University teachers of Finnish language and culture from outside Finland can apply for financial support from the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) for travel and accommodation costs when they organise regional meetings between themselves.

Due to the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, teachers of Russian and Belarusian universities cannot apply for support for regional meetings for the time being.

What is a regional meeting?

A regional meeting is a meeting between university teachers of Finnish language and culture from outside Finland. Teachers can organise the meeting in one of the countries in which they work. The duration of the meeting can be 1 to 3 days.

The aim of the meeting is 

  • to support teachers professionally, and
  • to strengthen cooperation between teachers across university and country borders.

The format of the regional meeting can vary from a conference-like event to brainstorming in a workshop, for example.

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What can I get support for?

You can get support for the travel and accommodation costs of the regional meeting when your home university does not cover them.

Support is available only to university teachers attending the meeting, not, for example, trainees, Fulbright FLTA scholarship holders, or teachers of expatriate Finnish schools.

We can cover

  • travel costs using the most economical mode of transport
  • accommodation in a twin room
  • costs for participants who don’t live in the location where the meeting takes place.

Please note: the support awarded is a contribution and will not necessarily cover all costs.

As a rule, for a one-day meeting, accommodation support is awarded for a maximum of one night, for a two-day meeting, for a maximum of two nights, and for a three-day meeting, for a maximum of three nights. Exceptions can be made in duly justified cases.

If the regional meeting is organised in connection of another event, we will only cover costs relating to the actual regional meeting. If attendance to a regional meeting is linked to a holiday, we will only cover one-way travel costs.

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Before applying for support for a regional meeting

Plan with teachers working in nearby regions where and when to organise a regional meeting and what you want to discuss in the meeting. The teacher of the host university will be the contact person for the meeting, liaising with EDUFI.

If you are the contact person of a regional meeting

  • Plan the programme of the regional meeting together with other participants.
  • Ask participants for an estimate of their travel costs to the meeting.
  • Find out inexpensive accommodation options in your university town.

If you are a participant in a regional meeting

  • Take part in the planning of the programme.
  • Send an estimate of your travel costs to the meeting location to the contact person of the meeting.
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How to apply for support for a regional meeting?

The contact person of the regional meeting will apply for the support on behalf of all participants.

Send the application form by email to: skk [at] oph.fi. Write "Aluekokous" (in Finnish. Translation: regional meeting) in the subject field of the email.

The application form includes a list of the participants with estimates of their travel and accommodation costs. Please attach the preliminary programme of the meeting with the application form.

There is a rolling deadline for applications. Please send your application at least 4 months before the regional meeting.

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After being awarded support

If you are the contact person of a regional meeting

Let other participants know that you have been awarded funding and about accommodation and other practical arrangements.

If you are a participant in a regional meeting

  • Confirm your participation to the contact person.
  • Make your travel arrangements.
  • If you are a teacher sent by EDUFI, send your travel plan to the contact person of regional meetings in EDUFI.

 

Attachments
Travel plan for teachers sent by EDUFI available in Finnish
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After the regional meeting

If you are the contact person of a regional meeting

  • Write a report about the regional meeting at the latest within a month after the end of the meeting.
  • Send the report to the EDUFI contact person for regional meetings by email.

If you are a participant in a regional meeting

  • Complete a report of your travel expenses at the latest within a month after the end of the meeting.
  • Send the travel expenses form, signed and together with the original receipts and travel tickets, to the EDUFI contact person for regional meetings.

The expenses will be paid directly to the personal bank accounts of participants. The account must be a euro account or another account that accepts payments in euros.
 

Attachments
Reporting guidance for regional meetings of Finnish teachers, available in Finnish
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Contact us

skk [at] oph.fi

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