About a dozen years ago Kronos ry, the association of history students, asked Liisa Suvikumpu and her husband, historian Tuomas Heikkilä, to lead a field trip abroad. The first trip already became a legend, and in the end they led a field trip to a European capital every spring for eight years.

– After each field trip I swore to my husband that that was the last one. It was an immense responsibility and amount of work. We had 35 twenty-something ‘children’ along, and during our first trip we were under thirty ourselves too. On the other hand the trips were awesome: we had with us the most talented – and the funniest – youth of Finland.

Suvikumpu and Heikkilä planned out the academic content together, humour and the joy of shared insight weren’t neglected. The history and culture of European capitals were explored through assignments.

– Even long afterwards we received extremely rewarding feedback. Many told us that our field trip was a key moment in their studies, something which opened the doors to Europe and to their own minds.

Encouraged by their experience from these field trips, the couple took up another form of group travel. Their assignment was to plan a course on European culture for the Finnish Institute in Rome, Villa Lante, that would be invitation-based and aimed at major figures in Finnish society from politics, the economy, culture, and academia. So far they have run five of these one-week courses in Rome.

– I think these courses are a perfect example of what the University of Helsinki can contribute to Finland. My husband and I, both alumni of the University, are able to pass on our education and our knowledge of the relevance of humanities research to decision-makers in our society.

Dr Suvikumpu thinks every Finn should visit the Villa Lante. The Renaissance palace is one of ‘Finland’s’ oldest buildings in daily use, and its unique architecture is even admired by the Romans themselves. During Dr Tuomas Heikkilä’s directorship of the Villa Lante, it has been visited by numerous leading Finns. The everyday users of the Institute are researchers, writers, and artists, for whom, as was originally intended, it is a residence providing a quiet place to concentrate on their work.

– My husband and I feel privileged to have already been able to do such important work in support of societal interaction at our age. It is an honour to be an advocate for research and culture.

• European identity and the European worldview. Discussion by Dr Liisa Suvikumpu, Docent in European History, and Professor Eero Tarasti. “Rakastan Eurooppaa” (‘I love Europe’), YLE 27 September 2011.
• An interview with Dr Liisa Suvikumpu and Dr Tuomas Heikkilä: “Historian lumoissa” ('Enthralled by history'), Valomerkki April 28, 2010.