In 2015, the Finnish government imposed major budget cuts in basic funding at universities, resulting in an increase of Finnish academics and researchers emigrating abroad. Federal funding to Finland’s 15 universities and 26 polytechnic institutions was reduced by nearly €500 million ($530.4 million) over the next four years, while research funding was slashed by €100 million ($106.1 million). Between 2011 and 2015, the number of PhD-educated citizens moving abroad increased by 37%. The decreases in academics is affecting research and faculties at universities, with institutions being forced to let go of employees to meet funding requirements. The University of Helinski stated it will cut approximately one thousand staffed employees by the end of 2017 to decrease the institution’s budget €106 million ($112.4 million) by 2020. Similarly, Aalto University decreased its workforce by 17% and announced that the institution will lose 25% of its total €400 million ($424.3 million) budget by the end of next year. Academics in Finland have stated concerns about the impact of the budget cuts, indicating that the cuts have caused great damage which may be difficult to reverse.

Source: Times Higher Education News