Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has launched a new vision for higher education and research. It will extend to 2040. In the first phase for the new vision, we will collect views from higher education and research organisations and other stakeholders so that a shared situation picture can be formed. The stakeholder survey is open until 4 April.

The working group on responsible international cooperation set up by the Ministry of Education and Culture has published recommendations that emphasise openness, reciprocity and risk management in international cooperation in higher education and research. The recommendations aim to safeguard academic freedom while also ensuring that international cooperation upholds democracy and ethical choices.

A survey by We Foundation shows that groups for extracurricular activity organised by municipalities free of charge as part of the school day provide the majority of the participants with a safe space that is free of bullying, discrimination and racism. The results confirm that groups based on the Finnish model for leisure activities increase student wellbeing and are the only opportunity for many children and young people to have a hobby. The survey covers 20 municipalities of different sizes.

On 24 January, the President of the Republic appointed Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala, Master of Science in Economics, to the post of Minister of Climate and the Environment and Member of Parliament Mari-Leena Talvitie, Master of Science in Engineering, as a member of the Government and as the new Minister of Science and Culture.