Are you interested in making your studies more international, but going abroad for an exchange for a semester of full year does not feel like an option for you? Students also have the opportunity to internationalize their degree without traveling!
UEF students have a variety of options for participating in different virtual courses and complete studies through different channels.
UniPID – courses in sustainable development and global challenges
UniPID is a network of Finnish universities that supports multidisciplinary studies and research, as well as societal impact and partnerships of universities related to global sustainable development. The network offers students a large variety of virtual courses, a minor in sustainable development and supports development research through the UniPID DocNet.
UniPID virtual studies are open to all UEF degree students and exchange students. Learn more about the UniPID virtual studies here. Students can also complete a minor “Sustainability in Development” (min. 25 ECTS). If you are interested in completing a UniPID course or the minor, please contact your programme coordinator to discuss the course(s) can be included into your degree. The UEF Contact Person for UniPID virtual studies is Annikka Männikkö annika.mannikko@uef.fi
UniPID also arranges workshops for master’s students. UniPID and the Finnish Society for Development Research also arrange an annual ‘Master’s Award’ competition, where exceptional pro-gradu theses from UniPID member universities are recognised. The pro-gradu theses are multidisciplinary and focus on development studies, international development or Global South research. A winning prize of 1000€ and honorable mentions are awarded. UniPID workshops, events and Master’s Award call are communicated on the UEF Viva Engage channels.
YUFE Alliance – virtual studies at European universities
The University of Eastern Finland is a member of the YUFE Alliance, through which our students have a number of different options to personalize their participation in Alliance activities.
YUFE offers the chance to go abroad for student exchange at partner institutions (with Erasmus+ funding), participate in volunteering opportunities, and complete virtual courses offered by our partner universities. YUFE also offers language courses and the chance to participate in open academy lectures with changing themes.
YUFE is available to all degree students at UEF, so there are no programme/subject specific restrictions in participating. Students from all fields of study and of all degree levels are eligible to participate completely free of charge!
YUFE Student Journey
Completing virtual studies and language courses is possible with the YUFE Student Journey study right. The study right is valid for two years, during which the student can freely participate in different Alliance activities – obtaining the study right also does not mandate participation, so it is also possible to not complete courses or participate in other activities if you find that your calendar is full, but the option to participate is open for the duration of the study right. Read more about the YUFE Alliance and YUFE Student Journey on Kamu!
More information and course catalogues are available on YUFE virtual campus (new tab), select Explore YUFE courses.
North2north: Circumpolar Studies
UEF students may also participate in online studies within the UArctic network: Circumpolar Studies (CS) study module is a multidisciplinary module, to which all bachelor and master’s degree students at UEF may apply for.
The multidisciplinary research conducted in the module sheds light on possibilities of the arctic region and the threats it faces.
The module consists of one introductory course and smaller, 2-course modules related to native peoples of the arctic region, arctic governance, or global changes and sustainable development:
CS100: Introduction to the Circumpolar World
CS311: Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World I
CS312: Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World II
CS321: Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World I
CS322: Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World II
CS331: Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World I
CS332: Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World II
Each course awards 6 ECTS.
There are a couple application periods annually for the courses, July-August for autumn semester classes and October-November for spring semester courses. Information about applying to courses will be published in the Viva Engage group Internationalisation offers for Students.
If you are interested in completing Circumpolar Studies courses, please make sure that the courses can be included into your degree at UEF. Contact your departmental coordinator to discuss inclusion.
NB! Transcripts for the courses are awarded by the hosting organisation, i.e., the Canadian or American university offering the courses. Inclusion into your degree at UEF is done by your department’s usual processes for inclusion/crediting, so the credits are not automatically transferred to Peppi after the courses end. Receiving the transcript from abroad may take a long time, and therefore we do not recommend leaving your graduation waiting for these courses.
Further information: Circumpolar Studies, UArctic (new tab), core course materials (new tab)