Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs to Be Held in Kotka Campus in May – Registration is Now Open

The Spring Forum offers up-to-date insights into international cooperation in higher education, opportunities for networking, and new perspectives on current and emerging themes.

– For the Finnish National Agency for Education, the Spring Forum is one of the most important meeting points for strengthening the internationalisation of higher education together with institutions and for building cooperation around topical themes. It is especially valuable that the forum brings people together face to face and that higher education institutions take turns hosting the event. This also supports regional equality and enables us to become familiar with institutions across Finland, says Maija Airas, Head of Unit at EDUFI.

The theme of the 2026 Spring Forum is “Finland of Promises – Making Internationality a Reality”. Through this theme, the forum explores how promises are turned into concrete experiences and how Finland can ensure that it is a reliable, responsible and visible actor in international higher education.

The responsibility for organising the Spring Forum rotates annually among higher education institutions.

– It is a great honour for Xamk to host the Spring Forum in 2026. The event is known for its high-quality and for offering excellent opportunities for learning and networking. We are delighted to welcome all participants to our new Kotka campus, says Olli Ervaala, Director of Education at Xamk.

Programme themes include:

• European Universities: Shared Education, Shared Future
• The world’s best study country – but will the competence stay in Finland?
• Education export and international recruitment – the engine of regional vitality
• International education meets working life – bridges and solutions
• Multimodal mobility – accessibility, inclusion and impact

The keynote speakers of the Spring Forum are Juan Rayón Gonzalez, Director of the European University INGENIUM, and Irina Ferencz, Director of the Academic Cooperation Association.

The registration is now open

Registration for the Spring Forum for Higher Education International Affairs is now open. The number of participants is limited, so early registration is recommended. Participants are also advised to book accommodation well in advance.

More information on registration, accommodation and the detailed programme is available on the event website.