Arrival Orientation for U.S. Fulbright Finland Grantees

Welcome and Introductions of Grantees and the Foundation Team

• Picking up your orientation materials
• Meeting the Fulbright FInland Foundation team and grantees over coffee and traditional Finnish Korvapuusti
• Introducing all participants

U.S. Fulbrighters and the Fulbright Program in Finland: What Everyone Needs to Know

Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Break-Out Sessions for Fulbright Teachers, School Leaders, and Scholars

Teachers:

• How to go about visiting Finnish Schools
• Communicating and creating social connections with Finns
• Living in Finland

Scholars:

• Academic vocabulary for Finland
• Similarities/differences between U.S. and Finnish students and HEIs
• Practical tips for lecturers and researchers
• Social and everyday life

School leaders:

• Current educational challenges and solutions: An interactive discussion between school leaders from the U.S. and Finland

U.S. Embassy Greetings and U.S. Citizen Services

Susan Bridenstine, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy

• Registering
• Passport replacement
• 24/7 Emergency phone number: +358 9 616 250, select 0
• STEP
• Travel to neighboring countries
• Other citizen services

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

Your Role in Publicity and Outreach

Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation
Maija Kettunen, Communications Manager, Fulbright Finland Foundation
Heidi Tiainen, Program and Events Coordinator, Fulbright Finland Foundation

• Social Media
• Media Outreach
• Fulbright Finland Events for 2024
• Fulbright Speaker Program
• CEO Conversations

Grantee-Alumni Continuum

Emilia Holopainen, Program and Alumni Networks Specialist, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Suomi 101

Laura Niemeläinen, Teacher of Finnish as a Second Language, Turku Vocational School; Fulbright Finnish Language Teaching Assistant 2022-23

Helsinki Sightseeing Tour By Bus

Guide: Maria Del Carmen Hänninen

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:

• Teijo Koljonen, Senior Adviser (Education), Finnish National Agency for Education
• Harry Rinta-aho, Deputy Mayor for Growth and Learning, City of Espoo
• Ilkka Laasonen, Principal, Viikki Teacher Training School at the University of Helsinki

Facilitator:

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

Sámi Perspective

Petter Morottaja, University Teacher of Aanaar Saami Language, Giellegas Institute in Oulu University

Inter-Country Travel Grants

Emilia Holopainen, Program and Alumni Networks Specialist, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Adventures in Intercultural Communication and Culture Shock

Sophia Hagolani-Albov, Doctoral Researcher in the TreesForDev Project, University of Helsinki; U.S. Fulbright Fellow 2013-14

10,000 Years of Finnish History in 40 Minutes

Birger Holm, Vice Principal, History and Civics Teacher, Haukilahti School, Espoo

Panel Discussion: Finnish System of Higher Education and Research

• Finnish system of higher education and research
• Differences between universities and universities of applied sciences
• Internationalization of Finnish higher education and research

Panelists:

• Teemu Kokko, President, CEO, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
• Timo Korkeamäki, Dean, School of Business, Aalto University; Chair of the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board of Directors

Facilitator:

• Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation

Introduction to the School and Performances by the Students

Tour of the school building by Maria Virokannas, English Teacher, Sibelius Upper Secondary School; Study of the U.S. Institute for Secondary School Educators 2020-22

Welcome by Hannu Rantala, Principal, Sibelius Upper Secondary School

Performances by the Students

Wrap-up Discussion and Evaluations, and Awarding of the Certificates; Announcing the Winner of the #FinnishWelcome Contest

Terhi Mölsä, Chief Executive Officer, Fulbright Finland Foundation

The Fall Orientation for the 2023-24 U.S. Fulbright Grantees took place on August 21-24, 2023. 

• Fall Arrival Orientation Program (PDF, as of August 21, 2023)

The Spring Orientation for the 2022-23 U.S. Fulbright Grantees took place on January 24-26, 2023.

• Spring Arrival Orientation Program (PDF, as of January 24, 2023)

The Fall Orientation for the 2022-23 U.S. Fulbright Grantees took place on August 22-25, 2022.

• Fall Arrival Orientation Program (PDF, as of August 22, 2022)

The Spring Orientation for the 2019-2020 U.S. Fulbright grantees took place on January 22-24, 2020.

• Spring Arrival Orientation Program (PDF, as of January 27)

The Fall Orientation for the 2019-2020 U.S. Fulbright grantees took place on August 19-22, 2019.

The Spring Orientation for the 2018-2019 U.S. Fulbright grantees took place on January 24-25, 2019.

The Fall Orientation for the 2018-2019 U.S. Fulbright grantees took place on August 27-30, 2018.