THL hosted international students and doctoral researchers
This year, THL once again participated as a host organization in the University of Helsinki’s UNITalent programme, which introduces international master’s students and doctoral researchers to their field of study and Finnish working life. The programme gave opportunities to connect with international talents from the University of Helsinki.
All international students and doctoral researchers at the University of Helsinki were eligible to apply for the programme. Our group at THL included 20 international students from the fields of health, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, social sciences, and biosciences.
Diverse information and inspiring career stories
The University of Helsinki’s Career Services organized a joint kick-off event in February for all participating companies and organizations. We invited our group to follow the event at our Tilkanmäki premises, where they also had the chance to tour the building.
Following the kick-off, we hosted three separate events at Tilkanmäki to introduce the participants to THL’s work in more detail. The first event took place at the end of February and included a general introduction to THL.
Director General Mika Salminen presented THL’s organization and strategy, while RDI Director Hanna Tolonen introduced our research activities and new research programmes. Visiting researcher Tomomi Hisasue also shared her experiences of living and working in Finland and at THL.
The meeting in March focused on THL’s recruitment practices. Recruitment Manager Kati Nurminen and HR Manager Marika Lauri explained our recruitment processes. Team Leader Anna-Mari Aalto shared her perspective on hiring new employees. The participants also had the opportunity to practice pitching and presenting their skills and strengths.
The final meeting in April highlighted the career stories of THL’s international experts. Team Leader Persephone Doupi, Senior Researcher Sebastián Peña Fajuri, and Senior Researcher Ananda Tiwari shared their career journeys in Finland and at THL.
Building concrete connections matters
The UNITalent activities were coordinated by Research Liaison Officer Aino Alatalo and Project Coordinator Sirje Vaittinen. They described the events as warm and welcoming.
“The UNITalent participants were well-prepared and asked insightful questions. They were especially interested in how to build concrete connections with THL and Finnish employers. They also wanted to know how international students and doctoral researchers can network with professionals in their field and stand out when applying for jobs and internships,” said Alatalo and Vaittinen.
The discussions also revealed a strong motivation to better understand THL’s role in the Finnish health and welfare landscape.
According to Alatalo and Vaittinen, the participants appreciated the opportunity to meet THL experts. Through the career stories, they gained a broader perspective on settling in Finland and building a career at THL.
In addition to THL, the 2025 UNITalent host organisations included Metsä Group, Fortum, the City of Helsinki Executive Office, the City of Helsinki’s Education Division, Helsinki Think Company, Otava Learning, Fiskars Group, and OP Financial Group.
THL also participated in the programme last year. So far, more than 400 students and 25 organizations have taken part in UNITalent.
