TAMK freezes university and research cooperation and exchange programmes with Russia
Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen decided on Wednesday 9 March on new policies on Russia with regard to higher education and research and on preparations related to support for Ukraine.
The Ministry of Education and Culture recommends that Finnish higher education institutions refrain from all cooperation with Russian partner organisations in higher education and science. According to the policies, new projects should not be initiated and existing cooperation between organisations should be suspended for the time being. The processing of new initiatives related to cooperation between the authorities of Finland and Russia or Belarus will also be frozen.
Minister Kurvinen discussed the new policies with the heads of higher education institutions on Wednesday.
"Together with the higher education sector, our measures are directed at the Russian Federation that has attacked Ukraine," says Minister Antti Kurvinen in his press release.
"Our policies focus on supporting Ukraine, not against Russian students and researchers. It is still possible to apply for entry to Finland as a student or researcher regardless of your citizenship," Kurvinen says.
According to Kurvinen, Finland intends to support Ukraine and Ukrainians in the fields of higher education and research cooperation. The Ministry of Education and Culture, in collaboration with higher education institutions, is preparing measures to support Ukrainian students, staff and researchers in higher education institutions and to offer opportunities to study and work in Finland for those who are fleeing the war.
It is hoped that higher education institutions can provide mental support to students and staff for the anxiety caused by the crisis in Ukraine and actively inform them of what kind of support is available. Support is available especially for Ukrainian students and staff members.
Finland also supports the decision of the European Commission to suspend cooperation within the framework of EU training and research programmes with Russian and Belarusian partners.
TAMK is a harassment-free community
TAMK, together with other Finnish universities, condemns Russia's hostilities and violations of international law in Ukraine. In accordance with the decision of the Ministry of Education, we will immediately suspend university and research cooperation and exchange programmes with Russia.
We express our support to the people of Ukraine and welcome Ukrainian university students arriving in Finland and to TAMK according to a plan to be worked on with other universities. At the same time, we state that we continue to treat Russians and citizens of other countries equally as applicants, students and employees.
