TUAS signed the Fulbright agreement

The freshly signed agreement enables Turku University of Applied Sciences to recruit American researchers and lecturers for periods of 3 to 9 months. The first application round, which is for the academic year 2019–2020, starts in February 2018. The responsibilities of the Fulbright grantees include both teaching and research.

"This is a brilliant new opportunity for us. The Fulbright program enables our guests to engage in longer-term work at our organization and facilitates the search for exact expertise that meets the current needs", rejoices TUAS Rector and President Vesa Taatila.

"In terms of attracting top experts to apply for grants to travel to Finland, we consider our active cooperation with companies and our practice-oriented methods to be our asset, says Anu Härkönen", Head of International Affairs at TUAS.

During Monday 27 November, Chief Executive Officer Terhi Mölsä and Program Coordinator Emmi Jelekäinen from Fulbright Finland Foundation were introduced to the Turku University of Applied Sciences operations, innovation pedagogy and prospects for the near future.

The objective of the Fulbright Finland Foundation is to promote Finnish-American collaboration through academic exchange. The foundation is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, the United States Department of State, the Finland-America Educational Trust Fund established by the Finnish and American governments, private foundations as well as Finnish higher education institutions and research institutes. The operations originated in late 1940s, which is when the first academic exchange programme between Finland and USA was started.

According to David Yoken, Senior Lecturer at TUAS and a member of the Fulbright Finland Foundation Board, the Fulbright signing ceremony by TUAS Rector and President Vesa Taatila and the Fulbright Finland Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Terhi Mölsä was historic.

"The implementation of the Fulbright American scholar program at TUAS will have a transformational impact upon our current and future students, teachers, the City of Turku, and the Finnish nation", Yoken says. "As an American citizen, I sincerely believe the exchange of knowledge between the USA and Finland will lead to solving local and global challenges and truly create the possibilities for tolerance, understanding, and yes, peace."

In the photo above: Vesa Taatila and Terhi Mölsä

In the photo below (click to view a larger image), from left to right: Vice Rector Juhani Soini, Program Coordinator Emmi Jelekäinen, Rector Vesa Taatila, Chief Executive Officer Terhi Mölsä and Senior Lecturer David Yoken