Welcome to the Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs, held in Kotka from 18 to 20 May 2026! The event is organized by South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).

The theme for 2026 is “Finland of Promises – Making Internationalisation a Reality.” Internationalisation is not just communication, but part of everyday life in higher education institutions. How can we ensure that Finland is a country where promises turn into experiences and cooperation carries into the future? International cooperation means mobility, research, networks, and responsibility. How can we ensure together that Finland is a reliable and influential actor in global higher education? We look forward to reflecting on these questions together with all participants!

The programme begins on Monday, 18 May with time reserved for networking meetings.  The program description will be confirmed later. 

Session proposals for the Spring Forum can be submitted from mid-November onwards. Detailed instructions will be shared on the EDUFI HigherEd mailing list and LinkedIn channel.

Registration for the audience is expected to open in March 2026. Further information about practical arrangements will be published later on Xamk’s event pages. 

Explore the Spring Forum and the content of previous events here.