The fifth application round of the TFK programme funds 33 educational cooperation projects
Finnish National Agency for Education granted in total 2 018 338 euros for 33 projects: the share of 27 projects that received funding in the actual call is 1 561 144 euros. Funding received per project varies between 35 688 and 80 000 euros and project period is 1.8.2025-31.12.2027.
121 project proposals in total were submitted for the actual call, and the applied funding was in total 8 547 132 euros. By the application deadline universities handed in more applications than universities of applied sciences: 84 projects applied were coordinated by a university and 36 projects by a university of applied sciences. Most HEI’s submitted more than one application and all in all, 28 Finnish HEIs were involved in the project proposals either as project coordinators or as project partners: 11 universities and 17 universities of applied sciences. The application round was open to all degree levels and disciplines.
Cooperation with Latin America received 34 applications, which was about 28 percent of all received applications. Southern Arfica received 20 percent, China 18 percent, Southeast Asia 17 percent and India 17 percent of all the applications. The most common study field represented in the applications was teacher training and education science, which was followed by engineering and engineering trades, social and behavioural science and environmental protection. A project can be related to one or more study fields.
22 percent of the applied projects were funded in the call 2025. 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 8 cooperation projects with Latin America, 5 projects with Southern Africa, 5 projects with Southeast Asia, 5 projects with China and 4 projects with India. The selected projects include 6 Finnish universities of applied sciences and 8 universities as well as 38 HEIs from target countries and regions.
More information on TFK Ukraine call
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 as well as environmental protection and health. Field specifically most of the selected projects are related to teaching training and educational science and engineering, among others strengthening circular economy and climate change education and computational thinking education and mathematical literacy. The projects develop cybersecurity education and the use of AI applications in STEM and well-being education. Selected projects in sustainability and environmental protection address such themes as renewable energy such as hydrogen energy, sustainable food, climate-smart forestry and solutions for atmospheric pollution. In the field of health projects develop diabetes care and public health equity, brain health education as well as mathematical and statistical modelling of diseases. 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 2026
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 2026. The target regions will be announced later.