Finnish higher education institutions and the Finnish National Agency for Education organise the annual Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs, bringing together usually 300–400 participants. The event is aimed at professionals working in international affairs at higher education institutions. The programme includes lectures, seminars, workshops, and roundtable discussions.
Students bicycling in the garrison area of Turku
Photo: Satu Haavisto

The event provides topical information on international cooperation in higher education, networking opportunities, and new perspectives.

The location and the higher education institution(s) responsible for the organisation vary each year. You can explore previous years' events below.

The Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs will be held in Lappeenranta on 24-26 May 2027 in cooperation with LUT Universities and the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

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The Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs will be held in Kotka on 18–20 May 2026 in cooperation with South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

The theme for 2026 is “Finland of Promises – Making Internationality a Reality”. Internationalisation is not only about communication; it is part of everyday life in higher education institutions. How can we ensure that Finland is a country where promises become lived experiences and cooperation carries into the future? International cooperation is about mobility, research, networks and responsibility. How can we work together to ensure that Finland is a reliable and influential actor in global higher education?

Session material and slideshows will be published here in June 2026 at the latest.

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The Spring Forum took place in Helsinki from 12 to 14 May 2025. The event was organised by the University of Helsinki in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The theme for 2025 was “Builders of the future: internationalisation as a force for change”. In recent years, our operational environment had changed significantly. Along with new opportunities, many new challenges had emerged. The benefits of internationalisation were also being questioned more strongly than before. The theme invited us to reflect on our role, influence, and responsibility in creating positive change. What kind of driving force were we, and what did change require from us?

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The Spring Forum was held in Seinäjoki on May 16-17, 2024. Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences was responsible for the arrangements in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The theme of the event was "International Finland?". This theme invited us to reflect on the present status and outlook of internationalisation in higher education. It urged us to consider the motivators, opportunities, and obstacles of internationalisation, 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 organised 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 COVID-19 pandemic, Spring Forum were exceptionally organised as the Autumn Forum.

The Autumn Forum was organised 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 COVID-19 pandemic, the Spring Forum was organised virtually on May 19-20, 2021. The planning of the event was done in cooperation with Pinnet internationalisation 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 COVID-19 pandemic, Centria University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish National Agency for Education jointly decided to cancel the 2020 event.

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Spring Forum was organised 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. Organisers 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 organising higher education institution may also inform about the event through its own communication channels.

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