Finnish language and culture abroad

Cuts being made to studies in Finnish language and culture abroad have lately been a topic in public debate. The Ministry of Education and Culture has also received communications and petitions related to the issue. Here, we provide an overview of the background to the approaches adopted and respond to the concerns expressed by the public.

The Ministry of Education and Culture commends the expertise, dedication and sustained efforts of the many actors working to promote the discipline of Finnish language and culture abroad. This has contributed to reinforcing Finland's international cultural relations.

The discipline has evolved at different times in response to changes in the global situation. Following bilateral cultural agreements, cultural collaboration picked up pace especially in the 1960s and 1970s. The 1990s, in turn, brought about significant changes. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the independence of the Baltic States, and Finland's EU membership generated interest in Finland and in Finnish language and culture, especially in neighbouring regions and Europe. Now we are living in a period of transition again that has a wide impact on international cultural relations and the languages that universities teach. Most of them are changes beyond our control. 

At its height, studies in Finnish language and culture were available in approximately 100 universities across 30 countries. The discipline remains widely taught, with instruction currently offered at around 60 universities in 23 countries. In 2026, 11 collaborative universities and 11 foreign lecturers are engaged in foreign lecturer activities organised by the Finnish National Agency for Education. Although the Agency’s work is significant, it represents only one part of a broader picture. In previous decades, most Finnish language and culture university studies conducted abroad have also been implemented without central government funding.

The discipline’s original mission was to promote Finnish language and culture internationally. Another objective was to develop an international pool of highly educated professionals in diverse disciplines who are proficient in Finnish and have insight into Finnish culture and society. This objective has long been both relevant and well founded.

However, it is important to recognise that the context in which these activities operate has changed substantially. Finnish universities are now more international, attracting more foreign students and benefiting from greater mobility among students and experts, owing to EU membership.  Technological advances, alongside universities’ own innovations, have transformed language teaching and learning. Against this backdrop, the structures and funding of the discipline of Finnish language and culture also warrant review.

In line with Finland’s public-finance considerations and central government structural policy, the activities must be reviewed as a whole. Rather than questioning individual actors or the value of the work carried out, the focus is on how to allocate limited resources in line with the Government Programme and central government spending limits. 

In assessing the Finnish National Agency for Education’s international activities, the focus is on making the most effective use of available resources. Viewed in this context, it has been considered justified to concentrate savings on a single entity rather than apply uniform cuts across all activities.
As part of the performance guidance process, the Finnish National Agency for Education and the Ministry of Education and Culture together will examine the future direction of the discipline of Finnish language and culture. The goal is to establish updated and future-proof forms of cooperation that are aligned with the evolving operating environment.

Central government regularly updates its operating models, also where previous structures have been effective and well regarded. This is necessary to ensure that the activities remain effective and fit for purpose in the years ahead.