Group40K Parliamentary Election Programme 2027
Higher Education Must Be Valued
The current funding model for higher education is inadequate to safeguard the future of higher education. The performance-oriented nature of funding models and increasingly time-pressured study conditions has created an unsustainable system in which students are viewed as sources of revenue and statistical outputs rather than as individuals. The funding model for higher education must be developed further, and equal access to higher education must be guaranteed in the future. Finland needs academic peace and stability.
Internationalisation creates the conditions for a brighter future. Finland needs internationally educated and highly skilled people who can contribute to growth and development. Finnish society must be built on the principles of equality and non-discrimination, which requires stronger action against racism. Finland must be a safe and welcoming place for international students, both during their studies and after graduation. International expertise is essential to securing Finland’s future growth.
The position of the Swedish language must be safeguarded so that it remains possible to live, work, and study in Swedish in Finland. Swedish-language degree programmes must be protected in order to preserve Swedish-language expertise and knowledge.
The appreciation of higher education, both in society and in the state budget, is insufficient. Unclear and uncertain funding arrangements risk creating divisions between students and higher education institutions.
Sustainable funding is a prerequisite for maintaining high-quality education. Higher education is one of Finland’s greatest strengths, and this must remain the case in the future.
Higher Education Belongs to Everyone
Tuition-free education is a cornerstone of Finnish society. Tuition fees must not be introduced.
Changes that make access to higher education more difficult risk undermining equal opportunities for study. Even today, not everyone has the financial means to pursue higher education, despite its crucial role in driving social and economic development. Tuition-free higher education must be safeguarded, and equal access to study opportunities must be guaranteed for all. Admission to higher education should be based on knowledge, ability, and merit, not on financial resources. No one should be able to buy a degree.
Students' financial security must be ensured. The consequences of financial hardship are well documented: increased psychological strain, delayed graduation, and greater reliance on social assistance. Higher education is not an individual risk project but an investment in society’s future. Finland needs highly educated professionals now and in the future. This cannot be achieved if higher education is built on excessive debt and limited to those who can afford to bear the financial risk.
We call for a clear commitment to preserving tuition-free higher education. Future generations must have the same opportunities, conditions, and right to dream and pursue their ambitions as previous generations have enjoyed.
The principle of tuition-free higher education must be comprehensively protected.
Students deserve a secure future
Students’ confidence in the future is also society’s confidence in the future. Alongside creating financially sustainable conditions for studying, we must build a future in which the environment and nature are respected. Students need security in the form of economic prospects and a healthy, liveable planet.
Young people have always been seen as the hope of the future, yet many today struggle to see a bright future for themselves. Every student must be guaranteed a safe and stable environment throughout their studies, and effective solutions must be found to address the challenges posed by climate change.
The situation is absurd: the same society that says it needs highly educated professionals is building a system in which full-time study means constant financial insecurity. In such circumstances, it is difficult for students to maintain a positive outlook on the future.
Government action to combat climate change remains insufficient. The sustainability of our planet and young people's confidence in the future are both under strain. Through decisive and impactful measures, we can influence how current and future students perceive their prospects and opportunities.
Students’ confidence in the future must be strengthened.