19 March 2025

Olena Zelenska: Finland Joins the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies

During her visit to Finland, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with Sari Lindblom, Rector of the University of Helsinki, and Jarmo Takala, Vice President of Tampere University. During the meeting, memorandums of cooperation were signed within the framework of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.

“A vivid example of successful inter-university cooperation is the partnership between the University of Helsinki and Karazin Kharkiv National University—the hero city of Kharkiv suffers daily from Russian missile attacks, yet student life continues to thrive there thanks to the support of our Finnish friends,” said the First Lady.

Finland plays a crucial role in supporting Ukrainian education. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 14 Finnish universities have actively collaborated with Ukrainian higher education institutions, while 29 Finnish universities have expressed interest in expanding partnerships. The number of scholarships for Ukrainian students and postgraduate researchers has significantly increased, and the University of Helsinki offers a free Open University Studies online course for 1,863 Ukrainians.

Olena Zelenska also highlighted unique Ukraine-focused courses introduced at both Finnish universities.

“This includes a Ukrainian language course at the University of Helsinki and the course History of Ukraine: Statehood and Identity by the talented professor Rinna Kullaa at Tampere University, which thoroughly dismantles Russian narratives. It is crucial that the independent academic and educational environment deeply understands its mission in fostering critical thinking and shaping a comprehensive and clear worldview,” added the First Lady.

In the presence of First Lady Olena Zelenska, Helsinki University and Tampere University officially signed memorandums to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.

“The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies is designed not only to introduce the world to the rich history and culture of Ukrainians but also to showcase modern Ukraine and share its latest achievements,” stated the First Lady.

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was established with the support of Olena Zelenska as a joint initiative of the Fund of the President of Ukraine for the support of Education, Science, and Sports, the Ukrainian Institute, the Crimea Platform, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This initiative aims to expand academic opportunities for Ukrainians worldwide, support scientific research, and integrate Ukrainian studies into the international educational space. Finnish universities have become key partners in this project, opening new opportunities for Ukrainian educators, students, and researchers.

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies aims to support the development of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar studies to ensure the accurate and professional study of Ukraine’s history and culture. It also seeks to promote the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages and cultures.