TFK programme

The programme funds educational cooperation between higher education institutions through cooperation and mobility projects. Participating projects must involve educational cooperation at one or several different degree levels.

Participating projects can involve one or several of the following forms of educational cooperation between partnering higher education institutions:

• Joint study units, courses and intensive courses
• The development and realisation of digital/virtual teaching
• Curriculum cooperation
• Joint/double degrees
• Mobility (teacher, staff, student and/or trainee mobility)
• Working life cooperation.

Granted project funding can be used to cover two categories of costs:

1) Travel costs, which must account for at least 50% of the project funding.

2) Organisational and other costs, which can account for up to 50% of the project funding.

The funding cannot be used to cover the administrative costs of higher education institutions, hospitality costs or business gifts. These and potential other costs must be covered by funding provided by the participating higher education institutions.

The project funding can be divided between the higher education institutions participating in the project.

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.

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.

Students or higher education staff with a disability may be eligible for additional financial support to help them take part in international exchange or internship. Special needs grants are intended to enable international exchange and internship in circumstances when a special need causes additional costs that are not covered by other sources. Special need can be an injury, impairment, physical or psychological illness or learning difficulty.

The grant can be awarded to accessible accommodation, assisted mobility or such study-related special arrangements as learning materials, preparatory visits and personal assistants. The application process is completely confidential. The application is easy to fill, and the expenses caused by special need can be estimated roughly. As all special needs are unique, all of the applications will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Is it possible to apply for funding only for mobility?

Yes, funding can be applied for mobility only projects. 

Own funding is not necessary but can be beneficial. What does this mean?

In the assessment it is beneficial for projects if the partners in target countries participate in planning, implementation and covering costs of the project. Participation can mean, for example, that partners cover costs due to travel of their own staff and students or costs of events organized in the target country. 

Can the funding be used as part of wider cooperation? 

It is hoped that projects will lead to lasting and continuing cooperation, so the project funded in the programme can be part of wider cooperation, as long as it fulfills the quality requirements and conditions of the programme. 

Can partner country be a country that is not mentioned in the call for applications list?

Only countries mentioned in the TFK call for applications are eligible partner countries in TFK programme. 

Does China include in this call for applications also applications for cooperation in Taiwan and Hongkong?

In this call we can interpret China in the widest sense, in other words China as partner country is not restricted only to mainland China but also Taiwan and Hongkong are eligible in this call for applications. 

What countries will be in the call 2022 in South Africa?

In 2022 cooperation will be funded in South Africa and Latin America and call for applications will be published separately. Specific list of eligible countries is not yet available but will be published as soon as possible. 

Does the partner provide a commitment letter for each project? 

Yes, each partner provides a commitment letter (TFK statement) separately for each project they are involved. Including Finnish partners. 

Will you provide the TFK statement templates?

There is no common template for the statements so they can be free-form but should include info given in the call for applications.

Can I add other attachments (eg. budgets, programme of an intensive course) in addition to TFK-statements (commitment letters) to the application?

Please do not attach any other attachments than TFK-statements to the application. Others will not be taken into consideration in the assessment.

Where does one write all possible company partners? 

These can be primarily listed in the description of the first section where one justifies the composition of the project, but one can add more specific details in the section reserved for higher education partners if necessary. 

Can the Finnish partner in the project be a vocational institution in order to get maximum funding?

The projects can have partners other than HEIs but maximum funding is granted only for projects with more than one Finnish HEI. 

One has to define partners quite specifically in the application. Is it necessary to name partners in the application or can the target of the project be creating contacts? That is could we report the partners after the project has been implemented?

One assessment criterion is that the composition of the project has to be well justified, and the responsibilities, roles and tasks of HEIs involved are clear, in other words it is important that partners are well thought and described in the application. The programme is not intended for preliminary efforts to create cooperation, like getting to know partners, visits to prepare project or general delegations. 

What happens if everybody writes in the applications Covid as a risk for implementation and half of the funding is reserved for travel expenses? 

Covid is surely in all applicants’ minds and a risk for implementation. One possible way to treat this risk is to think in what conditions the project could be implemented in case the restrictions for travel do not ease. 
In case the situation does not get easier and travelling is not possible, it will be solved together with funded projects and EDUFI, in other words we would search for solutions and procedures for the situation together. 

Is it beneficial for project in order to get funding if the project actions last the whole funding period, that is 2,5 years? 

The project period for granted funding in 2021 is 1.8.2021-31.12.2023, that is the actions can be carried out flexibly according to the project plans. The primary assessment criteria is the quality of the project and length of the project does not affect assessment.  

Is it allowed to buy for example Lab or simulation equipment with the project grant?

No, but the purchase of services and the renting of equipment are eligible organisational costs (max. 50% of the project funding).

How about internal travel costs in a project country, eg. during intensive courses, are they eligible?

These costs can be included in the project as part of the organisational costs, if justified in the implementation of the project.