International students studying in higher education institutes in Tampere region have interests of getting a job during their studies or after graduation. High expectations often lead to frustration because their qualifications and experience are not realised by the employers. However, international students in the region create a potential pool of immigrants from which to recruit.  Recruitment of international students who complete their studies in the country is easier and safer than recruiting highly or lesser skilled workers from abroad. 

WorkPlace Pirkanmaa project is a result of two years of work. The aim of the project is to strengthen contacts between employers, international students and higher education institutes. The idea is to develop new services for employers to make international recruitment in the reagion easier, and to offer international students better access to working life.

The purpose of the services is to increase competitiveness and internationalisation of the companies through lowering the threshold of recruitment of international labour. The aim is also to improve awareness of the companies about the knowhow international labour have.

The project will be implemented during the years 2009–2011 with co-financing by the European Development Fund (ERDF). Total budget of the project is 237 000€.