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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.

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.

19.2.2026 | Emerita Maija Tanninen-Mattila, Master of Arts, Museum Director, has been appointed as Director General of the Finnish National Gallery for the period of 1 March – 31 October 2026.

12.6.2025 | On 12 June, the Government appointed Kirsti Laine-Hendolin, Master of Arts (Education), to the post of Director General of the Ministry of Education and Culture for the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 July 2030. The Director General is the head of the Ministry’s Department for Youth and Sport Policy.

12.6.2025 | The Government appointed Director Heidi Backman, M.Soc.Sc. as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Culture on 12 June. The appointment is for a five-year term beginning on 4 August 2025.

13.6.2025 | The recipients of the 2025 State Award for Public Information have two things in common: they give a voice to those often left unheard and they challenge the status quo. Their work invites us to look at the world with curiosity, empathy and a critical eye.

12.12.2024 | The Finnish Government has appointed Thomas Sund, Master of Political Science and Communications Manager, as the Director of Communications at the Ministry of Education and Culture. Sund will begin his five-year term at the start of 2025.

27.3.2023 | 2 February 2023 1(4) Ministry of Education and Culture Privacy Notice for data subjects: Processing of personal data when conferring decorations in the Ministry's branch of government 1 General This privacy notice contains the information to be pr...

24.10.2023 | PhD Mika Tirronen has been appointed to the position of Knowledge specialist in higher education and science policy in Singapore. A Knowledge specialist is an official of the Foreign Service who works under the Finnish Embassy in Singapore. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the position's content-related guidance.

19.10.2023 | The Government has appointed Sirkku Linna as Director General at the Ministry of Education and Culture for a fixed-term public-service relationship between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2028. She will head the Department for Higher Education and Science Policy at the Ministry.

1.6.2018 | Finland is preparing to nominate two elements for inscription on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. One element can be nominated per year. Preparations for the nomination of the Finnish tradition of sauna bathing will begin first. The nomination will be submitted to UNESCO in March 2019. The next element to be nominated is the Kaustinen folk fiddling tradition. The Finnish Heritage Agen...

24.10.2023 | Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Sandra Bergqvist will represent the EU on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board.

19.1.2023 | The President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö has awarded the title of Academician of Science to three highly distinguished scientists, Professor Heli Jantunen, Professor Emeritus Martti Koskenniemi and Research Professor Merja Penttilä.

29.3.2023 | Minister of Science and Culture Petri Honkonen has appointed CEO, Master of Music Kaisa Rönkkö as Director of the Arts Promotion Centre (Taike) for the term 1 August 2023–31 July 2028.

13.3.2023 | The European Parliament has appointed Doctor of Social Sciences Pilvi Torsti as Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF). The appointment is significant for Finland. Pilvi Torsti will take up her new post on 16 April 2023.

20.9.2022 | The Ministry of Education and Culture has appointed Riitta Vanhatalo, (PhD), as Director of the National Audiovisual Institute from 11 November 2022 to 31 October 2027.

Finland and PISA PISA assesses the learning outcome of students aged 15 in mathematics, science and reading literacy. PISA produces information about education, learning outcomes and informal learning The Programme for International Student Assess...

Finnish National Commission for UNESCO At the national level, UNESCO is supported by the national commissions for UNESCO, which act as liaison between UNESCO and national authorities. The Finnish National Commission is an advisory body and issues ...

Skydd av kulturarvet Konventionen om skydd för världens kultur- och naturarv (1972) är ett av Unescos kändaste instrument. Konventionens uppgift är att bevara världens unika kultur- och naturarv för kommande generationer. Konventionen om skydd av ...

17.6.2021 | The Government has appointed Kimmo Levä, (MA), as Director General of the Finnish National Gallery. Levä has held various leadership positions in the museum sector since 1994. The new position runs from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2026.