07.06.2024 10:00
International Education: Q&A
Question: What is the international education path like in Satakunta?
Martin Hartman. Image: Karl Vilhjálmsson.
Bilingual basic education (Finnish/English) is currently organised in Pori, and the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) has invested in English-language degree programmes – there are currently seven of them. In addition, the private Björneborgs svenska samskola (BSS) offers a popular Swedish-language education path from daycare to upper secondary school. In collaboration with the City of Pori, BSS has also promoted the establishment of an English-language IB upper secondary school on the new SKiB campus. The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) has already accepted BSS as a candidate school for the IB Diploma Programme. All that is missing now is an extended teaching permit from the Ministry of Education and Culture. The application to the Ministry will be submitted in the coming days. According to plans, the first Diploma Programme students will start their studies in autumn 2026.
The Satakunta region has seen a decrease in population, especially the working-age population, and there is a shortage of experts. The Regional Council of Satakunta recently published a strategy aimed at increasing labour and
education-based immigration in particular. It is essential for families moving for work that younger family members have places in the education system. The integration of the family in Satakunta is also important.
The diverse cultural offering of Satakunta supports the integration of those moving to the area. Actors in the cultural sector should be aware of this and offer multilingual low-threshold events. This has also been set as a goal for the cultural activities on the SKiB campus when the cultural centre is completed at the turn of the year 2025/2026.
We must all do our part topromote multilingualism and a vibrant Satakunta!
Martin Hartman
Managing Director of Svenska
Kulturfonden i Björneborg
(Swedish Cultural Foundation in Pori)
Principal of Björneborgs svenska samskolan
(Swedish Co-educational School in Pori)
Satakunta Chamber of Commerce magazine 2/2024 Article
