HYY and TYY: Finnish universities do not need development aid!

The comment has been published in Helsingin Sanomat 22.3.2010

The Government of Finland will determine significant policies concerning development cooperation funds when discussing the framework of national economy for the years 2011-2014 on 23 March 2010. HYY and TYY are concerned about loosening the criteria for Finnish development aid and particularly about including student expenses in the official development aid of Finland. 

There is an ongoing discussion about tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA countries. In this context emerged the idea of using development aid for the grants of low-income students from developing countries in Finnish universities. A grant system which is covered by development aid would not benefit developing countries. It would be direct income transfer from the state to Finnish universities. Education is undoubtedly an important part of development cooperation but the main beneficiary should not be the Finnish higher education institutions.

The most concerning matter in this development is the import of the most talented students from developing countries into Finland. It cannot be guaranteed that students would return to their home countries after studies and we cannot determine an individual's future plans. Students from developing countries would be encouraged to return at the same time when Finland desperately calls for international labour force to its labour market.

Finland is committed to raise development aid to the level recommended by the UN - 0.7 per cent of gross national income - by 2015. Covering student expenses from the development cooperation funds is an artificial exaggeration of this percentage, which does not actually increase the amount of development cooperation and the aid. Development aid must continue to focus on reducing poverty in developing countries. The official development aid must not have financial interest to Finland. 

HYY and TYY are setting an example by using 0.7 % of their operating budgets for development cooperation.  
 

THE STUDENT UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI
Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi, Chairperson of the board
 
THE STUDENT UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TURKU
Elias Laitinen, Chairperson of the board

 
Further information:
Secretary for International Affairs Hanna Laitinen, the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, 050 543 8450, hanna.laitinen(at)hyy.fi