EDUFI passes EU pillar assessment: opportunities for international cooperation to expand

One of the statutory tasks of EDUFI is to promote the internationalisation of society, the recognition of Finnish education and cooperation abroad. This work will be further strengthened by the fact that EDUFI has now passed the pillar assessment and is able to act as an indirect manager of EU funds. The decision was issued in July 2026.

The pillar assessment is an external assessment process required by the European Commission to ensure that an organisation’s management, monitoring and financial systems meet the strict requirements set by the EU.

During the assessment, the European Commission audited and assessed the key systems and procedures, or pillars, underpinning EDUFI’s operations, such as internal monitoring, accounting, external auditing, procurement procedures, the publication of information and the protection of personal data.

Passing the pillar assessment to also expand opportunities for developing Finnish education with EU funding

"Passing the pillar assessment means that EDUFI now has the right to apply for, manage and implement large-scale development projects funded by the EU independently. This will significantly expand opportunities for international cooperation and for making use of EU funding. As a result of passing the pillar assessment, we will be able to develop international cooperation in the field of education more effectively than ever before and promote Finnish expertise abroad. This will also benefit developing countries, for example, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. The aim is to accelerate projects aimed at developing education, among others", says Director of EDUFI’s International Cooperation Department Minna Koutaniemi.

Furthermore, passing the pillar assessment makes it possible for Finland to receive EU funding for the development of Finnish education in collaboration with other countries and enables participation in Finnish export promotion projects in collaboration with other Finnish organisations that have passed the pillar assessment. These include the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finnfund, Finnvera and HAUS.

The practical implications of passing the pillar assessment will become apparent as early as this autumn, as EDUFI prepares new development cooperation projects.

"In future, we will be able to act directly as a project coordinator and partner, whereas until now we have been subcontractors to either the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or the coordinating party. Ongoing projects will also benefit from us passing the pillar assessment as existing agreements are renewed and implemented", says Koutaniemi.

The potential wider implications of passing the pillar assessment as regards EDUFI’s tasks and the national development of education and training can only be assessed at a later date.

Promotion of internationalisation is based on law – already funded mainly by the EU

One of the statutory tasks of EDUFI is to promote the internationalisation of society, the recognition of Finnish education and cooperation abroad. In addition to this, EDUFI supports development cooperation in the education sector and the export of education services, which benefits professionals and companies in the education sector.

Even before passing the pillar assessment, EDUFI’s work relating to internationalisation, including staff costs, had been funded almost entirely by the EU. This work also supports the national development of education and training.  The largest source of funding is the Erasmus+ programme: Finland's National Agency for Erasmus+ operates under EDUFI and has an annual budget of over €80 million. EDUFI has approximately €40 million in funding available for development cooperation projects, which it can allocate further.

Enquiries

• Director Minna Koutaniemi, International Cooperation, Finnish National Agency for Education, tel. +358 295 331 305, minna.koutaniemi [at] oph.fi (minna[dot]koutaniemi[at]oph[dot]fi)