Finland's University of Helsinki suspends student exchange agreements with Israel

Study in Finland: The University of Helsinki has reassessed its partnership with Israeli universities and decided to suspend the student exchange agreements with the universities in Israel but the researchers can collaborate with their Israeli colleagues.

University of Helsinki in Finland has announced that it is suspending its student exchange agreements with Israeli universities. The students were protesting against the Gaza war and demanding complete divestment from Israel and termination of collaboration with Israeli universities.

"The University is suspending its exchange agreements with Israeli universities, but does not intend to restrict the academic freedom of its researchers to collaborate with their Israeli colleagues," reads a message by the University of Helsinki on the X platform.

The university said that the Board and rector are shocked by the civilian victims of the Israel and Hamas war. It called the parties involved in the conflict to prevent genocide in accordance with the decisions of the International Court of Justice and refrain immediately from using violence against non-military parties.

"The University of Helsinki is also deeply concerned about the destruction of universities in Gaza and the fate of their students and staff. The University is committed to contributing actively to rebuilding higher education and research infrastructures, once this is possible," said the university's official statement.

Freedom of research will not be limited

"The freedom of research is so crucial to university operations that it will not be limited. The University is committed to complying with research ethics practices and will continue to develop the ethical review of research collaboration," said the university.

University Of Helsinki’s HY+ To Support School Education Sector in Nepal

Centre for Continuing Education HY+ of the University of Helsinki along with its consortium partner University of Helsinki Faculty of Educational Sciences and subcontractors Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) and Finn Church Aid (FCA) has won the tender for the implementation of “TECSES – Technical Support Cooperation to School Education Sector in Nepal in 2023-2027” project.

The project will be launched in June 2024 and its duration is 5 years. It will be funded by the European Union (EU) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA).

“We are very pleased to participate in this wonderful project. The extensive collaboration with Nepal provides us with an excellent opportunity to develop the country’s teacher education and to foster faith in the future and the importance of education, says" Arto Kallioniemi, Vice Dean at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki. 

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