Arrival Orientation for U.S. Fulbright Finland Grantees

The Fulbright Finland Arrival Orientation for 2025-26 U.S. Fulbright grantees will be organized in Helsinki on Tuesday-Thursday, January 20-22, 2026.

Program

Tuesday, January 20  

12:15-13:30 Welcome and Introductions of Grantees and the Foundation Team  

13:30-13:40 Tauko – Break  

13:40-14:50 The Fulbright Finland Foundation, Its Global Network, and Your Role as a Grantee
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation  

14:50-15:15 Tauko - Break with refreshments

15:15-16:15 Parallel Sessions for Teachers and Scholars

TEACHERS: 
Panel Discussion: Finnish Education System (K-12): National, Municipal and School Level

• National Framework for Finnish K-12 Education  
• Role of Municipalities in Organizing Education  
• Principals’ and Teachers’ Role in Finnish Schools

PANELISTS:

• Petri Lehikoinen, Counsellor of Education, Head of Unit, Finnish National
  Agency for Education
• Marika Ojala, Head of Basic Education City of Seinäjoki
• Pekka Hurskainen, Principal, Upper Secondary School, Viikki Teacher
  Training School, University of Helsinki

FACILITATOR:
Mirka McIntire, Manager, Teacher Exchange and Education Programs,
Fulbright Finland Foundation

SCHOLARS: 
15:15-15:30 Finland’s Dual System of Higher Education and the Role of Universities of Applied Sciences
Teemu Kokko, President Emeritus, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

• Finland’s dual system of higher education
• The difference between a university and a university of applied sciences
• Universities of applied sciences (UAS) and their role in the Finnish higher education system

15:30-16:15 Governmental Science and Research Policy and Transatlantic Research Collaboration
Erja Heikkinen, Director, Science Policy Group, Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture

• The role of governmental science and research policy in promoting research and international research cooperation
• Development of the research and innovation system

Jukka Tanskanen, Head of Science Policy and International Affairs, Research Council of Finland

• Current issues in scientific cooperation between Finland and the USA
• Funding for transatlantic research collaboration

17:00-19:00 Opportunity to go to Sauna and Avanto (hole in the ice)
 
18:45-19:45 Dinner  

20:00 Bus back to the hotel 
 
 

Wednesday, January 21  

9:00-9:15 Morning Coffee ja karjalanpiirakka; Recap  
Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation  

9:15-9:30 U.S. Embassy Greetings and U.S. Citizen Services

• Registering  
• Passport Replacement  
• 24/7 Emergency Phone Number +358-9-616-250, Select 0  
• STEP  
• Travel to Neighboring Countries  
• Other Citizen Services

09:30-10:00 Grantee Support Services and Key Contacts During the Fulbright Term
Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation  
Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation  

10:00-10:10 Tauko - Break  

10:10-10:45 Your Role in Publicity and Outreach

• Social Media  
• Media Outreach  
• Fulbright Finland Events for Spring 2026
  • Virtual Fulbright Forum on Education
  • Fulbright Finland Awards Ceremony and Reception (May)  
  • Homecoming Alumni Event
• Fulbright Speaker Program  
• CEO Conversations  

Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation  
Maija Kettunen, Communications Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation  

10:50-11:00 Inter-Country Travel Grants
Emmi Jelekäinen, Program Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation

11:00-11:30 Suomi 101
Anna-Maria Peltomäki, University Teacher of Finnish as the Second National Language, University of Helsinki; 2011-12 Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA)

11:45-13:00 Lunch

13:00-15:00 City Tour by Bus
Guide: Maria del Carmen Hänninen

15:15-16:15 Alumni Breakout Sessions for Sholars and Teachers

16:30-18:00 Networking Reception in Honor of the Spring 2026 U.S. Fulbright Finland Scholars and Educators and the 80th Anniversary of the Global Fulbright Program

Thursday, January 22  

9:30 Time for Reflections  

9:45-10:05 Sámi Perspective
Kristiina Jomppanen, Finnish, German and North Sámi Language Teacher, Inari Communal College; 2017-18 Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant

10:05-10:15 Grantee-Alumni Continuum
Maija Kettunen, Communications Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation

10:20-10:50 Adventures in Intercultural Communication and Culture Shock 
Sophia Hagolani-Albov, PhD Candidate/Doctoral Researcher in the TreesForDev Project, University of Helsinki; U.S. Fulbright Fellow 2013-14

10:50-11:00 Tauko - Break  

11:00-11:30 Overview of Finnish Foreign Policy and Transatlantic Relations from Finland’s Perspective
Reetta Härönoja, Director, Unit for North America, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

11:45-12:45 Lunch

13:20-14:00 10,000 Years of Finnish History in 40 Minutes
Birger Holm, Vice Principal; Teacher of History and Civics, Haukilahti School

14:00-14:15 Tauko - Break  

14:15-14:45 Introduction to the School and Performances by the Students

• Welcome, Sibelius Upper Secondary  
• Performances by students of Sibelius Upper Secondary School  

14:45-15:30 Wrap-up Discussion and Evaluations, Awarding of the Certificates, and Announcing the Winner of #FinnishWelcome Contest

15:30 End of the seminar 

Past Programs