From teacher to private school principal in Finland

The education sector in Finland has become increasingly international. Around 8 per cent of its workforce are foreign nationals, slightly more than the average across the total employed workforce. In higher education institutions, foreign nationals make up a large proportion of research staff, whereas at other levels of education the numbers remain low. In leadership positions there are still very few foreign nationals.

Richard Cousins, Middle School Principal at Kulosaari Secondary School, has worked as a teacher in Finland since the 1990’s. Cousins says that to his knowledge, he is the only private school principal in Finland with a foreign background. 

– I’m proud to carry the flag, yet at the same time it raises the question: why is this still the case? While our school is different from most in Finland, I believe the sector as a whole would benefit from having more internationals in management roles, Cousins says. 

Becoming a teacher in Finland 

Cousins trained as a physical education and mathematics teacher in the United Kingdom in the 1980’s. He met his Finnish wife at a family event, and the couple later decided to settle in Finland after Cousins was hired by the principal of the International School of Helsinki in 1989. 

– I attended a job fair in London and met the then principal of the International School of Helsinki. Normally, when teachers were hired at these recruiting fairs, they were hired as overseas teachers. But I simply wanted to move to Finland to be with my future wife, so the conditions were a bit different, Cousins recalls.  

In 1990, Cousins made the move and started working at the International School of Helsinki as physical education and mathematics teacher.  

– The work was slightly different compared to my positions in the UK, which made the transition easier. Many of the students were from diplomatic or missionary families, and we didn’t follow the Finnish curriculum. It really was an international bubble, Cousins describes. 

While moving to Finland was relatively smooth for Cousins, being a foreigner in the 1990s still came with challenges—particularly before Finland joined the EU. One of the first hurdles he encountered was the recognition of his bachelor’s degree in education. 

– In England, my qualification allowed me to teach students up to the age of 15. In Finland, however, my degree would technically enable me to teach only up to 6th grade. I challenged this, and provided detailed transcripts of my studies, but the outcome didn’t change. 

Cousins decided to pursue a master’s degree through Sheffield University, completing it in 2001. 

– I then sent all my paperwork to the Ministry of Education again, and this time they said I could teach all the way up to the end of compulsory education and work in a school management position. That was a time-consuming process, but I knew teachers coming outside the EU had it even harder, Cousins says. 

– In Finland, the teaching profession is highly regarded compared to the UK. I understood that the qualifications had to meet national standards, but at the time, the process felt like a hassle. 

Switching schools and roles 

After 11 years at the International School of Helsinki, Cousins decided he wanted to do something new. Through his work, Cousins had come to know the principal of Kulosaari Secondary School. 

– I wanted to get more into Finnish life, so I contacted the principal of Kulosaari Secondary School and asked if there were any opportunities available. I had taught some additional courses there in the past, and she said they would arrange something, he says. 

Cousins ended up switching schools and teaching a range of subjects at Kulosaari Secondary School. Over time, he took on the role of international coordinator and later became Middle School Principal. 

Becoming the Principal also meant stepping into the role of a recruiter. At Kulosaari Secondary School, teaching takes place both in Finnish and English. In the bilingual line, teachers are expected to work in both languages. 

Most new recruits come from within Europe since getting your qualifications accepted is still way easier for EU citizens. However, Cousins emphasises that recruitment is based on merit rather than background. 

– We consider all candidates regardless of where they come from or where their qualifications were obtained. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Hakaniemi, Helsinki—or in Haiti. 

Cousins speaks very highly of the Subject Teacher Education Programme (STEP) at the University of Helsinki, where the school hires new teachers whenever possible. 

– These teachers might not have the necessary Finnish language skills, but they are often highly motivated and have made the effort to get their qualifications recognised so they can work in Finland. 

Organisations should look outwards rather than inwards 

After 36 years in the country, Cousins is still happy to live and work in Finland. Despite the current uncertainty in the job market, he encourages organisations to look outwards rather than inwards. 

– At our school we have 35 different nationalities amongst our students and teachers from 13 different countries. Multiculturalism is the norm here, but many organisations still have little experience of it. We look at these youngsters for who they are, not their appearance or cultural background – and the same goes for the teachers we hire, Cousins says. 

Cousins now holds dual citizenship, he speaks Finnish and people see him as a Finn. But the transition didn’t happen overnight. 

– Having experienced both sides of the fence myself, I understand why hiring someone from a different culture can feel like a risk. But there’s a richness out there that is not being tapped to the full capacity in Finland, he reflects. 

And what advice would Cousins have for internationals seeking work in Finland’s education sector? 

– Be positive and proactive in learning the language, because that usually is the biggest hurdle. Also be consistent and persistent, do your research, and look for programmes that support the recognition of your degrees and qualifications, he concludes.