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Finland
Finland has an agreement with Egypt on cultural, education and
scientific research matters.
Channels for Bilateral Cooperation
Finnish Institute in the Middle East – FIME
The main channel of cooperation is the Finnish Institute in the Middle
East – FIME. The Institute founded in 1994 supports and promotes
research and teaching related to the societies, cultures and languages
of the Middle East. The aim is also to increase contacts and
co-operation between Finnish and Middle Eastern universities and
research centers. (www.fime.info)
Field Activities in Egypt
Egypt’s significance in the Institute’s activities is constantly
increasing. The Foundation does not have a permanent office or
researcher residence in Egypt, but a part-time representative at the
Finnish Embassy in Cairo is responsible for maintaining regular contact.
The plan for 2006 is to increase activities in Egypt.
Areas of focus 2006-2008
The activity of Finnish institutes abroad has generally been focused on
culture. Three of the four scientific institutes are active in the
Mediterranean area. The Finnish Institute in the Middle East is the
youngest of these, and its basic functions are still being developed and
regularized.
The Institute operates in a geographically extensive and politically and
socially difficult area, which poses special challenges for its
development.
The objective for the past two years has been to establish a centre of
operations in the Middle East for the Institute in order to maintain
permanent functions, such as a library and archive, as well as rooms for
researchers, and to organize small events and exhibitions in the same
way as in other cultural and scientific institutes. This objective has
advanced significantly during 2005.
Finnish science and technology has aroused great interest
internationally. The countries of the Middle East represent a strong
economic and demographic potential. This provides excellent
opportunities for actors who actively create and maintain scientific and
cultural relationships in the area. It is also important to create new
employment opportunities for people with a university degree in subjects
related to Middle Eastern languages and cultures.
The Finnish Institute in the Middle East aims to become a central
institution that practices research and cultural interaction,
participates in bilateral cultural exchange activities between Finland
and Middle Eastern countries, and supports Finnish universities and
research institutes in their cooperation in the Middle East. The
Foundation and the Institute also attempt to participate in specific
projects that are carried out by means of other funding.
The Institute focuses especially on making the cultures, religion,
history, and social issues of the Middle East known in Finland and
making Finnish science and culture known in the Middle East.
Annual scientific courses for university students, organized partly in
cooperation with Finnish universities, will most likely continue as the
central form of operation of the Institute. The number of postgraduate
students and postdoctoral researchers in the field of Finnish Middle
Eastern studies has increases somewhat in recent years, but the active
community is still small compared to other fields. This is why the
Institute aims to offer undergraduate students the opportunity to
participate in high-quality courses in the Middle East. This provides
students with positive first experiences in the field and motivation to
continue their studies. Subjects for student courses in coming years
will include, in addition to the above-mentioned ancient Middle East and
its heritage, also the architecture of the old town of Damascus and the
restoration of the Institute premises, as well as the current political
situation in the Middle East, especially the dialogue between the
European Union and the Middle East. The Foundation and the Institute
will also continue organizing archaeological excursions utilizing the
expertise of the Foundation’s executive officer.
There are other channels under this agreement:
- Funded projects, often in collaboration with FINIDA funds.
- Ex-agricultural projects co-funded with Agricultural Research Center
(Agricultural plan in Isnmailia)
- Environmental projects (project on industrial pollution in Delta)
In addition,
- The private sector from the telecommunications sector (e.g.
NOKIA) is very active in Egypt.
- Direct cooperation among universities: Agreement between Cairo
and Helsinki universities on exchange of students, workshops, visits
… etc.
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