Welcome to Summer School of Excellence

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Helsinki – and to Helsinki Summer School, now celebrating its 11th anniversary.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is called the daughter of the Baltic Sea and the pearl of North Europe. To take this metaphor one step further, one of the brightest pearls in Helsinki is Helsinki Summer School. The international summer school was launched in 2000 as a part of the "European Capital of Culture" programme of Helsinki. In addition, Helsinki’s status as the World Design Capital of 2012 will surely be beneficial to future activities of Helsinki Summer School. In Helsinki Summer School, education and culture will coincide and cooperate in a dynamic international environment!

Helsinki is an internationally renowned hub of higher education. There are currently some 35 000 students pursuing degrees at Helsinki Summer School’s main coordinator, the University of Helsinki. The eight other members of the Helsinki Summer School consortium add over 25 000 students to the rich and diverse academic community of the Metropolitan Region.

According to its strategy for the period of 2010 to 2012, the University of Helsinki reaches out to the top and to society. The ten-year plan visions the University securing its position among the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. This goal is not only set on pure academic and scientific grounds – the University of Helsinki wishes to be an active operator for the well-being of humanity and just society, in Finland and globally.

The academic life in Helsinki has also become more multicultural and international with every passing year. Every summer HSS’s contribution to this trend has been essential and highly appreciated. We expect this trend to continue successfully also in the future.

Helsinki Summer School has established itself as a highly valued academic summer event. The annual HSS experience includes high-quality instruction; a wide range of interesting, fully credited courses; a great atmosphere; beautiful surroundings; and radiant summer nights. Helsinki Summer School is the perfect chance for all of you to learn more, make new friends, and, above all, experience everything the Daughter of the Baltic Sea has to offer.

Welcome!

Jukka Kola
Vice Rector for education and study affairs
University of Helsinki