Global Pilots and Talent Boost: Strategic Funding for Finnish Universities’ Internationalisation in Light of University Autonomy

Abstract This article focuses on the autonomy of Finnish universities’ internationalisation considering the performance-based funding. Working group documentation and ministry memoranda proposing the funding model and introducing new features in the internationalisation funding were analysed along with the Ministry of Education and Culture documentation on strategic funding and the performance agreements of universities. An abductive qualitative content analysis was conducted guided by parameters derived from international guidelines and declarations that define academic freedom and autonomy. The resource dependence theory served as the theoretical underpinning of the study on Finnish higher education, which has a high share of government funding with a strong performance-orientation. The findings indicated that the programme-based internationalisation funding increased the constraints on autonomy regarding internationalisation. However, the strategic funding also comprised university-specific goals for internationalisation, thereby allowing for institutional autonomy. The changes to the funding were perceived as abrupt policy shifts increasing unpredictability and lacking transparency.