UNICOM – Uniting Companies and International University Talents
What is it?
UNICOM is a collaboration between the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi, Turku Science Park Ltd. and various other regional partners in Southwest Finland. As the name implies, the two-year project aims at responding to shortage of skilled workers that many companies in Southwest Finland are currently experiencing.
The companies in the region that are growing and recruiting despite the COVID-19 crisis have recognized a lack of expertise in research, product development and business, particularly in the following fields: robotics and automation, electric transportation and battery technology, diagnostics and biosciences as well as ICT (especially in artificial intelligence and cloud services).
UNICOM’s number one aim is to bridge the gap between talents looking for companies and companies looking for talents. Additional aims include increasing the openness, receptiveness and attractiveness of the job market for those international university talents who are already residing in the region. UNICOM’s practical applications include internships at companies for doctoral candidates and post-docs; workplace coaching for international talents, and campaigns and support services for companies.
Whom is it for?
The needs companies have are best met by the currently underutilized demographic of international doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and master’s students enrolled in the study programmes of their respective spearheads. Consequentially, these talents are the core demographic of the UNICOM project. On the company side of things, the demographic includes small-to-medium-sized companies in various fields.
News, blog posts and other content
This page compiles latest developments from the project and its partners. Click on the image to read the post and check back often!
Summer Trainee
The 2023 Summer Trainee campaign highlighted summer jobs in the Turku region and Southwest Finland. These positions will not require either Finnish or Swedish. Watch this space for the third annual Summer Trainee campaign coming up in 2024!
Industry Placements for Researchers
The UNICOM project partners with local companies to organize industry placement spots for international doctoral and postdoc researchers. The 2023 call for applications is organized by the University of Turku. The call was open from 31 January to 21 February 2023.
More information on the University of Turku website
Contact
If you are interested in doing doctoral/postdoc research at the University of Turku or Åbo Akademi University, you can find more information on the University websites.
You can find the direct contact information for everyone working on the UNICOM project here.
The UNICOM project’s consortium has been assembled based on the companies’ needs. Turku Science Park Ltd., which also works together with the City of Turku in coordinating the region’s Talent Hub operations, is in charge of the project’s company services. Åbo Akademi and the University of Turku (especially their development-, research career/graduate school- and career services) are in charge of the services aimed at international talents. The University of Turku is also the coordinator of the UNICOM project. Other partners include the regional business development company of Salo, Yrityssalo Ltd., Southwest Finland TE Office/EURES, Turku Chamber of Commerce and SME’s from the various spearheads. UNICOM is carrying out the Talent Boost programme as coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
