Cooperation projects in Finnish language and culture supported by EDUFI

Project name: Collaborative meeting in Berlin

Project coordinator: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Other participants: Universität Wien, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Ludwig-Maximillians Universität München, Universität Greifswald, Universität Hamburg, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Universität Bielefeld, Universität zu Köln

Objectives: Our aim was to plan the next Suosa seminar, scheduled for 2026, and to hold two extensive workshops on teaching Finnish, particularly in German-speaking countries.

Project content: We not only tried to collect ideas that had already been successful in practice (1st workshop on Friday), but also to present themes or grammar issues that have been particularly difficult to teach, especially in a German-speaking environment (2nd workshop on Saturday). Another topic was a discussion about artificial intelligence, this time from the teacher's perspective – how teachers can utilize AI. The results of the workshops and the tips and materials shared in them can also be used by each teacher in their own teaching if they wish.

Dates: 23–24 May 2025

Benefits/lessons learned: The exchange of teaching experiences was really fruitful, as we all teach in a German-speaking environment. Several presentations aroused lively discussions. It was really important to have a deeper discussion with colleagues on different themes related to teaching. We also shared presentation materials with each other. We also made good progress on the plans for the Greifswald seminar.

Potential further plans: 4th Suosa seminar (network of universities in German-speaking countries offering Finnish studies) at the University of Greifswald in May 2026

Further information: pia.paeivioe [at] hu-berlin.de

Project name: Hot Reads from a Cool Country: Contemporary Finnish Literature

Project coordinator: University of Toronto

Other participants: Indiana University Bloomington

Objectives: Our goal was to plan and implement together a new course in contemporary Finnish literature titled ‘Hot Reads from a Cool Country: Contemporary Finnish Literature’ at the University of Toronto and Indiana University. The main objective of the cooperation was to share our competence and create a course where part of the teaching could be delivered remotely together (common streamed lectures and learning assignments).

Project content: We created a joint course plan and reading list for the course. We planned the learning assignments, coursework, assessment and the themes of weekly joint lectures as well as the assignments, assessment and practical technical implementation of a reading blog. Once a week, we gave a joint course lecture on Zoom. The students also had joint Padlet discussions on the course literature.

Dates: Academic year 2019–2020

Benefits/lessons learned: The course was popular at our universities, and both universities included it in their official course offering. We engaged in continuous discussions on literature and shared our expertise during the project. Teaching together was meaningful. The books purchased with project funding will continue to serve our Finnish language programmes, as students in other courses can also borrow them in the future. In their course feedback, students praised particularly the versatile reading list of the course, various assignments, the inspiring course project and coursework. 

Potential further plans: The course became a permanent part of the universities’ teaching offering. Muhonen taught the course again in Toronto in autumn 2020, and Räsänen in spring 2023. 
 
Further information: Anu Muhonen, anu.muhonen [at] utoronto.ca

Project name: Languages and cultures in interaction: Return trip from Finland to Italy

Project coordinator: Tampere University

Other participants: Università di Napoli L’Orientale and Università degli studi di Firenze

Objectives: The aim of the project was to offer students studying to become Finnish as a second language (FSL) teachers at the Tampere University the opportunity to do their study-connected internship  in an authentic international environment, at Italian universities offering Finnish Studies. Another aim was to give students of Finnish language and culture at the universities of Naples and Florence the opportunity to participate in an intensive Finnish language course, first at their home universities under the guidance of FSL teacher trainees and later during a study visit to the Tampere University.

Project content: The project included an intensive Finnish language course, first at the University of Florence and then at the University of Naples, where Finnish FSL teacher trainees planned the course and acted as teachers. The course focused on understanding spoken Finnish and mastering its variations. Later, Italian students who had participated in the courses travelled to Tampere University, where they learned about Finnish language teaching and Finnish culture under the guidance of Finnish FSL teacher trainees.

Dates: Intensive courses in Italy: May 2025, study visit by Italian students to Tampere, September 2025

Benefits/lessons learned: Students planning to become FSL teachers at the Tampere University were able to include a short international period in their degree and gain international experience in FSL teaching at the end of their studies. Italian students of Finnish received high-quality teaching in spoken Finnish from their peers, i.e. university students of their own age, and also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with a Finnish university and university teaching, as well as Finnish culture. The project enabled mutual international education for Finnish and Italian students in their own field of study, as well as genuine interaction in the form of language learning and cultural exchange.

Potential further plans: The parties involved in the project are investigating the possibility of concluding an Erasmus agreement between the universities of Tampere and Naples to enable student and teacher exchanges.

Further information: Maija Tervola, maija.tervola [at] tuni.fi

Project name: Linguistic diversity in Europe: Finnish-Swedish culture and language (Sprachenvielfalt in Europa: Fallbeispiel Finnlandschwedische Kultur und Sprache)

Project coordinator: Universität Wien

Other participants: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Greifswald, Universität zu Köln (so-called Suosa network, in other words universities teaching Finnish language in German-speaking Europe).

The project was also supported by the Finnland-Institut in Germany, the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, and Philologisch-Kulturwissenschaftliche Fakultät der Universität Wien.

Objectives: Obtaining visibility for Finnish language and literature subjects and the universities teaching them, promoting cooperation between these universities and their students, creating opportunities for cooperation with other subjects in the home universities (particularly with Scandinavian studies).

Project content: A seminar on Finnish-Swedish language and culture was organised in Vienna on 8–9 November 2019. The programme included five talks by visiting lecturers and four workshops for students. In these workshops, the students had an opportunity to find topics for their future seminar projects and theses and to present their completed or ongoing work. The seminar also included a panel discussion open to the general public and talks by two visiting authors (Johan Bargum and Philip Teir).

The cooperation project funded the participation of students (around five students from each university) and teachers (one or two per university) in the seminar (travel and accommodation). The number of participants from Vienna was considerably larger as we also worked together with the subject of Scandinavian studies.

As a result of the project, Finnish-Swedish themes were discussed in the instruction of the participating universities during the academic year. Consequently, students who could not be offered an opportunity to participate in the seminar were also able to benefit from it.

Dates: academic year 2019–2020 

Benefits/lessons learned: As a consequence of the project, Finnland-Institut in Germany selected Austria as one of its priority regions, and Finland and Finnish language studies also gained more visibility at other events in Vienna in 2019. The students found the workshops particularly useful.

Potential further plans: Encouraged by the positive feedback, the Suosa network decided to continue the series of seminars. The following seminar was organised in Berlin in May 2022 (‘Jung in Finnland – Young people in Finland’), and the network also aims to apply for financing for a third seminar.

Further information: Mikko Kajander, mikko.kajander [at] univie.ac.at

Project name: Young people in Finland (Jung in Finnland)

Project coordinator: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Other participants: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Greifswald, Universität Wien, Universität zu Köln

Objectives: Obtaining more visibility for universities teaching Finnish in German-speaking countries as well as conducting in-depth discussions on themes (Finnish youth) for which the normal curriculum does not allow enough time and on which teachers do not have sufficient up-to-date knowledge but which are of particular concern or interest to university students.

Project content: A three-day seminar for students and educators on Finnish young people. In particular, it focused on the state of Finnish young people, young adult literature and translating it, as well as the language of young people, especially those in Helsinki.

Dates: 19 – 21 May 2022

Benefits/lessons learned: The seminar approached the topic of young people from multiple perspectives. Both teachers and students obtained plenty of up-to-date information and sources for research. The seminar helped to step up cooperation between the participating universities.

Potential further plans: All participating universities are extremely willing to continue similar seminars in the future. Some participating universities organised courses related to the theme of young people, for example on young adult literature.

Further information: Pia Päiviö, pia.paeivioe [at] hu-berlin.de