The aim of the Towards University -project is to develop and pilot preparatory education and guidance for immigrants at the universities of Lapland and Oulu, especially for immigrants living in northern Finland who wish to apply for university studies in Finnish. The project will support more broadly the integration of immigrants into higher education and their pathways to higher education. In Finland, the age structure is changing permanently, the number of older people in relation to children and young people is increasing, and at the same time the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish government aim for at least 50% of young adults to complete a higher education degree. In order to achieve this objective, it is essential to develop higher education opportunities for people from a migrant background. The main objective of the project will be achieved through the following sub-objectives: Objective 1: Piloting coaching and guidance Development work will support the inclusion and equality of migrants in higher education and in the labour market for graduates. Objective 2: Smoothing transitions and transition through regional cooperation Increase cooperation between those working with immigrants in Northern Finland and streamline guidance on transitions. Objective 3: Sharing of results and practices and peer learning Co-development of a coaching and guidance approach with project implementers and partners. The objectives will be achieved through the following measures: 1. Co-development of a co-development approach to coaching and mentoring through workshops. The development work will start with a needs assessment of the context and the target group, and the collection of experience from other coaching courses. The co-development will continue throughout the project and the results, the curriculum and the guidance model, will be compiled and shared. 2. Development and piloting of guidance towards university studies. Activities will focus on reaching out to migrants and guiding them into preparatory education through networking. As part of the preparatory training, career guidance for migrants will be provided and individual language pathways will be implemented. 3. Piloting of preparatory education in both the Universities of Lapland and Oulu. Project experts will co-develop programmes for preparatory education and create university-specific study offerings. Preparatory education will strengthen the skills needed in Finnish university studies and working life and will include the following contents: - Finnish as a second language studies - Academic study skills and competences - Academic studies in a subject of interest - University community and learning environments 4. Communicating results and sharing good practice The results, experiences and good practices generated by the project will be communicated and shared nationally throughout the life cycle of the project. The project has resulted in the development and piloting of a guidance model and a curriculum tray for preparatory education, which brings together the courses offered and developed as preparatory education. The project has created a new model for assessing the Finnish language skills of immigrants applying for co-selection and has also developed selection principles and application procedures for preparatory education at the Universities of Lapland and Oulu. The project has had a positive impact on the opportunities and readiness of immigrants in the region to apply for university education by strengthening immigrants' academic skills and knowledge of university studies and by developing their Finnish language skills. During the project, the skills and cooperation of university staff and network actors will be developed to guide migrants to appropriate studies. Referral from integration education and other guidance services to preparatory education has developed through the emergence of common practices. Experts and partners from Lapland and North Ostrobothnia have been involved in the co-development activities and all results and materials are available for national use.