Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister of India released this video.
A Kerala based personal tution company, INTERVAL, from Areekode in Malapuram District. has been selected to be part of the Finnish Talent Boost Project.
Boost
Map locating Areekodde in Kerala
What is the Finnish Talent Boost Project?
It is a project to promote Global Competitiveness Through Talent Attraction and Retention
In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, countries are recognizing the crucial role that talent and human capital play in economic growth and development. Finland, a nation renowned for its innovation and expertise, has embraced this concept through the implementation of the Finnish Talent Boost Project. This introduction delves into the aims, strategies, and impacts of this project, which seeks to attract and retain international talent to enhance Finland's global competitiveness.
I. Aims:
The primary objective of the Finnish Talent Boost Project is to attract and retain highly skilled professionals from around the world to alleviate skill shortages and boost economic growth. By doing so, Finland aims to position itself as an attractive destination for foreign talent, thereby enhancing its competitive advantage in key sectors such as technology, research, and entrepreneurship. This project focuses not only on attracting talent but also on integrating foreign professionals into Finnish society and ensuring their long-term commitment to the country.
II. Strategies:
To achieve its goals, the Talent Boost Project deploys a range of innovative strategies that facilitate the recruitment and integration of international talent. One such strategy is the implementation of streamlined visa procedures and a comprehensive online platform for potential migrants, providing necessary information and support services. This simplifies the process of relocating and working in Finland, encouraging highly skilled individuals to consider the country as a viable option.
The Talent Boost Project engages in proactive marketing campaigns to promote Finland's welcoming and inclusive environment, highlighting its high-quality education system, research opportunities, work-life balance, and strong emphasis on sustainability. These initiatives aim to create a positive image of Finland and attract talent from diverse backgrounds who can contribute to the country in various sectors.
III. Integration and Retention Measures:
Attracting talent is only half the battle; the Talent Boost Project also focuses on fostering an environment that enables foreign professionals to integrate successfully into Finnish society. The program provides language training and cultural orientation programs to help foreigners adapt to their new surroundings and interact effectively with locals. Additionally, the project collaborates with employers and universities to create internship programs and job opportunities for international graduates, facilitating their transition from education to employment.
The Finnish government offers support systems such as career coaching, mentorship programs, and networking events to help foreign professionals build professional connections and develop their careers within the Finnish job market. These measures play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term commitment of international talent, as they increase job satisfaction and provide opportunities for continued professional development.
IV. Impact on Competitiveness:
By implementing the Talent Boost Project, Finland has witnessed several positive impacts on its global competitiveness. Firstly, the influx of international talent brings fresh perspectives, diversity of thought, and cross-cultural collaboration, which stimulate innovation and enhance productivity within Finnish industries. This talent infusion has played a significant role in bolstering the country's reputation as a center of excellence and attracting global investments.
Secondly, the project has helped bridge skill gaps in critical sectors, particularly in technology and research, where a scarcity of experts was previously a concern. By attracting highly skilled professionals, Finland can ensure the sustainable growth of its knowledge-based economy.
In conclusion, the Finnish Talent Boost Project reflects Finland's commitment to attracting and retaining international talent to enhance its global competitiveness. By implementing innovative strategies to attract individuals and fostering an environment that promotes integration and retention, Finland not only benefits from the diverse skills and perspectives brought by foreign professionals but also secures its position as a thriving hub for innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. This project serves as a model for countries seeking to leverage talent attraction and retention as a means to drive economic growth and stay competitive in the global landscape.
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Viva la Kerala in having a company which was able to enter this arena in a country considered to be the premier in education.
Our 40 years of fighting to modify the Finnish system has finally resulted in this one more breakthrough.
(Hope you will read through a few of the over 2000 blog entries in Jacob’s blogs and our other 18 blogs to see how much we have strived for an impact like this. Nothing happens overnight!)
Jacob with HE K. P. Fabian at
University of Oulu (1988)
Jacob with HE Thangkima Cherpoot at
Oulu University (1991)
Jacob with HE Ashok Sharma at
Oulu International School (2015)
Jacob with HE Raveesh Kumar
on his first visit to Oulu (2021)
Important contributions along the way have been made by HEs K. P. Fabian, Thangkima Cherpoot, Om Prakash, Ashok Sharma, and our present ambassador HE Raveesh Kumar, the last three from my alma mater, Delhi University) I must also name top researchers as Vamsi Krishna Palakuru, Sebastian Malladil, and Jobin Verghese who followed my tenure in the Microelectronics and Material Physics Laboratores, )
The first breakthrough came in 1988 when Indian Ambassador HE K. P. Fabian’s and myself, also more than theoretically a Mallu, had the first tie up between University of Oulu and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. (I must not forget the great contribution of the late Brig Sharma, who came as later in the 1980s as the professor of Optoelectronics in the Computer Science Laboratory of Oulu University after the initial groundwork had been laid by my wife, Annikki, and me. I must also mention other leading lights as Prof. Ajeet Mathur, Isaac Sunderajan, Abhay Bulsari, Radha Krishnan, Sulochana Meyer, Mahesh Somani, Atul Mahajan, Heramb Kulkarni.)
The foundations we set over the years are deep and we now see the results in different spheres of commercial (eg. Codenomicon, Elektrobit, Net Hawk, Nokia, State Research Centre of Finland VTT, Valmet, Vaisala, Wärtsilä, etc.) and education life in Finland (Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Läpeenranta, Oulu, Tampere, Turku Universities). The work of Prof. Ajeet Mathur in Helsinki and Tampere Universities, Sulochana Meyer in the Oulu International School and Heramb Kulkarni in Tampere stand out in the latter sphere.
I am rather surprised that the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chosen to push this positive news about Kerala!
Hard and dedicated work pays off - but all credit to INTERVAL for cashing in on this 30 years down the road.
