The University of Eastern Finland works at the forefront of global development. We believe that knowledge, collaboration and shared learning are essential for building a sustainable future. Through multidisciplinary, impactful education and research and long-term partnerships, we contribute to building more sustainable, equitable and resilient societies across the world. Our work supports evidence-based decision-making, strengthens capacities and advances solutions that safeguard our planet.
UEF engages in global development initiatives across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Eurasia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Our work includes research and education partnerships, student and staff mobility and alumni engagement. We work with a broad network of partners, including universities, public institutions, NGOs and CSOs, and international organisations.
The University of Eastern Finland’s Global Development Policy, published in 2022, provides the overall vision, principles and objectives guiding the university’s engagement with the Global South.
The University of Eastern Finland continuously develops its global engagement by reflecting on achievements, learning from partnerships and setting new goals for the future. To support this ongoing work, UEF publishes a comprehensive Global Development Report every three years, highlighting key developments and priorities in collaboration with the Global South.
The University of Eastern Finland is actively involved in global development networks that strengthen our partnerships, expand collaborative opportunities, and deepen our engagement with the Global South. Through these networks, we work with universities to advance shared goals in research, education and sustainable development. Our membership in these networks enables UEF to contribute to global discussions, co-create knowledge and support long-term and responsible cooperation.
UniPID Finnish University Partnership for International Development
UniPID is a national network that brings ten Finnish universities together to strengthen collaboration in global development research, education and partnerships. UniPID supports shared virtual learning, responsible and equitable collaboration with partners in the Global South and policy dialogue. UEF serves as the coordinating university for UniPID.
SANORD - Southern Africa – Nordic Centre
SANORD connects higher education institutions in Southern Africa and the Nordic region. SANORD promotes academic cooperation, knowledge exchange and partnerships that address the sustainable development goals.
NCI - Nordic Centre in India
NCI is a network of Nordic universities with a strong academic interest in India. NCI provides a structured platform for its members and their scholars to engage more deeply with India. The network supports academic exchange, informed perspectives, and opportunities for research and education collaboration.
UNAI- United Nations Academic Impact
UNAI is global initiative linking universities with the United Nations. UNAI promotes shared values such as human rights, sustainability and global citizenship, and encourages institutions to contribute to addressing global challenges through education and research.
Responsible and equitable engagement
The University of Eastern Finland is committed to promoting responsible and equitable engagement in all its global development activities. Our approach is grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibility and long-term partnership building. We recognise the importance of ethical practice, inclusive collaboration, and equitable knowledge production, and we strive to ensure that our work supports fair opportunities, strengthens capacities and contributes to sustainable and meaningful outcomes for all partners involved.
Our commitment to responsible and equitable engagement is supported by a set of guiding documents that outline the values, principles and expectations shaping our global development work. The following documents inform our approach:
Global development events
The University of Eastern Finland organises global development events, seminars and alumni gathering throughout the year, on campus in Joensuu and Kuopio, online and in partner countries.
This is an annual gathering that showcases UEF’s global development work, featuring discussions, presentations and opportunities to explore how the university contributes to sustainable development and global responsibility. Until 2024, the event was held only internally. The UEF Global Development Day is usually held in late November or early December. Please follow the events calendar for our next event!
Check out our previous events below.
The UEF 3MT competition offers doctoral researchers at UEF an opportunity to present their Global South and sustainable development related work in a clear and engaging way to a wider audience. The competition highlights diverse research with global relevance and contributes to the day’s focus on knowledge-sharing and academic dialogue. The UEF 3MT is held in conjunction with the UEF Global Development Day.
2025
- UEF 3MT Winner 2025 and People's Choice Award.
Henna Rinta-Kiikka, Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology. "Measuring Smoke: Reducing Household Air Pollution, Protecting Health and Climate". The presentation is available online (Panopto).
- UEF 3MT Runner Up 2025
Lais Oliveira Leite, Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty. "Empowering Future Teachers in Brazil: Exploring Key Drivers of Professional Agency in Teacher Education". The presentation is available online (Panopto).
- UEF candidate to the SANORD 3MT 2026
Christian Muragijimana, Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences. "Using Indigenous Knowledge to Tackle Climate Change and Public Health Challenges in Kenya".
2021
- UEF 3MT Winner 2021 and SANORD 3MT 2021 Winner
Anastasia Shipepe, Doctoral Researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Science, Technology and Computing. "Impact of educational robotics and sensor technology in Namibia."The presentation is available onine (YouTube).
This is a thematic annual event highlighting UEF’s collaborations and partnerships across the African continent and showcasing the contributions of African researchers, staff and students withing the university community. UEF Africa Day offers a platform for dialogue, shared learning and visibility for Africa-related research and engagement at UEF.
Africa Day is celebrated annually on May 25th to commemorate the founding of the African Union. At UEF, Africa Day events are organised around this date, typically taking place in the week of or close to May 25th to align with the continental celebration.
Check out our previous Africa Day events below.
These are regional events connecting UEF alumni in the Global South, offering space to network, share experiences and engage with the university’s ongoing research, partnerships and initiatives.
Check out the UEF Alumni page, join the network and stay up-to-date with upcoming events here!
Explore our projects
Learn about our research and education partnerships across the Global South.
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Contact information
For inquiries regarding our research and education initiatives or partnerships across the Global South, please contact us. You may also connect directly with our experts and researchers. Scroll down to find contact details organised by geographic region and thematic focus.
UEF experts by region
Educational sciences, educational technologies and teacher training
Bonface Abima, Doctoral Researcher: learning analytics, group learning, online learning. Countries: Uganda
Mirjam Asilevi, Doctoral Researcher: science education, teacher training. Countries: Namibia
Cloneria Jatileni, Project Researcher: mobile learning, early childhood education, teacher training, ICT for mathematics education. Countries: Namibia, South Africa
Ilkka Jormanainen, University Lecturer: computing education, educational technology, ICT in education, ICT for development, knowledge management, information systems. Countries: Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, Namibia
Satu Järvinen, Doctoral Researcher: ICT integration in education, vocational education, skills development, teacher training. Countries: Rwanda, Senegal
Maria Kafuko, Doctoral Researcher: Learning analytics, computer supported collaborative learning, mobile learning. Countries: Uganda
Boniphace Kanyathare, Postdoctoral Researcher: photonics education and photonics related technologies. Countries: Tanzania
Jarkko Suhonen, Research Manager: computing education, design science research, educational technology, ICT for development. Countries: Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa
Amos Sunday, Doctoral Researcher: computational thinking, co-design, educational techhnology, Countries: Nigeria
Markku Tukiainen, Professor: computing education, educational technology, ICT in education, ICT for development, knowledge management, information systems. Countries: Eritrea, Tanzania, Uganda, Namibia
Samuel Yigzaw, University Lecturer: information and knowledge systems in higher education. Countries: Eritrea
Environment, biological sciences, forest sciences and natural resource governance
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: environmental impact assessment, wildlife and nature conservation. Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa
Frank Berninger, Professor: forest ecosystems, forest restoration, forest-water nexus, climate change. Countries: Ghana
Denis Dobrynin, Early Stage Researcher: environmental and natural resource governance, environmental and natural resource conflicts, environmental collaboration, landscape approaches. Countries: Tanzania, Uganda
Antti Erkkilä, Senior Researcher: agroforestry, environmental collaboration, forest fires, traditional ecological knowledge. Countries: Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco
Kamrul Hassan: Project Researcher: forest management, wood materials science. Countries: Ghana
Omotomila Ikotun, Doctoral Researcher: environmental conflicts in Nigeria, focus on conflicts between farmers and herdsman conflicts. Countries: Nigeria
Sirpa Jääskeläinen, Senior Researcher: inorganic, analytical and organometallic chemistry, waste water treatment. Countries: Ghana
Boniphace Kanyathare, Postdoctoral Researcher: photonics education and photonics related technologies. Countries: Tanzania
Eveliina Korkiatupa, Doctoral Researcher: restoration ecology of tropical rainforests. Countries: Uganda
Raine Kortet, Professor: fisheries and aquaculture development, aquatic sciences, development of teaching in fisheries and aquaculture. Countries: Zimbabwe
Irmeli Mustalahti, Professor: environmental and natural resources governance. Countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Cameroon
Jenni Mölkänen, Postdoctoral Researcher: climate crisis, biodiversity, environment, farmers, community. Countries: Madagascar
Yvonne Nchanji, Doctoral Researcher: forest policy and governance, forest community livelihoods, gender mainstreaming, social inclusion, forest-poverty-food security. Countries: Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ari Pappinen, Professor: forest health management, biodiversity management, sustainable use of natural resources. Countries: Ghana, Kenya, Namibia
Anu Valtonen, Senior Researcher: biodiversity, restoration, edible insects. Countries: Uganda
Chahira Zerouki, Doctoral Researcher: plant ecology, microbial genetics. Countries: Algeria
Law and policy
Rahma Hersi, Doctoral Researcher: women empowerment, gender, financial inclusion, Islamic finance. Countries: Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria
Katja Weckström: commercial law, regulation, innovation law and policy, food law and policy. Countries: Kenya, South Africa
Cultural encounters, social sciences, mobilities and borders
Pieter Dhondt, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Geographical and Historical Studies: general history, history of university celebrations, student revolts, medical history and development of medical education in higher education, history of academic mobility, history of colonisation and decolonisatio of Central Africa. Countries: Congo
Natalie Joubert, Doctoral Researcher: family migration, social work, community service. Countries: Namibia, South Africa
Timo Kallinen, Professor: secularism, disenchantment, re-enchantment of nature, divine kingship, African traditional religions, conversion, missionary Christianity, colonialism, postcolonialism. Countries: Ghana
Jussi Laine, Professor: African borders, Africa-Europe relations. Countries: Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria
Jenni Mölkänen, Postdoctoral Researcher: climate crisis, biodiversity, environment, farmers, community, religious change, christian churches. Countries: Madagascar
Public health and food & nutrition security
Frank Adusei-Mensah, Postdoctoral Researcher: public health, vaccination and vaccine surveillance, digital public health, health promotion, maternal and child health. Countries: Ghana, South Africa
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: food safety and security, school meals development, food innovations, indigenous foods, indigenous knowledge. Countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, Ghana
Suchetana De Storvik, Research Coordinator: food safety, clinical nutrition. Countries: South Africa
Carlos Gomez Gallego, Senior Researcher: sustainable, nutritious, and healthy foods, with a special focus on underutilised and traditional foods. Countries: Kenya, South Africa
Jussi Kauhanen, Professor: public health, epidemiology, social inequalities in health. Countries: Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa
Arja Lyytinen, Senior University Lecturer, Adjunct Professor: public health nutrition, school meals programmes, development of nutrition, health promotion, public health teaching. Countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa
Annika Männikkö, International Coordinator: internationalisation in public health programmes, development of school meals programmes, development of public health teaching. Countries: Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa
Dorcas Ofusu-Budu, Visiting Researcher: public health, nutrition. Countries: Ghana
Benwillies Onchonga, Doctoral researcher: mortality, COVID-19, public health. Countries: Kenya
Behnam Tajik, Postdoctoral Researcher: nutrition and diet, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes , public health education development. Countries: South Africa
Medical and nursing sciences, pharmacy and toxicology
Suchetana De Storvik, Research Coordinator: chemical risk assessment, biomedical ethics, research ethics. Countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen, Professor: health sciences, nursing, midwifery, genomics informed nursing, women’s and family health, pain. Countries: Ghana
Jaana Rysä, Professor: toxicology, chemical risk assessment, bioclourants, toxicology education development. Countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Business studies, entrepreneurship and innovation
Dmitry Zimin, Project Researcher: business and investment promotion, local economic development. Countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania
Educational sciences, educational technologies and teacher training
Satu Järvinen, Doctoral Researcher: ICT integration in education, vocational education, skills development, teacher training. Countries: Iraq
Environment, biological sciences, forest sciences and natural resource governance
Katherine Hall, Doctor Researcher: environmental policy, climate change adaptation, air quality, conservation. Countries: Iraq
Public health and food & nutrition security
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: food safety and security, food innovations, indigenous foods, indigenous knowledge. Countries: Lebanon
Jussi Kauhanen, Professor: public health, epidemiology, social inequalities in health. Countries: Palestine, Iran, Syria
Behnam Tajik, Postdoctoral Researcher: nutrition and diet, mental health in children and adolescents. Countries: Iran
Law and Policy
Rahma Hersi, Doctoral Researcher: women empowerment, gender, financial inclusion, Islamic finance. Countries: Bahrain
Cultural encounters, social sciences, mobilities and borders
Enkhjargal Batbaatar, Postdoctoral Researcher: migration. Countries: Mongolia
Paul Fryer, University Lecturer: ethnic minorities, borders and migration in Russia and Eurasia. Countries: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
Aleksander Osipov, Postdoctoral Researcher: environmental history. Countries: Kazakhstan
Jeremy Smith, Professor: break-up of the Soviet Union and the organization of Eurasia. Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova
Firuz Suleymanov, Doctoral Researcher: water, conflicts, borders, international law, security, human geography. Countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia
Joni Virkkunen, Research Manager: borders, migration, socio-economics.
Environment, biological sciences, forest sciences and natural resource governance
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: fisheries and aquaculture, climate change, development of teaching in fisheries and aquaculture. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Antti Erkkilä, Senior Researcher: agroforestry, environmental collaboration, forest fires, traditional ecological knowledge. Countries: Kazakhstan
Katherine Hall, Doctor Researcher: environmental policy, climate change adaptation, air quality, conservation. Countries: Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Harri Kokko, Researcher: plant biotechnology, food safety. Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Raine Kortet, Professor: fisheries and aquaculture development, aquatic sciences, development of teaching in fisheries and aquaculture. Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Blas Mola, Associate Professor: forest management. Countries: Kazakhstan, Mongolia
Jonne Naarala, Professor: climate change, radiation, environmental safety. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Elina Oksanen, Professor: biodiversity, climate change, biology, plant protection, food security. Countries: Mongolia
Ari Pappinen, Professor: forest health management, biodiversity management, sustainable use of natural resources. Countries: Kazakhstan
Rauno Sairinen, Professor: environmental and natural resources governance, sustainability of mining, sustainability transition and social impact assessment. Countries: Kyrgyzstan
Public health and food & nutrition security
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: food safety and security, school meals development. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Enkhjargal Batbaatar, Postdoctoral Researcher: quality of life, patient satisfaction. Countries: Mongolia
Javkhlanbayar Dorjdagva, University Lecturer: health inequality, health care inequality, catastrophic health expenditure, universal health coverage, sustainable development goals, public health policy. Countries: Mongolia
Sohaib Khan, University Lecturer: social epidemiology, public health in humanitarian crises. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan
Jussi Kauhanen, Professor: public health, epidemiology, social inequalities in health. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia
Arja Lyytinen, Senior University Lecturer, Adjunct Professor: public health nutrition, school meals programmes, development of nutrition, health promotion, public health teaching. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia
Tiina Laatikainen, Professor: implementation research on prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. Countries: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine
Annika Männikkö, International Coordinator: internationalisation in public health programmes, development of school meals programmes, development of public health teaching. Countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia
Law and policy
Yulia Yamineva: climate and environmental law, governance. Countries: Tajikistan, Kazakhstan
Educational sciences, educational technologies and teacher training
Jingoo Kang, Assistant Professor: science education, environmetal education, gender equity, educational policy. Countries: South Korea
Cultural encounters, social sciences, mobilities and borders
Ghanshyam Bishwakarma, Early Stage Researcher: sociology. Countries: Nepal
Honglin Chen, Professor: gerontological social work, social work education development. Countries: Nepal
Azmeary Ferdoush, Visiting Researcher: Borders, refugees, geopolitics. Countries: Bangladesh
Natalie Joubert, Doctoral Researcher: family migration, social work, community service. Countries: India
Barnali Sarkar, Postdoctoral Researcher: migration, environmental disasters, human-animal spatial identities, identity, human geography. Countries: India
Law and policy
Rahma Hersi, Doctoral Researcher: women empowerment, gender, financial inclusion, Islamic finance. Countries: Malaysia, Pakistan
Raihanatul Jannat: climate change law, climate change adaptation, gender-responsive adaptation. Countries: Bangladesh
Katja Weckström: commercial law, regulation, innovation law and policy, food law and policy. Countries: Vietnam
Yulia Yamineva: climate and environmental law, governance. Countries: Indonesia
Environment, biological sciences, forest sciences and natural resource governance
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: fisheries and aquaculture development, community forest development, cooperative management, gender equality and women empowerment, community entrepreneurship. Countries: Nepal
Denis Dobrynin, Early Stage Researcher: environmental and natural resource governance, environmental and natural resource conflicts, environmental collaboration, landscape approaches. Countries: Bhutan
Antti Erkkilä, Senior Researcher: agroforestry, environmental collaboration, forest fires, traditional ecological knowledge. Countries: Cambodia, Bhutan.
Kamrul Hassan: Project Researcher: forest management, wood materials science. Countries: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myamnmar, Thailand
Shahidul Mallick, Doctoral Researcher: climate change, water conservation. Countries: Bangladesh
Irmeli Mustalahti, Professor: environmental and natural resources governance. Countries: Indonesia, Bhutan
Victor Carrasco Navarro, Project Researcher: aquatic ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry, microplastics, circular economy. Countries: India
Ari Pappinen, Professor: forest health management, biodiversity management, sustainable use of natural resources. Countries: Myanmar, Nepal
Medical and nursing sciences, pharmacy and toxicology
Anndra Parviainen, Early Stage Researcher: nursing education, genomics, precision health, precision medicine, health promotion. Countries: Philippines
Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen, Professor: health sciences, nursing, midwifery, genomics informed nursing, women’s and family health, pain. Countries: Philippines
Public health and food & nutrition security
Jussi Kauhanen, Professor: public health, epidemiology, social inequalities in health. Countries: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Business studies, entrepreneurship and innovation
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: cooperative management, gender equality and women empowerment, community entrepreneurship. Countries: Nepal
Subhanjan Sengupta, Postdoctoral Researcher: entrepreneurship, business modelling, sustainability, circular economy. Countries: India
Educational sciences, educational technologies and teacher training
Päivikki Liukkonen, Doctoral Researcher: craft science, education. Countries: Uruguay
Lais Oliviera Leite, Doctoral Researcher: comparative education research on teacher education curriculum design. Countries: Brazil
Environment, biological sciences, forest sciences and natural resource governance
Frank Berninger, Professor: forest ecosystems, forest restoration, forest-water nexus, climate change. Countries: Brazil, Colombia
Alexander Pulgarin Diaz, Doctoral Researcher: forest insect pests and forest ecology. Countries: Colombia
Antti Erkkilä, Senior Researcher: agroforestry, environmental collaboration, forest fires, traditional ecological knowledge. Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Marjukka Kolehmainen, Professor: health impact of food and food components. Countries: Peru
Raine Kortet, Professor: fisheries and aquaculture development, aquatic sciences, development of teaching in fisheries and aquaculture. Countries: Ecuador
Hanna Laako, Senior Researcher: conservation politics, forests, border and borderlands, Mesoamerica and the Maya Forest. Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize
Blas Mola, Associate Professor: forest management. Countries: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador
Isabel Muñoz Hidalgo, Coordinator: sustainable forest bioeconomy, forest and energy policies, corporate responsibility and social safeguards. Countries: Chile, Uruguay
Irmeli Mustalahti, Professor: environmental and natural resources governance. Countries: Mexico, Belize, Colombia, Bolivia
Jessenia Polack Huaman, Doctoral Researcher: sustainable forest management, land cover on stream water quality, land management. Countries: Peru, Ecuador
Sara Pineda Zapata, Doctoral researcher: landscape management, fragmentation and connectivity. Countries: Colombia
Cultural encounters, social sciences, mobilities and borders
Hanna Laako, Senior Researcher: conservation politics, forests, border and borderlands, Mesoamerica, international relations, decolonization. Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize
Public health and food & nutrition security
Roseanna Avento, Global Development Manager: food safety and security, food innovations, indigenous foods, indigenous knowledge. Countries: Peru
Carlos Gomez Gallego, Senior Researcher: sustainable, nutritious, and healthy foods, with a special focus on underutilised and traditional foods. Countries: Peru, Bolivia
Jussi Kauhanen, Professor: public health, epidemiology, social inequalities in health. Countries: Argentina, Colombia
Medical and nursing sciences, pharmacy and toxicology
Juliana Perez Perez, Doctoral Researcher: surveillance and monitoring of mosquito-borne diseases, dengue fever. Countries: Colombia
Jaana Rysä, Professor: toxicology, chemical risk assessment, bioclourants, toxicology education development. Countries: Brazil