EXPAT

The competition for international job-seekers – in particular, professionals and students (referred to as “expats” in this project) and the ethnic diversity in the region have been increasing fast as a result of globalisation. Consequently, the need to attract and integrate expats is widely recognised by national and regional strategies and business organisations. The structural labour shortage and the aging workforce have also underlined this need.

The project aimed at improving expat's access to local networks, both social and professional, and thereby also improving the standard of living of expats in the Central Baltic region. At the same time, the probability of talented people remaining in the region would increase. An important long-term goal was to develop the services offered to skilled people moving to the region.

EXPAT developed a common platform for the provision of innovative services (so-called “soft-landing and soft-departure services”) to increase interaction amongst expats, locals and private as well as public service providers. The project thus facilitated the exchange and use of innovative services that could promote social networking in the region. Furthermore, the project compiled policy recommendations for local, regional and national authorities and other stakeholders involved in the interaction with expats.

Virtual service platform for expats

The service portal provides information about services to expats already living in or moving to the Central Baltic region (the cities of Helsinki, Turku, Riga, Tallinn, Tartu).

The service portal provides any expat (or anyone else) a possibility to find out where for instance social activities such as sports activities or other events take place. The service is interactive and based on a map. In addition, the service portal provides information about services for immigrants such as registration, language courses, and professional networking possibilities. It also gives the service providers a joint platform for informing about their services. The development work was documented in a separate report.

EXPAT virtual platform 
Final Report on EXPAT virtual platfom ENG

Policy recommendations for developing services to expats

Policy recommendations for developing services to expats directed at authorities, local municipalities and other main organisations involved in the development of services to expats. 

On the basis of work in 2011-2012, and as summarized in the final report, EXPAT formulated a set of policy recommendations. The final report includes an overview of the current services provided to expats in Helsinki, Turku, Riga, Tallinn and Tartu. Furthermore, a gap analysis or analysis of the needs of expats in the participating regions is included, as well as overall conclusions by the project. The report also includes case study reports and technical aspects of the service platform developed by the project.

Cultivating the human capital of the Central Baltic Sea region - Policy Recommendation ENG
Inventory Report ENG