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International cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture, together with higher education institutions and other parties working in its branch of government, promotes international cooperation in higher education, science and research. The M...

International cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture outlines national policy concerning cooperation with international organisations, councils and other bodies in matters within its remit relating to education and training, culture, yo...

EU and international cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture participates in various international organisations in sport-related cooperation between different countries, as well as in the preparation of sport-related matters in the Euro...

EU and international cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture participates in various international organisations in sport-related cooperation between different countries, as well as in the preparation of sport-related matters in the Euro...

EU and international cooperation in arts and culture The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for international cultural policy and participates in its development and implementation in international organisations and the European Unio...

EU and international cooperation in the library field When it comes to the international cooperation in the library field, the role of the Ministry of Education and Culture encompasses influencing decisions to be made at state and EU level already...

EU and international cooperation in arts and culture The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for international cultural policy and participates in its development and implementation in international organisations and the European Unio...

EU and international cooperation in the youth sector The objective of international and European cooperation is to develop youth policy and support youth work through networking and exchanges of good practices. The Ministry of Education and Cultur...

Nordic and regional cooperation Nordic cooperation The cornerstone of Nordic cultural, educational and research cooperation is the Cultural Agreement signed by the five Nordic countries in 1971. The Agreement covers the Ministry of Education and C...

International Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) Finland has cooperation agreements, programmes and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with over 50 countries. The agreements are bilateral treaties covering all the Ministry's fields ...

The aim of the project is to develop a cross-administrative strategy for broadening the international scope of culture.

14.7.2026 | EU ministers for sports have asked the European Commission to consider whether EU funding should be restricted for international sports organisations that have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions during Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Vision for strengthening the international dimension of Finnish higher education and research by 2035 Brochure: Vision for strengthening the international dimension of Finnish higher education and research by 2035 Finland is a responsible, welcomi...

7.9.2026 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has been invited to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence near Nice, where the high-level film industry conference Sommet Lumière will be held on 6 and 7 September. The aim of the Summit is to bring together cultural ministers from different countries and key actors from the audiovisual and cultural industries. The conference will focus on the future of the audiovis...

31.3.2026 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie visited Ukraine from 29 to 31 March. In Lviv, she took part, at Ukraine’s invitation, in a meeting on culture that examined the state of Ukrainian culture, the protection of cultural heritage and international cooperation including practical support measures. During the visit the Minister held one-to-one discussions with Deputy Prime Minister ...

6.7.2026 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has published a report by the Copyright Infrastructure Task Force on its work to date. The report brings together experiences and recommendations on how the management and licensing of copyright data can be developed to meet the needs arising from digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

4.6.2026 | On 4 June, the Government appointed Charlotta Collén (Lic.Soc.Sc) Director General of the Secretariat for International Relations with effect from 1 August 2026. The Director is responsible for directing the activities of the Secretariat for International Relations at the Ministry.

2.6.2026 | The National Working Life Development Strategy to 2035 has been completed. The strategy aims to accelerate Finland’s economic growth by modernising the world of work so that Finnish workplaces become more innovative, more productive and better places to work. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Ministry of Education and Culture published the strategy and an accompanying implementation roadmap on 2 June 2026.

26.9.2025 | The Finnish Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie will attend the MONDIACULT 2025 conference on 29–30 September. Thousands of policymakers and experts will meet in Barcelona to outline the future of cultural policy.

13.11.2025 | International higher education students could play an even bigger role in driving Finland’s growth. Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen and Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie invited businesses, cities, higher education institutions and students to find solutions to improve international students’ employment prospects in Finland.

23.4.2026 | The evaluation of Finland’s National World Heritage Strategy (2015–2025) finds that implementation has been broad‑based and substantive. The strategy has reinforced Finland’s standing as a responsible steward of world heritage and deepened cooperation between world heritage sites. The findings and the role of the strategy were discussed at the World Heritage Forum in Vaasa.

11.3.2025 | 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.

13.6.2024 | The multiannual plan for the use of central government research and development funding focuses on strengthening cooperation between businesses and other R&D actors and encouraging businesses to step up their R&D activities in Finland. The plan also aims to improve the conditions for ambitious research that produces new skills and knowledge, to strengthen research and technology infrastructures and to promote international R&D cooperation.

6.5.2025 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie will visit Venice on 7–9 May. The Minister will open the exhibitions at the Pavilion of Finland and the Nordic Pavilion on 8 May.

18.3.2025 | The Nordic ministers responsible for sports have signed a joint letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The letter states that the Nordic countries will continue to support the organisation financially but are concerned about recent disputes over doping control.

8.7.2022 | On Thursday 30 June, the sports ministers of 35 like-minded countries issued a second joint statement stating that the national administrative bodies of Russian and Belarusian sports should be suspended from international sports federations. The collective of like-minded countries issued their first statement in March.

2.12.2025 | An OECD survey shows that Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) stands out for active cooperation with families. In Finland, staff communicate and organise events for families more often than in most other participating countries. Stress levels among ECEC and pre-primary staff and leaders are lower in Finland than elsewhere, but staff shortages are a major source of stress.

4.4.2025 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie will attend an informal meeting of EU ministers of culture in Warsaw on 7 and 8 April. The meeting will continue the discussion on the protection of cultural heritage, especially from the perspective of the situation in Ukraine.

Council of Europe The Council of Europe works in the fields of education, culture, youth and sport. The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture is involved in the Council of Europe in its field in drafting international agreements and in impleme...

United Nations The United Nations (UN) works for human rights, equality, social rights, tolerance and peace. Finland became a member in 1955. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of its goals are to...

1.12.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture, together with Finnish higher education institutions, research institutes and other stakeholders, has prepared recommendations for academic cooperation with Chinese partners. The recommendations help to identify the key challenges of cooperation and the features of the academic environment in China. The recommendations seek to ensure that it is possible to uphold the principles that are important for Finnish HEIs and research institutions.

2.2.2025 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie visited Ukraine from January 31 to February 1. At the invitation of Ukraine's Minister of Culture Mykola Tochytskyi, the Minister attended an international ministerial meeting in Uzhhorod, Zakarpatska region. It was the minister's first official visit abroad.

24.10.2023 | A Barents Scholarship for Cultural Cooperation in Finland has been awarded to Koli Art Residence. The value of the scholarship is EUR 10,000. Barents Scholarships for Cultural Cooperation were awarded on 24 October in Joensuu in Eastern Finland. Scholarships were also awarded to recipients from Sweden and Norway.

31.3.2025 | Joint Finnish-Swedish proposal prepared for dipnet fishing in the Torne River rapids for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision on inscription is due in December 2026.

Policy and development in higher education and science The Ministry of Education and Culture helps promote the Government's higher education and science policy targets, and develops the higher education and science system in cooperation with stake...

United Kingdom – London The specialist follows higher education and science policy in the UK, foster opportunities for cooperation, promote Finland’s visibility, and assist Finnish higher education institutions, research institutes and other innov...

Duties and objectives of the Ministry of Education and Culture In Finland the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the development of education, science, cultural, sport and youth policies, and for international cooperation in thes...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture On this page, we will update information on the impacts of the situation in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education a...

16.1.2023 | Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen will visit Washington D.C. in the United States this week from 16 to 19 January 2023. He will meet with several high-level stakeholders in research, higher education and culture. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen cooperation and dialogue with the United States in sectors connected to the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland.

Latin America – São Paulo The Team Finland Knowledge role in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) focuses especially on Brazil and, according to the needs of Finnish higher education institutions and Finland's missions abroad, on Mexico, Chile, C...