What is the FFA?
The Finland Futures Academy (FFA) is a national network of 9 universities, facilitating academic educational and research programmes in Futures Studies and providing an avenue for researchers and universities to participate in international futures research networks. The coordinating unit of the FFA is the Finland Futures Research Centre at the University of Turku.
We aim to provide the platform for transforming national expertise into worldwide excellence. The FFA provides participants with new ways for succeeding in their own field by offering cooperation possibilities, collegiality and international connections, as well as providing innovative educational and research opportunities in futures research.
For futures oriented actors within universities and university departments, the Finland Futures Academy offers:
- A strong national network, to further success with European and global research and education networks and units.
- Futures Studies as a valuable educational addition for member universities, by providing study contents & materials, expert services, and a study process utilising online learning environments.
- Consultation in, for example, promoting multidisciplinarity and strategic development of our member universities by utilising futures research methods.
For students (postgraduate and postdoctoral) who are interested in integrating their existing knowledge with futures-oriented research, we offer invaluable knowledge and expertise with rigorous and varied courses that give new insight and opportunities. Our aim is to provide students with the tools for understanding the nature of Futures Studies as a scientific discipline, its main concepts and methods, and the use of futures research results in their areas of interest and research. By learning about futures research, our students can then integrate the methods and knowledge they have gained into their own work, distinguishing themselves in today’s fast-paced and increasingly competitive world. We provide both contact and distance learning modules, and invite anyone interested in Futures Studies and futures research to participate. (International Student Exchange)
We believe that we can help our national and international partners in finding new directions by increasing interdisciplinary communication and promoting cooperation and collaboration. We want to enable our member universities, actors, students, and futures researchers to seek solutions from national and international networks, to promote effective network utilisation to coordinate research and study projects, and to enhance their abilities, status and opportunities in today’s competitive and increasingly globalised world. By increasing future-oriented expertise, understanding, knowledge, and information, together we can strive to achieve pioneering and sustainable societal progress for an innovative future.
We warmly welcome anyone interested to participate in the forefront of interdisciplinary and futures-oriented research.
Sari Söderlund, Coordinator
Tel. +358 2 333 9613, +358 50 4017 666
sari.soderlund[a]utu.fi
Hanna-Kaisa Aalto, Education Coordinator
Tel. +358 2 333 9611
hanna-kaisa.aalto[a]utu.fi
