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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 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...

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...

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.

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...

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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...

United States and Canada – Los Angeles The Team Finland Knowledge specialist in Los Angeles covers the western United States and Canada. California, where the specialist is based, has a strong focus on innovation. Work in the region must encompass...

Southern Africa – Pretoria This Team Finland Knowledge region covers all the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwanda. Work is most active in South Africa, a global key player in science and geopolitics and the...

United States – Washington, D.C. The Team Finland Knowledge specialist in Washington, D.C. follows US science and higher education policy, builds connections that serve the Finnish research community and acts as a link between research administrat...

Sports and physical activity In the central government, the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for creating favourable conditions for sports and physical activity as well as for the reconciliation and development of sport policy. The...

Youth The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for coordinating and developing youth work and youth policy and creating prerequisites for it in central government. This work is carried out in cooperation with a range of different secto...

Frequently Asked Questions for the Team Finland Knowledge Network On this page we have compiled questions and answers for the Team Finland Knowledge network and its operation. What services does the TFK network offer to higher education institutio...

Libraries The Finnish system of municipal libraries is of high quality by international standards. Library services are among the most frequently used municipal services. Libraries are used not only for obtaining information and borrowing material...

Higher education and science The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the planning and implementation of higher education and science policy and preparing statutes, national Budget proposals and Government decisions that apply to t...

Cultural tourism The Ministry of Education and Culture promotes the development of cultural tourism and cultural routes. This can enable the creative industries to operate better, encourage more sustainable tourism and engage in European cooperati...

Policies and development related to youth affairs The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the overall management, coordination and development of youth work and youth policy and for creating general prerequisites in central govern...

21.12.2021 | The Sports Ministers of the European Union Iceland and Norway have signed a statement calling for transparency, democracy and respect for human rights in the work of international sport federations.

Futures work in comprehensive schools The vision work assesses the type of needs that exist for further developing comprehensive schools and the capabilities that education should offer for the future. The work focuses on changes that demand a soc...

Safeguarding of cultural heritage The UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, responds to the concern about the conservation of the world’s threatened cultural and natural heritage and p...