Finnish higher education institutions and EDUFI organize Spring Forum annually. The event is aimed at people working with international affairs in higher education institutions. The event brings together 300-400 participants each year. Attendees get access to the latest information on international educational cooperation, engage in networking, and gain inspiration. The program features lectures, seminars, workshops, and round table discussions.

Students bicycling in the garrison area of Turku
Photo: Satu Haavisto

The location and the higher education institution (or institutions) responsible for the practical arrangements change every year. Explore previous years' events below.

The Spring Forum will be held in Seinäjoki on May 16-17, 2024. Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) is responsible for the arrangements in cooperation with EDUFI.

The theme of the event is "International Finland?". This theme invites us to reflect on the present status and outlook of internationalization in higher education. It urges us to consider the motivators, opportunities, and obstacles of internationalization, and how we can collaboratively shape and steer the trajectory of our higher education institutions on a global scale.

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The Spring Forum was organized in Espoo on May 3-5, 2023. The arrangements were made by Aalto University in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The theme of the Spring Forum was "Internationality in transition", and the programme was built around the Vision for strengthening the international dimension of Finnish higher education and research by 2035.

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In the aftermath of the corona pandemic, Spring Forum were exceptionally organized as the Autumn Forum.

The Autumn Forum was organized in Oulu on August 16-17, 2022. The University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences were responsible for the arrangements in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education.

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Due to the corona pandemic, the Spring Forum was organized virtually on May 19-20, 2021. The planning of the event was done in cooperation with Pinnet, the internationalization network of universities of applied sciences, the Aivoriihi network of universities and the Finnish National Agency for Education.

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Due to the corona pandemic, Centria University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish National Agency for Education jointly decided to cancel the Spring Forum 2020.

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Spring Forum was organized in Joensuu on May 16-17, 2019. The University of Eastern Finland and Karelia University of Applied Sciences were responsible for the arrangements in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

The theme of the event was global responsibility and Finland as part of the solution to the global learning crisis, as well as support for the integration of foreign students.

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Higher education institutions play an important role in planning the program of upcoming Spring Forums. Organizers collect session proposals in the autumn before the event. The final program is published at the beginning of the year.

Communication regarding Spring Forums takes mainly place via the EDUFI HigherEd mailing list and social media accounts. The organizing higher education institution may also inform about the event through its own communication channels.

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