices.

Mykhailo Nikandrov, Litana Finland Oy

‘As an employer, Litana Finland Oy strives for the comprehensive development and integration of her new employees who have recently arrived in Finland. This helps them better adapt to life in an unfamiliar country. A stress-free environment outside of work positively impacts the productivity of any employee!’ says Mykhailo Nikandrov, area manager, Litana Finland Oy.

A practical model for supporting an international workforce

The pilots demonstrated how Finland Navigator training can be delivered close to the workplace and, with the City of Rauma’s permission, adapted by International House Rauma to employees working in an international industrial environment.

For International House Rauma and Seaside Campus, the courses provided a practical way to support international employees settling into everyday life in Rauma and the maritime companies employing them.

Participant feedback will help assess the course and plan possible future courses. Both organisations consider the pilots successful and see opportunities to develop the model further.

For more information, please contact: Annika Perho, Seaside Campus, tel. +358 41 317 9863

Text: Annika Perho
Images: International House Rauma and Seaside Campus