International collaboration

Internationalisation is one of the overarching objectives of the University of Jyväskylä's strategy. Our education is multidisciplinary, international and responsive to global skills needs, and we develop it in cooperation with our partners. We are active in international scientific communities and in strong societal dialogue and stakeholder cooperation.

Tutkimuksen kansainvälisyyskartta.jpeg — The map shows JYU's broad international research collaboration for the years 2018-2023.

International research collaboration

The University of Jyväskylä actively engages in a wide range of international collaborations. These include fostering research, innovation, and knowledge exchange across disciplines.

We have particularly strong international collaborations in physics, especially in nuclear and particle physics. In biosciences, collaborations aim for ecological understanding and sustainable conservation efforts. JYU also advances exercise physiology, biomechanics, and sport psychology. Our international network seeks for improved teaching methods and educational research. We promote interdisciplinary research with our business partners, addressing global challenges by combining expertise from various fields, which aim solving societal challenges across all scales.

International educational collaboration

JYU has concluded multilateral and bilateral cooperative agreements on a university-level with many institutions of higher education around the world. JYU participates actively in international collaborative programmes.

Erasmus Charter 2021-2027

Erasmus Policy Statement 2021-2027

FORTHEM alliance works together extensively

The FORTHEM Alliance is a European University Network that is designed to enhance the mobility of students and staff members, cooperation with university-external stakeholders as well as the civic activity of students.

The University of Jyväskylä works together with eight other European universities in the alliance. The activities are financially supported by the European Commission, and the current funding period is 1.11.2022 - 31.10.2026.

Global networks

IAU, International Association of Universities, founded in 1950, is the UNESCO-based worldwide association of higher education institutions. It brings together institutions and organisations from some 120 countries for reflection and action on common concerns and collaborates with various international, regional and national bodies active in higher education.

JYU is a member of the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network, which aims at protecting individual scholars and higher education communities from the repression of their research publication, teaching and learning. This is accomplished by placing scholars in jeopardy of persecution in host universities, offering workshops and training and by inviting speakers from other universities in the network.

The network consists of more than 200 universities from well over 30 countries.

Since 2017, all Finnish SAR member universities, including the University of Jyväskylä, have formed the Finnish section for Scholars at Risk within the confines of Universities Finland UNIFI.

University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the North.

UArctic builds and strengthens collective resources and collaborative infrastructure that enables member institutions to better serve their constituents and their regions.

Through cooperation in education, research and outreach the network enhances human capacity in the North, promotes viable communities and sustainable economies, and forges global partnerships.

Unesco Chairs and Professorships

The four-year UNESCO Chair supports global and multidisciplinary networking in a changing world.

Launched in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, which involves over 700 institutions in 116 countries, promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work. The programme supports the establishment of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence – i.e. in education, the natural and social sciences, culture and communication.

Through this network, higher education and research institutions all over the globe pool their resources, both human and material, to address pressing challenges and contribute to the development of their societies. In many instances, the networks and chairs serve as thinktanks and bridgebuilders between academia, civil society, local communities, research and policy-making.

Ulla Richardson appointed to a UNESCO Professorship 2023 to 2027

Previous Unesco Chairs at the University of Jyväskylä

Professor Pekka Neittaanmäki, UNESCO Chair on Digital Platforms for Transforming Economies (2019-2023)
Professor Heikki Lyytinen, UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Literacy Learning for All (2015-2019 and 2019-2023)
Johanna Lasonen, UNESCO Chair in Development and International Cooperation (2000-2005)
Jeremy Gould, UNESCO Chair in Development and International Cooperation (2005-2011)

Global list of UNESCO Chairs