High quality EU research conducted with the help of Finnish interns
Eurofound is an EU agency for the improvement of living and working conditions that is located in Dublin. Its main mission is to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies in Europe. Comparisons, research and analyses provide unique information for the key social policy actors in the EU.
Research at Eurofound focuses on three totalities: European Working Conditions Survey, European Quality of Life Survey and European Company Survey. The European Quality of Life Survey was last conducted in 2016 and at the end of last year Eurofound published an Overview Report of it. The report compares results both among the EU member states and across time, contrasting the new data with that of the previous survey rounds. People from 33 European countries, 28 of which are EU member states, were interviewed for the survey.
Quality of Life in Europe
The research data in the quality of life survey is diverse and of high-quality. In addition to subjective experiences of individuals, the study examines the quality of societies and public services. It shows that states with strong social policies recover faster from economic crises than those with weaker social policies. In country-specific results there are significant differences in many areas, but every country has its strengths as well.
Finland's results in the European Quality of Life Survey are positive: the study shows that the quality of life in Finland is high. Finns' experiences of happiness and optimism towards future are also well above the EU average. Indicators depicting the quality of society show that the trust among people in Finland is the highest among the EU member states. When it comes to public services, Finnish education system, childcare and healthcare services receive particularly good ratings.
Finnish interns at Eurofound
Eurofound employs around 100 people in Dublin. Among them is a Finn, Laura Pöntinen, who works on the European Quality of Life Survey as an intern. She tells that her data analysis skills have developed enormously during the internship. Pöntinen was supposed to work at Eurofound for six months, but she managed to extend her internship to a full year. The same happened with Elisabeth Packalén, another Finnish intern at Eurofound. Both enjoy their time in Dublin and participate in Eurofound's research with keen interest. Packalén works on a research project on the Future of Manufacturing in Europe and in her free time enjoys the beautiful nature of Ireland.
During their internship at Eurofound, the interns have a chance to improve their research skills, but the work also includes more versatile assignments. The internship has boosted my courage and initiative, tells Packalén. Both interns see Eurofound as an important EU agency. "The research data produced by Eurofound forms an important basis for the development of the EU", describes Pöntinen. Packalén is of the same opinion: "Research provides a fact-based foundation for policy-making – political decisions cannot be made on the basis of gut feelings".
Explore and compare country data on Eurofound website(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
Text: Miia Pietilä, Intern at the Embassy of Finland in Dublin