The University of Helsinki is hosting this year´s Staff week around the theme “Universities as Transformative Learning Communities for All”, inspired by a shared intention of re-imagining universities as holistic learning communities.
Universities are uniquely complex, multidisciplinary communities, where education, research, and employment intertwine. Embedded in this complexity are the versatile ways students, teachers, researchers, and staff collaborate and interact in both pedagogical settings and outside of them. These collaborations are part of the everyday work at universities and therefore lie at the heart of this year´s Staff Week.
We expect participants to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in building and sustaining holistic learning communities within universities; to engage in professional reflection and develop tools for lifelong learning; and to establish new professional contacts and networks that support future collaboration.
With this in mind, participants are invited to discuss and identify factors that limit universities in achieving Una Europa goals, while exploring ways to foster meaningful formal and non-formal learning opportunities. The programme is designed to encourage reflection on participants’ roles within the learning community, the skills required to address diverse challenges, and the sharing of expertise in an interdisciplinary setting, making existing knowledge and good practices visible beyond individual professional roles.
More specifically, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and intentionally develop collaboration through the following themes:
The Staff Week is based on the Una Europa’s strategic goal to improve student-centred and research-driven education from
The program of the Staff Week consists of daily workshops where participants will actively lead and participate in discussions and engage with one another. Through participatory and engaging peer-learning methods, participants will actively shape the contents and outcomes of the session and diversify their skill sets. This allows participants to use their own expertise to teach and learn from each other. We will inspire participants to disseminate the outcomes of the Staff Week through their daily practice at home universities. Participants have the opportunity to:
Gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges in building and realizing holistic learning communities within universities
Foster personal professional reflection and tools for lifelong learning
Establish new professional contacts and networks that can support future work in teaching and learning and in other emergent ways.
This Staff Week is intended for university professional staff involved in pedagogical development and educational support, including staff working in pedagogy units, curriculum design, strategic educational services, student engagement, and support roles related to students or early career researchers. As a unique element of this Staff Week, students and researchers with teaching responsibilities are also welcome to participate. Together, these participants embody the idea of the university as a shared learning community.
Participants can look forward to plenty of opportunities for networking and engaging conversations. They will also have the chance to explore Helsinki, experience the local sauna culture, and discover the city’s vibrant blend of nature, design, and urban life. The perfect balance of professional growth and local adventure.
The Una Europa Staff Week 2026 is free of charge for eligible participants. Travel and subsistence costs are reimbursed either by using institutional Una.Futura budget or another source of funding, such as Erasmus+ STT funds or MOVETIA STT funding (for participants from Universität Zürich). For participating students, funding will be granted by Helsingin yliopisto/Helsingfors universitet.
| Time | Session & Topic | |
| Tuesday, 2 June | 10.00 – 10.30 | Registration & Coffee |
| 10.30 – 12.00 | Welcome & Introduction | |
| 12.00 – 13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 – 15.30 | Workshop 1: Students as knowledge-seekers and knowledge-builders | |
| 15.30 – 16.00 | Wrap-up and introduction to day 2 | |
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16.30 -
|
Networking “afterit” | |
| Wednesday, 3 June | 10.00 – 12.00 | Workshop 2: Students as solution oriented critical thinkers |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch | |
| 13.00 – 13.45 | Wrap-up and introduction to day 3 | |
| 14.00 – 16.00 | Excursion | |
| Thursday, 4 June | 10.00 – 12.00 | Workshop 3: Students as peacemakers and empowered citizens |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch | |
| 13.00 – 13.30 | Wrap-up and introduction to day 4 | |
| 13.30 – 19.00 | Participant free time | |
| 19.00-21.00 | Joint dinner | |
| Friday, 5 June | 10.00 – 12.00 | Workshop 4: Students as active agents of change for the sustainable future |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch | |
| 13.00 – 14.00 | Conclusions & evaluation |
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a coastal city known for its unique connection to nature, high-quality of life and urban design. Built across islands and surrounded by the Baltic Sea, the city offers easy access to green spaces, often just minutes from the city center.
Here are some fun facts about Helsinki and Finnish Culture:
Midnight sun and polar nights. In summer, Helsinki enjoys up to 19 hours of daylight, with bright evenings that seem to never end. In winter, daylight is shorter, but the city adapts with cozy cafés, illuminated streets, and a strong indoor culture.
Clean air capital. Finland consistently ranks among the countries with the cleanest air in the world, and Helsinki’s sea breezes and extensive green areas contribute to excellent air quality throughout the year.
The sauna capital. With more saunas than cars nationwide, sauna culture is an essential part of Finnish life and a common setting for social interaction and relaxation.
The world’s happiest country. Finland has been ranked the World’s Happiest Country multiple times, often attributed to high levels of trust, work-life balance, and strong public services.
For more information about Helsinki, please visit
Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is one of the most prestigious universities in Northern Europe; guided by the values of truth, Bildung, freedom and inclusivity. Originally established in Turku, the university was relocated to Helsinki in 1828, where it has since played a central role in the development of Finnish education, research, and society. Today, the University of Helsinki is a leading international research university, known for its strong commitment to research, teaching, and community relations.
The University of Helsinki in numbers:
11 Faculties, 4 campuses
31,871 students and 8,796 employees
2,944 international degree students
Ranked among the top 1% of the world’s universities
The Una Europa Staff Week 2026 is taking place in the
For more information on the university facilities, public transportation, services, accommodation, attractions and museums, please visit: