Compulsory Internships in Finland: Symbiosis Between Universities of Applied Sciences and Industry

In mapping community colleges and their global counterparts, you will come across the term University of Applied Sciences (UAS), which is common in some European countries, such as Finland, Norway, Denmark, the Baltics, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. They are usually more practice-oriented in their education and more applied in their research than traditional research universities, and serve labor market needs. What generally also sets them apart from such universities is the compulsory internships required for the degree. This leads to a symbiotic relationship in which industry relies on employers to offer internships. This symbiosis is far from simple or always successful. However, a key development for the future is an ecosystem approach.