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[aging]

May I post a query about the University of Eastern Finland and about working in Finland in general? Thanks in advance.

[mingus]

May I post a query about the University of Eastern Finland and about working in Finland in general? Thanks in advance.

Yes, you may.

[nordicexpat]

Sorry, I just saw this thread. What exactly would you like to know?

[aging]

Thanks. I'm interested in the working conditions at UEF (formerly Kuopio & Joensuu) and generally in Finnish academic institutions. Some specific issues can be: the language of instruction; freedom of travel during holidays and days when not teaching; the extent to which salaries are comparable to living costs; the usual work load; and child education (and child education in English). Any information about the above (or anything else) will be greatly appreciated.

[nordicexpat]

Well, a lot of it will be discipline specific and the type of position you are applying for.  I can tell you what things would be like "on paper," but there is a big difference between how things are theorerically run and how they actually are. This is especially true since a new law regulating uiversities comes into effect 1 Jan (theoretically, universities are now more independent entities, but most of their money comes from the government, so it is unclear what this new independence will mean in practice). 

Language of instruction may well be in English (they wouldn't hire you if Finnish were a requirement). You can certainly travel when you are not teaching. Salaries are up in the air right now.  Theoretically, they are based on job responsibility and job performance, but in practice that will depend upon your institution.  Is the job level specified?  And I would ask them how they measure performance (although you probably won't get a straight answer on that last question). Statistics would be available for you to find out what the average salary is, but yours will probably be lower. Cost of living would be much cheaper in Joensuu and Kuopio (were you would actually be teaching?) than somewhere like Helsinki (the salary will probably be lower than what you would get in the US, but academics aren't badly paid in relationship to the rest of the population). Work load varies: you could teach up to 14 hours a week with 7 different preparations a semester, or something much lower.  Finland has very good schools: just see PISA results (although I am a bit skeptical about PISA in general).  English language instruction will depend upon the city you live in.  Health and child care is pretty good (although, again, things like child care will vary somewhat depending upon where you live: better to check with someone there).  Both Joensuu and Kuopio are rather small, so cultural opportunities might be limited. It is possible you will feel somewhat isolated, since Finns are exactly known for being sociable. There tends to be a strong workplace/homelife separation in Finland (and probably much of Europe).  Finding work for a spouse may be difficult: economy is lousy right now, and unemployment among foreigners is pretty high (partly for language reasons, partly for other reasons). 

My experience is that Finns are OK with foreigners on a personal level. Finnish employers (outside of Nokia) vary in their attitudes quite a bit, even at universities. The best thing would be to sound out any non-Finnish staff members at the department you are applying for: discretely ask how non-native Finns are treated. Finnish academic model is closer to the Germany than to Norway or Sweden.  You can't be promoted to a professor: it is a specific position that one has to apply for (and the number of non-Finnish professors is extremely small). Some non-Finns feel frustrated by a lack of career advancement and a general feeling that the system is somewhat biased towards Finns (bias is perhaps too strong a word). Again, you may want to find out what the specific culture is like at your own prospective department. 

As I said, the entire university system is being turned upside down, so it is difficult to say anything concrete.  It used to be you were "tenured" as soon as you hired, but there has been a suggestion to institute some kind of tenure-track system.

Hope that helps. Could probably answer more if I had more specific information.

[aging]

Thanks!

[monsterx]

The University of Eastern Finland is out in the boonies.  You'd better like moose hunting and ice fishing.  Bring your camoflage clothes (maybe even to the interview, if you get one :) ).  Hiring can take a really long time, if it is for a permanent position.  The university is new because it is the result of merger between Kuopio and Joensuu.   You can look up the salary ranges, it is all via collective agreement, but (1) which pay catagory you get put in can be subject to negotation and different universities and departments do this differently (2) they have this performance appraisal system which can alter things considerably.   Whatever it is, it will be enough to live on.

If your reference point is the US or UK, you will find the child care arrangements in Finland excellent, nothing to worry about there, although if you are used to a high standard system, local problems and cuts might seem like big issues. I don't know about English language schools, but there is an arrangment for extra schooling in childrens' native languages, so they should be able to get tutoring in English in addition to the normal Finnish language instruction. 

[aging]

Thanks!