3 March 2025
The YUFE Alliance was honored to host the Annual Strategic Council at the snowy University of Eastern Finland. This year’s event, which focused on our vision for 2025, was an exciting follow-up to last year’s gathering in Toruń, hosted by Nicolaus Copernicus University.
Gathering the vibrant YUFE community is always a fantastic opportunity. We welcomed University Rectors, the Student Forum Executive Board, YUFE development coordinators, and institutional coordinators, all eager to collaborate and innovate.
On the first day, our development coordinators and institutional coordinators had a productive session with the YUFE Central Office. We exchanged ideas about the next steps in advancing the YUFE strategy. The University of Eastern Finland made the experience even more enjoyable with winter sports activities that embraced the spirit of the north. Participants also relished a delightful traditional Finnish dinner accompanied by charming Finnish music, fostering camaraderie and memorable interactions.
The second day kicked off the YUFE Annual Strategic Forum 2025 with inspiring welcome words from Prof. Tapio Määttä, Rector of the University of Eastern Finland, and Sanni Vesala, YUFE Vice-President and YUFE Student Forum President. We were particularly inspired by a thought-provoking keynote speech from Prof. Tuija Saresma on ‘Hate speech, polarization, and academic freedom’, a topic that resonates deeply in today’s world.
During the forum, we emphasized collaborative engagement, inviting members of the YUFE Strategic Council and the Executive Committee to explore our activity areas. This included sharing progress reports from previous years and painting a promising picture of YUFE’s future and development.
The day wrapped up with engaging sessions focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity, a YUFE Communication Strategy Workshop, and a General Meeting of the Executive Committee. We concluded the day with a remarkable dinner in one of Kuopio’s most notable landmarks, the Puijo Tower, where we had the honour to be joined by the Mayoress of Kuopio, Mrs. Soile Lahti.
On the final day, the YUFE President, Daniel Mouchard-Zay, Rector of Sorbonne Nouvelle University, led a joint meeting of the YUFE Strategic Council and Executive Committee alongside institutional coordinators from partner universities. Our YUFE Development Coordinators worked collaboratively, uniting their efforts to fuel our growth.
A heartfelt thank you to the University of Eastern Finland and Prof. Tapio Määttä, Rector of the University of Eastern Finland, for your generous hospitality, warmth, and the enchanting charm of the north, it has truly been an unforgettable experience!
