Information as of June 27, 2025
Please familiarize yourself with the information in advance so that during the mini-orientation call we can focus on questions that you may have after you have gone through the materials. We also highly encourage you to peruse the optional additional resources, as you might find it very interesting to learn more about Finnish history, economics, and higher education.
Modules 5-7 are optional, if you are interested in learning more.
MODULE 1: Fulbright Program in Finland
Goals of the module:
- To get acquainted with the unique features of the Fulbright Finland Foundation as a private Finnish non-profit organization, and to be able to talk actively and knowledgeably about the Foundation and its mission and programs both in Finland and in the United States.
- To learn the key facts about the global Fulbright Program with over 160 participating countries, and to understand how this provides all the Foundation’s grantees a direct access to the Foundation’s worldwide collaboration and alumni network.
- To become familiar with some of the key concepts related to the Foundation's programs, such as citizen diplomacy, science diplomacy, knowledge diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and public diplomacy.
- To begin to think about and shape your own role as a grantee and citizen diplomat.
Learn about the Fulbright Finland Foundation and Its Global Network
Over 160 countries participate in the global Fulbright Program with the United States, and the Fulbright Finland Foundation is a part of this global network.
- Read a brief description of the Fulbright program in the SAGE Encyclopedia of Higher Education: www.fulbright.fi/serve/fulbright-program-sage-encyclopedia-higher-education (2020) (reading time 2 mins)
- Listen to the remarks by the Foundation’s CEO Terhi Mölsä addressing “The Global Fulbright Program at 75: Current Challenges and Opportunities”. (Opening Plenary of the 44th Annual Conference of the U.S. Fulbright Association, October 2021.) (13 mins)
- Remind yourself of the Players in the Fulbright Community (reading time 1 min)
Learn about the Fulbright Finland Foundation:
The Fulbright Finland Foundation is a private not-for-profit organization registered under Finnish law. As an independent foundation, it provides a unique platform for a large number of programs between Finland and the United States. Please note that among those, there are both Fulbright programs as well as awards operating outside of Fulbright. All of these programs are equally important. It's time to learn about:
- the Foundation's vision, mission, and brand promise.
- for a quick overview of the current scope of the Foundation’s work, check out the Year in Focus page (reading time 3 mins)
- Read the History Unlike Any Other (reading time 4 mins)
Begin to design your own role as a Fulbright Finland Foundation grantee
All of the Foundation’s programs are leadership programs. In this context, “leadership” does not refer to rank or titles, but rather to a conscious decision to take responsibility to create meaningful change – a decision that does not depend on age, background, field, or a specific grant program.
- For understanding “leadership” in the context of the Fulbright Finland Foundation, please read the following articles:
- Seeking Solutions for Global Challenges (Fulbright Finland News 1/2020)
- Empowering Change Through Leadership (Fulbright Finland News 1/2025)
All Foundation grantees are citizen diplomats. It is up to each grantee to decide what that role will look like in practice. It will likely be different, for instance, for a senior researcher than to a young undergraduate, or a professional. But all are equally important.
As a grantee, you are not an official representative of your government. As a citizen diplomat, you serve as a cultural ambassador, sharing your own, individual cultural background, characteristics, and thoughts.
- Reflect on your personality, preferences, and strengths, and start to think about how you wish to shape the role for you so that it feels comfortable and empowering.
To help you design your own role, it is important to understand the different dimensions and emphasis that it can take. For this reason, take some time to become familiar with some key concepts, such as science diplomacy, knowledge diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and public diplomacy, just to mention a few.
- Read the article "Citizens and Science Diplomacy" (Fulbright Finland News 1/2021) (reading time 3 mins)
If you have time and you are interested in learning more, here are additional resources:
- For a brief introduction to Science Diplomacy, watch "What Is Science Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges?" on YouTube (3 mins 20 sec).
- Science Diplomacy & ‘Together Shaping the Future is an article by Dr. Anita Wagner (2022-23 Fulbright-Tampere University Scholar Award) reflecting on how she shaped her own role in Science Diplomacy as a Fulbright scholar in Finland (reading time 5 mins).
- Read about knowledge diplomacy and how it differs from the unilateral “soft power” approach, read "Knowledge Diplomacy vs. Soft Power" by Dr. Jane Knight, International higher eduation researcher and Fulbright alumna (reading time 5 mins).
- The Fulbright Paradox (Foreign Affairs, July/August 2021)
- The Fulbright Program Is Quietly Burying Its History (Karin Fischer, The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 8, 2023)
- Science Diplomacy in the European framework
- Pages 6-13 of the policy report for British Council on knowledge diplomacy compiled by Dr. Jane Knight
- Reputational Security: Refocusing Public Diplomacy for a Dangerous World. Webinar by the PDCA (Public Diplomacy Council of America) featuring Professor Nicholas J. Cull as the speaker. (viewing time 56 minutes)
MODULE 2: Your Role in Publicity and Outreach
Learning objective: To understand your role in the Foundation's publicity and outreach efforts, and as an ambassador for your own country and home institution, and also for the Fulbright Finland Foundation, Finland, and your host institution.
- Watch a short video about your role in the Foundation's publicity and outreach and tips for social media (the video is in a Dropbox folder, length 3 minutes 46 seconds).
- Instructions for blog posts
- Fulbright Finland News Magazine
- Follow the Fulbright Finland Foundation on social media that you use:
- Fulbright Finland Ambassadors resources (incl. logo, program flyers, PowerPoint presentation templates)
- Get to know your fellow Fulbrighters!
- If you wish, add a line about your Fulbright Finland grant to your signature line:
Sample signature:
Name
Fulbright Grant Name and Year, e.g. Fulbright Specialist Program 2025-26
(please see grantee list to see your grant program's name: www.fulbright.fi/about-us/grantees)
Host institution in Finland
Home institution in the U.S. (if relevant)
Acknowledging the Fulbright Finland Foundation:
We hope you proudly acknowledge the Fulbright Finland Foundation, and use your identification as Fulbright scholar/student/teacher to advance your research and/or project. This is your judgment call to make, but we encourage you to recognize the Fulbright Finland Foundation if the paper, talk, exhibit etc. comes from your time as a Fulbright scholar. There is no standard required language, but you can use, for instance the following sentence: “This research/work has been supported by the Fulbright Finland Foundation.”
If you find it necessary, you can also add a sentence to note that “the conclusions and content of this research do not represent an endorsement or approval by the Fulbright Finland Foundation or its sponsors.”
MODULE 3: Your Support Network in Finland
Learning objective: Ensure the health and safety of the Fulbrighters, and to ensure you know what to do and who to contact if something happens to you.
Pre-assignments:
- Download the Suomi 112 app. More information about the app: https://112.fi/en/112-suomi-application
- Find out from your host: Who to contact if you get sick? Do you have access to occupational health services? Where is your nearest health center in your host city? Who pays your hospital bill?
- Sign up for the STEP program: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (state.gov)
Optional resource:
- Read Health and Medical Care in Finland on the Guide: www.fulbright.fi/guide-coming-to-finland/health-and-medical-care
MODULE 4: Importance of the Role of the Alumni
Learning objective: To understand your role and importance of the alumni in the Fulbright Finland Foundation community.
- Read about opportunities for alumni in the U.S.
- Contact the Finnish Fulbright Welcome Network members who have been to your host city in Finland. You receive the list of the members via e-mail from your program coordinator.
- See a list of the Fulbright Finland Outreach Ambassadors, volunteer alumni and grantees who are ready to help you to integrate and into the university community in your host city.
OPTIONAL MODULE 5: Finnish Language and Living in Finland
Learning objective: Learn about Finnish culture and language, and to learn some useful phrases in Finnish, to get inspired to use them or study more.
- Read about languages of Finland on the Institute for the Languages of Finland (KOTUS) website.
- Learn about sisu and sauna. You can watch e.g. these two videos about sauna culture in Finland:
- Saunaperinne Suomessa - Sauna Culture in Finland (length 9 minute and 45 seconds). Finnish sauna was added to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List in December 2020. The video is the candidature film for the nomination file on "Sauna culture in Finland" to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. For English subtitles, click the "CC" on the bottom of the video.
- Learn about recycling in Finland:
- Culture Shock: Sorting 'Garbage', a blog post by Adam M. Taylor, 2022-23 Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences.
- Circular Economy Success: Finland's Recycling Programme Keeps Bottles and Cans off the Streets, This is Finland (2021)
- Waste and Recycling, InfoFinland
If you want to read more about Finnish society and culture, here are some book recommendations:
- Richard Lewis: Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf
- Anu Partanen: The Nordic Theory of Everything
For lighter reading:
- Karoliina Korhonen: Finnish Nightmares
- Michael Booth: The Almost Nearly Perfect People
OPTIONAL MODULE 6: This is Finland
Learning objective: Get to know Finnish history, economy, and foreign policy.
- History:
- Foreign Policy
- Interview with Ambassador Mikko Hautala: The Russia Whisperer (Foreign Policy 2022)
- The Sámi
- Read about the Sámi in Finland
OPTIONAL MODULE 7: Education System
Learning objective: To learn about Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, how they differ, and how they operate.
Please note that these pages are for the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees only and not to be shared publicly.