Institutional agents’ concepts of support for the integration of international degree students into host communities in Finland

Institutional agents play a crucial role for international degree students in gaining social capital and boosting their likelihood of staying in Finland after graduation. This phenomenographic study explores how institutional agents understand support for the integration of international degree students into host communities. It is based on semi-structured interviews with 15 agents working in universities and municipalities. Four ways of understanding support were identified: (1) helping with practicalities, (2) coordinating studies, (3) coaching for working life, and (4) building social networks. The findings show that institutional agents perceive themselves as helpers with practical issues upon arrival, instructors for academic affairs, coaches for working life skills, and guides with expertise in facilitating student integration. The responsibility for integration is understood as shared among individuals, institutions, host communities, and the whole society. Our findings deepen our understanding of institutional agents’ roles in the integration process and highlight human-centered support that addresses international degree students’ needs.