Reflections at the end of the project
The VINCE project has now come to an end, marking the conclusion of an intensive and rewarding period of cross border collaboration, development, and learning. Over the course of the project, partners from Finland and Sweden worked together to explore how digital solutions, co creation, and new technology can support migrants’ integration in a more inclusive and accessible way.
From an idea to a shared digital space
VINCE was born out of a shared concern: as society rapidly digitalised, especially during and after the covid pandemic, not everyone was able to keep pace. Migrants, in particular, faced barriers in accessing essential information, services, and opportunities for participation in their new home countries. The project set out to address this challenge by developing a virtual “integration home” – a digital space designed to support learning, interaction, and empowerment in a simple and user friendly way.
From the very beginning, VINCE emphasised co creation. Migrants, students, professionals, and organisations were actively involved in shaping the content, functionality, and overall direction of the solution. This approach ensured that development was grounded in real needs and lived experiences, rather than assumptions.
Working across borders and disciplines
One of the key strengths of VINCE was its cross border nature. Collaboration between Finnish and Swedish partners brought together diverse perspectives, expertise, and operating environments. Workshops and testing sessions created opportunities to learn from one another and to jointly reflect on what works – and what does not – when developing digital integration services.
Migrants, students, professionals, and organisations were actively involved in shaping the content, functionality, and overall direction of the solution.
– The project also demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary cooperation. Technical development, social expertise, communication, and education were closely intertwined throughout the project. This combination proved essential when working with complex topics such as digital inclusion, trust, accessibility, and the ethical use of AI‑supported solutions, says project´s content manager Riina Riihimäki from Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Key experiences and lessons learned
Looking back, several important lessons stand out. First, co-creation takes time, but it pays off. Meaningful participation requires trust, flexibility, and continuous dialogue, yet it leads to solutions that are more relevant and sustainable. Second, simplicity matters. For digital services aimed at diverse user groups, clarity, ease of use, and accessible language are just as important as advanced functionality.
The project also highlighted the importance of testing and iteration. Feedback from end users during pilots and tests helped identify practical challenges and guided improvements along the way. At the same time, the process strengthened mutual understanding between developers, professionals, and users.
Looking beyond the project
Although VINCE has formally ended, its results and experiences continue to live on. The project has generated valuable insights into digital integration, co creation practices, and cross border collaboration. – These lessons can be applied in future projects, services, and policy development, both nationally and internationally, points out Teresia Blomberg from Turku UAS. Blomberg worked as the administrative project manager in the project.
VINCE also demonstrated that digital solutions could play a meaningful role in supporting inclusion – when they are developed together with those they are meant to serve. As such, the project leaves behind a shared understanding of how integration work can be approached in a more participatory and human-centred way.
/ VINCE project team
If you are interested in finding out more about the project and the application, please contact Riina Riihimäki at Turku University of Applied Sciences at riina.riihimaki@turkuamk.fi.
