At the Karelia Institute, we conduct interdisciplinary basic and applied research in humanities and social sciences, and we offer doctoral training in interdisciplinary border studies. Within the framework of project activities and within the Faculty's doctoral program, we work in close cooperation with different research areas of the Faculty. Our thematic areas in research are Regional development and rural studies, Ethnicity and culture, and Borders and Russia. The Karelia Institute was founded in 1971.
Also part of the institute are Spatia Centre for Regional Research and VERA Centre for Russian and Border Studies.

70
Researchers
1971
Year of foundation
45
Research projects
Research
At the Karelian Institute, research is conducted across three interrelated and multidisciplinary thematic research areas:
- Regional development and rural studies
- Ethnicity and culture
- Borders and Russia
The Institute provides a unique environment for creative research and doctoral training, thanks to its multidisciplinary structure and international orientation. Researchers at the Institute participate in national and international research networks, serve as experts in various projects and communities, and actively contribute to public discourse in their fields both nationally and internationally.
The Karelian Institute offers interdisciplinary doctoral training in Border Studies. The Institute’s training responds to contemporary challenges related to borders, regions and cultures and provides Doctoral students with tools to comprehend and analyse multifaceted processes of border-making and border-transcending. This involves the development of innovative research perspectives that emerge from and are supported by the Institute's three intertwined research areas. The doctoral training taking place at the Institute is part of the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies.
Thematic research areas
Our research centres
News and events
News
-
Economy and Security Forum 2024
22.11.2024
Teaching and supervision
We apply the knowledge we produce to the Karelian Institute's doctoral training and to our teaching in various basic study programs at the University of Eastern Finland, especially in sociology, social policy, geography, economics, history, law and cultural studies. The Research Centre in Russian and Border Studies, VERA, promotes education related to Russia and borders at our university. The doctoral training of the Karelian Institute offers graduate students the opportunity to work in international and national research projects that support their academic growth.
Our teaching activities are closely linked to the expertise of our staff and to our thematic research areas. We use the latest research knowledge and expertise in supervision and teaching. Close connections with graduating students and research-based teaching contribute to the recruitment of motivated graduate students to research projects, and to the doctoral program of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies.
Contact information
Joensuu campus
Postal address
University of Eastern Finland
Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
Karelian Institute
P.O. Box 111, FI-80101
Finland
Visiting address
Yliopistokatu 2, Aurora B, Joensuu