Karelian Institute

The Karelian Institute engages in basic and applied multidisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences. Within the framework of project activities, we support the supervision of postgraduate studies and researcher training, and participate in undergraduate teaching. Commissioned research related to the university's societal service mission is also carried out at the institute. The thematic areas in research are: Regional and Rural Studies, Ethnicity and Culture, and Borders and Russia. The Karelian Institute was founded in 1971.  

Also part of the institute are Spatia Centre for Regional Research and VERA Centre for Russian and Border Studies.

The research information produced at the institute is applied in teaching and the supervision of theses and research in many study programmes offered at the University of Eastern Finland, particularly in the fields of sociology, social and public policy, geography, history, law, and in business studies and cultural studies. VERA Centre for Russian and Border Studies promotes the university’s education related to Russia and borders. The Karelian Institute offers postgraduate students the opportunity to take part in international and national projects.  

Our teaching activities are linked to the key areas of expertise and research themes of our staff. The latest research information and expertise are available for use in supervision and teaching. Maintaining a close connection to students nearing graduation and a link between education and research facilitate the institute’s recruitment of motivated post-graduate students for various academic subjects and research projects.