The FIRST+ programme (Finnish–Russian Student and Teacher Exchange Programme) promotes collaboration of higher education institutions in Finland and Russia. The programme supports student and teacher mobility between Finnish and Russian higher education institutions and the organisation of joint intensive courses in Russia. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Two students reading a book in a park
Photo: Satu Haavisto

Who can participate?

In Finland, all higher education institutions may participate in the programme. In Russia, institutions across the whole country entitled to award Russian degrees (accreditation) are eligible to participate in the FIRST+ programme. The programme is open for all degree levels (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD) and for all fields of education.

The cooperation takes place across networks of institutions which are coordinated by Finnish higher education institutions. The FIRST+ network involves at least one higher education institution in Finland and one in Russia.

Individual students and teachers who would like to participate in a FIRST+ mobility should apply through their home institutions. The sending higher education institution selects the students and teachers going on exchanges, but the host institution has the right to make the final decision on accepting candidates.

The FIRST+ network will provide a grant for participating students and teachers.

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What is funded

The following activities are eligible for grants:

  • Long-term student mobility (2–12 months) from Finland to Russia and from Russia to Finland
  • Short-term (5–59 days) student mobility from Finland to Russia
  • Teacher mobility from Finland to Russia and from Russia to Finland
  • Intensive courses in Russia organised as a joint effort

As part of the FIRST+ programme, a separate EDUFI Finnish-Russian intensive courses for PhD students call for applications is also organised to support intensive courses for postgraduate students from Russian and Finnish universities coordinated by Finnish universities.

Guidelines for State Aid applicants and users
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How to apply

Applications are released once a year. Application round for 2020-2021 will end 2nd March 2020 (the electronic system will close at 16:15).

The Finnish higher education institution coordinating the FIRST+ network submits an online funding application to EDUFI via the State Aid System on behalf of the whole network.

Each Russian higher education institution interested in participating in the programme is advised to draw up a written FIRST+ Statement. This document describes the cooperation with Finnish higher education institutions within the framework of the FIRST+ programme and the practices for organising the exchanges.

The Russian higher education institution prepares its FIRST+ Statement using the template provided by EDUFI and submits it online directly to EDUFI. One FIRST+ Statement per Russian higher education institution is enough, even if the institution were to participate in several FIRST+ networks.

Call for proposals and other guidelines
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Results

Results for application round 2020
In the application round of 2020, 28 networks applied for funding. The total amount of applied funding was 1,6 million euros. 26 networks were granted funding for 900 730 euros altogether.

There were 13 intensive course applications, 10 of which were granted funding.

Results for application round 2019
In the application round of 2019, 26 networks applied for funding. The total amount of applied funding was 1,8 million euros altogether. 25 networks were granted funding for 901 600 euros altogether.

There were 21 intensive course applications, 9 of which were granted funding. The average granted amount was around 11 000 euros per course.

Networks had a chance to apply for additional funding in the interim report by 15.11.2019. Three networks were granted additional funding of 33 140,00 € euros altogether.

Results for application round 2018
In the application round of 2018, 27 networks applied for funding. The total amount of applied funding was 2,66 million euros altogether. 23 networks were granted funding for 1,26 million euros altogether.

There were 30 intensive course applications, 18 of which were granted funding. The average granted amount was around 11 000 euros per course.

Networks had a chance to apply for additional funding in the interim report by 28th of September 2018. Total amount of applied additional funding was 28 340,00 euros and four networks were granted additional funding of 20 048,58 euros altogether.

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Instructions on the FIRST+ programme during the Coronavirus outbreak

The FIRST+ programme’s funding can be used to cover expenses from interrupted or cancelled exchanges due to corona virus (but not over the granted sum).

If FIRST+ mobility is cancelled or interrupted due to corona virus, enquiries about compensation for the costs should always be made through the participant’s travel insurance first. After that, it is possible to apply for compensation for the costs of cancelled or postponed mobilities through the force majeure procedure. All force majeure applications as well as the eligibility of the expenses caused by cancellations will be assessed case by case and for each case a force majeur form with attachments needs to be sent.

If student exchange or traineeship has interrupted because of corona virus but the student completes his/her exchange through distance studies or remote work in the receiving higher education institution or organization, the student can keep the grant calculated for the whole exchange and these cases do not need to be reported to EDUFI through force majeur procedure. This applies to both cases when student has returned to home country or has stayed in the destination country.

FIRST+ intensive courses and short exchanges planned for groups can be postponed to be held next autumn even after the actual funding period. Intensive courses can also be held online. In other words, if a funded intensive course is likely to be cancelled due to corona virus, it can be postponed to be held next autumn or it can be held partly or completely digitally and expenses due to this procedure can be covered by the granted funding. In these situations make a preliminary plan and then contact first@oph.fi with the plan and justifications.

The instructions can be changed and updated as needed. 

Attachments
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Guidelines for 2020 projects

The coordinating Finnish higher education institution will be responsible for the use of funding. The higher education institution reports to EDUFI on the progress and implementation of the activities in the interim report and in the final report at the end of the agreement period.

Network information and administrative guidelines 2020
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Guidelines for 2019 projects

The coordinating Finnish higher education institution will be responsible for the use of funding. The higher education institution reports to EDUFI on the progress and implementation of the activities in the interim report and in the final report at the end of the agreement period.

Network information and administrative guidelines 2019
Interim report and call for additional funding 2019
Interim reporting for 2019 networks ended 15th of November 2019.

Final report 2019
The final report must be submitted by the 15th of October 2020 via the State Aid System. The electronic reporting system will automatically send a link to the beneficiary. The final report must include copies of the extract of accounts (with total sums tallying with those in the statistical and financial reports and showing the costs allocated to the project) and Excel-sheet of all the students and teachers who benefited from FIRST+ mobilities as annexes.

The final grant will be paid to the beneficiary according to the final report. The higher education institute provides EDUFI with its billing information for billing the possibly unused funding.
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Guidelines for 2018 projects

The coordinating Finnish higher education institution will be responsible for the use of funding. The higher education institution reports to EDUFI on the progress and implementation of the activities in the interim report and in the final report at the end of the agreement period.

Administrative guidelines 2018
Interim report and call for additional funding 2018
Interim reporting for 2018 networks ended 28th September 2018.

Final report 2018
Final reporting for 2018 networks ended 15th of October 2019.

Materials for the coordinator meeting on the 16th of November 2018
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Finnish-Russian intensive courses for PhD students

As part of the FIRST+ programme, a separate call for applications for EDUFI Finnish-Russian intensive courses for PhD students is organised. This call is to support Finnish-coordinated intensive courses from the field of humanities and social sciences for postgraduate students from Russian and Finnish universities.

Application round for 2020-2021 will end 2nd March 2020 (the electronic system will close at 16:15). The application is sent via EDUFI's electronic state grant system.

The amount of the grant awarded can be a maximum of 30 000 euros. The entire grant is awarded to the coordinating Finnish university which determines how the grant is used.

At least one university from Finland and one from Russia must participate in the intensive course. Students taking part in the course and guest lecturers can also come from universities other than those organising the course.

Application round 2020
Application round for 2020-2021 will end 2nd March 2020 (the electronic system will close at 16:15). The application is sent via EDUFI's electronic state grant system.

Application round 2019
The application round 2019 ended on the 4th of March 2019. One intensive period was awarded with funding.

Application round 2018
The application round ended on the 31st of October 2018. There were four applications submitted in this round. One intensive period was awarded with funding.

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Contact us

FIRST+ programme responsible at EDUFI:

Mari Pohjola
Senior Programme Adviser
first(at)oph.fi
Phone 0295 331 746

 

We inform about the application rounds on our email list EDUFI_HigherEd(at)oph.fi.

The list is meant for persons working on the internationalisation of higher education. EDUFI uses the list to give information about its own programmes, events and other activities. To request joining the list, please contact Heli Tiilikainen, firstname.lastname@oph.fi.

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