A person wearing a yellow cap sitting a boat looking at a sun setting behind a lake

Rediscover Suomi Alumni Journey

This page includes information about the “Rediscover Suomi” alumni journey in June 2022. Please read it carefully through before registering for the journey (registration will open in the fall 2021). We will update this page whenever new information is available.
Join us for the Rediscover Suomi Alumni Journey in June 2022! 

Background:

During an informal gathering of alumni and the Foundation team in Washington, D.C on May 20, 2019, in alumna Kay Kohl’s home, an idea surfaced that immediately resonated with those present. What if we organized an alumni tour in Finland? Everyone gasped with delight and ideas began pouring in.

In September 2019, the Fulbright Finland Foundation sent a message to alumni with a questionnaire to assess the level of interest among our American alumni to participate in this journey. We received over 50 replies within the first few days and the Foundation team and the Friends of Fulbright Finland (FoFF) alumni council began planning the program in more detail.

Purpose of the Rediscover Suomi Alumni Journey

Objectives

For Alumni

  • reconnect with Finland, the Fulbright Finland Foundation and Fulbright contacts 
  • develop, maintain and create new linkages between their home institution and Finnish higher education institutions
  • gain exceptional insight into the Fulbright Finland vision for our future 

For the Fulbright Finland Foundation

  • share the alumni’s impact stories with wider audience, the Foundation team and its partners 
  • create a group of informed and engaged alumni who want to partner with the Foundation, paving the way forward to an ever stronger network of active ambassadors.

It was made clear from the beginning; this would not be just a tourist trip. The Foundation team and the FoFF council unanimously agreed that this would be a unique chance for alumni to reconnect with Finland, the Fulbright Finland Foundation and their Finnish collaborators and colleagues. 

The itinerary offers numerous opportunities, formal and casual, to revisit memorable and new locales in Finland and to learn in depth about the broad range of current Fulbright Finland programs and partners. One goal of this visit is to create a group of informed and engaged alumni who want to partner with the Fulbright Finland Foundation, paving the way forward to an ever stronger network of active ambassadors. As our Fulbrighters are recognized leaders and change-makers, "together shaping the future", tour participants will gain exceptional insight into the Fulbright Finland vision for our future. Of course we have also planned several fun and leisure activities: visiting with Finnish alumni, exploring nature, eating great local food, and of course a sauna or two!

During the tour, you will have an opportunity to present your research or current work, and share the impact the Fulbright Finland exchange, experiences, and collaborations have had in your career and life. 

Panoramic view of the Koli National Park during a sunny summer day
Since the tour takes place in June, just before midsummer, the program will of course also include a chance to see and experience some of the best things Finland has to offer: endless days, hot sauna, and beautiful nature. Photo taken at Koli National Park.

Alumni Impact Stories

The tour gives the Foundation team and program partners a chance to hear how the Fulbright Finland experience has impacted the professional and personal life of the alumni. Throughout the tour, participants will write blog posts reflecting on their experiences in Finland and highlighting insights learned during the tour.

The Foundation will also produce a video series of alumni stories which will be filmed during the tour. Sharing the impact of the program is an important part of the tour and each participant will be asked to submit an impact statement.

Practical Issues

Tour Dates

The tentative tour dates are June 12-22, 2022. The participants should arrive in Helsinki by Sunday, June 12. Departures should be scheduled, no earlier than Wednesday, June 22. We will keep on monitoring the COVID-19 situation.

It’s not possible to participate only in some parts of the program, but you are welcome to arrive in Finland earlier or stay longer after the program has ended (accommodation for extra days will be at your own expense).

Terms and Registration Information

"Terms and Registration Information" pdf will be uploaded on the page before the registration opens.

Please read the Alumni Tour terms carefully before registering. Please note that we will update them before the registration begins. 

After registering for the tour, you will receive the final terms which you need to return to us signed.

Registration and Payment Schedule

Registration Fall 2021
Registration fee (non-refundable in case the participant cancels their registration) TBC
Final payment (minus the registration fee) January 2022
Tour dates June 12-22, 2022

Program

See the tentative program here (pdf) - information as of November 5, 2021.

In addition to Helsinki, the program will take place in the Eastern part of Finland: Joensuu and Lappeenranta. We have two very good partner universities in these cities, and the area is very accessible by train. Also it opens access to the beautiful and very Finnish National Park, Koli for a day in nature. 

Please note that we are still planning the program, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming certain sessions and visits will take longer than initially expected.

We will update the program PDF regularly. Each version will have the date indicating the last time it has been updated.

Cost of the Tour

The tour is at everyone’s own expense and the Fulbright Finland Foundation can't cover anyone's tour costs. The total cost of the tour per participant will be max. $3,000 and it will be confirmed when the number of participants is confirmed. 

What is included in the price?

  • Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as specified in itinerary above during the course of the trip (excl. weekend of June 18-19)
  • Accommodation in a shared room, excl. weekend of June 18-19 (single room with additional costs)
  • Local transportation as in the program (excl. weekend of June 18-19)
  • All activities, sightseeing, and entry fees listed in the itinerary
  • material costs; and
  • all organizing costs related to the Alumni Journey program.

What is not included in the price?

  • Flights to and from Helsinki
  • Transportation to and from the airport
  • International medical and travel insurance (we require that each participant arrange for their own travel, health and liability insurance)
  • Costs associated with trip interruption or modification due to weather, travel conditions, political/civil disputes, medical emergencies or other causes beyond our control
  • Medical expenses
  • Accommodation outside the tour dates and during the weekend (June 18-19)
  • Food and beverage other than that specified in travel itinerary
  • Expenses of a purely personal nature (including cab fares, laundry, souvenirs, room service, and other personal items)

Registration

Registration opens during fall 2021, exact date will be confirmed later.

The maximum number of participants is 20. Family members are welcome to join, but in order to maximize the number of alumni participants, only 1 adult family member (18+ years old) per alum can join the tour. First come, first served: after the first 20 participants have registered, we will create a waiting list. 

Note: The Alumni Tour will go forward as planned as soon as we have received advance payments and binding registrations from at least twelve participants.

To confirm your registration, you are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of $500 per participant. We will let you know the deadline for the payment in the registration message. If you don’t pay the registration fee by the deadline, your place will be given to the first person on the waiting list. If you cancel your participation in the tour, your registration fee will not be refunded to you. 

The final payment deadline for the amount left to pay will be in January 2022, the exact date will be confirmed.

Cancellation Policy

Your registration is binding. This is because any cancellation will directly impact the Alumni Journey costs of the other participants.

If a participant cancels their participation in the Alumni Journey, then a refund is not possible. After we know the size of the group and the final cost of the tour, the Foundation will confirm the offers from the different providers based on the established number of participants. If the tour gets canceled or postponed by the Foundation by March 2022 (exact date TBC), the participants will get full refund, including the registration fee. We strongly encourage all participants to purchase travel insurance to cover costs if the tour needs to be canceled after the March cut-off-date, when refunds are no longer possible. 

See Frequently Asked Questions page