The fourth application round of the TFK programme funds 30 educational cooperation projects

81 project proposals in total were submitted for the actual call, and the applied funding was in total 5 976 286 euros. By the application deadline universities handed in more applications than universities of applied sciences: 50 projects applied were coordinated by a university and 31 projects by a university of applied sciences. Most HEI’s submitted more than one application and all in all, 32 Finnish HEIs were involved in the project proposals either as project coordinators or as project partners: 13 universities and 19 universities of applied sciences. The application round was open to all degree levels and disciplines.

Cooperation with Southern Africa received 28 applications, which was about 35 percent of all received applications. Latin America received 27 percent, Southeast Asia 17 percent and India 11 percent and China 10 percent of all the applications. The most common study field represented in the applications was teacher training and education science, which was followed by social and behavioural science and engineering and engineering trades. A project can be related to one or more study fields.

32 percent of the applied projects were funded in the call 2024. The primary assessment criterion was the quality of the project application. In addition, according to the TFK programme guidelines only 2 projects from the same HEI can be funded for cooperation with a target country or region. Selected projects include 6 cooperation projects with Latin America, 8 projects with Southern Africa, 4 projects with Southeast Asia, 3 projects with China and 3 projects with India. The selected projects include 7 Finnish universities of applied sciences and 9 universities as well as 37 HEIs from target countries and regions. 

Selected projects will develop digital teaching and create solutions for the challenges of the sustainable future

The selected projects represent different fields, such as teacher training and educational science, engineering, social and behavioral science as well as business and administration. Field specifically most of the selected projects are related to teaching training and educational science, among others developing pedagogies in early childhood education and teaching and collaboration in the music education. The projects develop digital teaching and create digital solutions for example to damage-mitigation of natural disasters.  Selected projects in sustainability and environmental protection address such themes as renewable energy, restoring ecosystems, and sustainable management of forest resources.  The projects emphasize mutual learning and responsible cooperation between HEI’s involved in the projects. 

Most projects combine different cooperation activities: mobility of students and staff between Finland and target countries or regions, common study modules, courses and intensive courses together with implementation of digital and/or virtual teaching are the most popular forms of cooperation. In addition, curriculum and work life collaboration as well as joint and/or dual degrees are also included in several projects. 

The next TFK programme call will open in early 2025

The purpose of the Team Finland Knowledge programme is to create and strengthen cooperation between Finnish higher education institutions and the target regions and countries selected to the TFK network, and to design new operating models for cooperation. The programme funds educational cooperation between higher education institutions through cooperation and mobility projects. The programme is open to all higher education institutions in Finland and in the target regions and countries of the programme.
The next call will be opened in early 2025. The target regions will be announced later.