About Us

About Us

WHO WE ARE?

The Finnish Consortium for International Education (FCIE) has been established to build international partnerships; global network and create sustainable open education models between the Finnish higher education organizations and counterparts around the world. FCIE’s education providers matchmaking has opened opportunities for students, faculty, and research as well as mobility, recruitment, and exchange worldwide.

TARGETS

Our Mission & vision

Vision

FCIE envisions a highly connected world where Finnish higher education is accessed globally through innovative international partnerships and collaborations Models.

Mission

To expand international education by facilitating and fostering lasting relationships between Finnish Higher Education Providers and Counter partners around the world toward building educational access, economic opportunity, institutional capacity, and professional development for our partners worldwide.

OUR Objectives

FCIE objectives is to..

Partnerships

Facilitate deep and lasting partnerships between Finnish higher education providers and their counterparties worldwide.

Development

Enhance Finland engagement and participation in international development projects.

Projects

Involve Finnish Higher Education Providers and Finnish Higher Education Experts in meaningful educational projects around the world.

OUR Board

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Risto Vahanen

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Risto graduated with M.Sc in Engineering. He is currently an entrepreneur with more than 30 years experience in higher education, management and engineering. During his career Risto has worked as the chairman and CEO of several successful business organisations. In addition, he has held several leading positions in non-profit organisations, such as chairman of  Advisory Board at METROPOLIA University of Applied Sciences and chairman of the Board of Directors in the Finnish Association of Civil Engineers.

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Rauli Virtanen
BOARD MEMBER

Rauli  is a Finnish writer, Journalist, Lecturer and Television Producer. Rauli has been a foreign correspondent based in New York and London and a roving correspondent based in Finland.  Rauli worked as a visiting professor of journalism at the University of Tampere, Finland. Rauli also served as a member of the Espoo City Council.  During his career Rauli has visited all 193 UN member states. Rauli is known as a “Citizen of the World”.

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Jukka Pietikäinen
BOARD MEMBER

Jukka has a 38- year-long career in Finnish diplomacy and international cooperation. He has a longstanding  commitment with Latin America, including posts in Colombia and Mexico before being appointed ambassador to Argentina and later to Peru. He also served in New York as Consul General and previously as Counsellor at the Mission to the UN.  Throughout his career he has passionately promoted education cooperation with Finland.

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Ritva Laakso-Manninen
BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Ritva has a 30-year experience in higher education and business management. She served as President of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences for 16 years. She was a member of Reutlingen University’s international council in Germany for 6 years. Ritva has authored multiple publications on management. She received the Finnish honorary title of Korkeakouluneuvos (Higher Education Counselor) from the President of the Republic of Finland in 2019.

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Kari Alitalo 
BOARD MEMBER

Prof. Kari Alitalo is Academy professor and Director of the Molecular and Cancer Medicine Research Program at the University of Helsinki. Kari is furthermore Scientific Director of the Wihuri Research Institute.. During his career he has won several international and national scientific and Academic awards.