Cultural and academic institutes are active in science, art, and culture

Finland has 17 cultural and academic institutes around the world. They are active in 70 countries in promoting Finnish art, science, and culture. The institutes are showcases, meeting places and creators of networks. I have long sat on the board of the Finnish Institute in Rome. Today I have the privilege to be chairman of the association of them all, The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes (SKTI).

Most of the institutes are run by a private foundation established for the purpose. Each of them operates independently while still forming a network. It can well be said that the cultural and academic institutes represent the best of civil society in action. Such things as lobbying, impact estimation, communication, and administrative services figure on the agenda of the SKTI association. It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of this network.

By Written by Liisa Savunen (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta ed.), translated by Tero Heikkinen, revised by Matthew Billington

Liisa Savunen

Liisa Kristiina Savunen
Born November 3, 1960, Helsinki

Master of Arts 1989 and licentiate 1992 (general history), PhD 1997 (classical philology), University of HelsinkiDocent in general history, particularly women’s history, 2005–, University of Tampere

Director of the Culture and Society Research Unit 2014–, Academy of Finland
President/ executive director 2006–14, Universities of Finland UNIFI
President/ unit director 2000–06, Academy of Finland
Senior researcher 1997–2000, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Project researcher 1993–96, University of Helsinki

Board member 2013–, and chairman 2014–, The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes
Board member 2006–, and vice-chairman 2010–, Institutum Romanum Finlandiae Foundation

Publications:

Two monographs, numerous academic articles and presentations at national and international academic seminars and conferences in the field of classical social history and women’s history.
In addition, co-authored reports of numerous administrative working groups.

Photo: Suomen Akatemia, Anita Westerback
Written by Liisa Savunen (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington