Browsing by Author "Yli-Kankahila, Tiia"

The aim of this study is to form a picture of the current state and cultural politic state of the so-called Suomi-koulu institution. Suomi-koulu is a school that provides teaching in Finnish language and Finnish culture. The students of Suomi-koulu are children with a Finnish background but who are temporarily or permanently living outside of Finland. In the year 2015 there were more than 4, 000 students studying in these schools all over the world. The first chapters of this study focus on the history and current operation of Suomi-koulu as well as the partners of the Suomi-koulu. Further chapters discuss previous studies conducted on the subject and the related concept of cultural politics. Suomi-koulu is an interesting and multidimensional phenomenon that includes education, culture, internationalization and different areas of politics. The research for this thesis was carried out as a matter based qualitative analysis. Statistical data for the study was provided by the Suomi-Seura ry. The statistics included years from 2009 to 2015. The current state of Suomi-koulu was examined by studying this data. The study of the cultural politic state of the Suomi-koulu was carried out by studying two cultural politic documents Kulttuuripolitiikan strategia 2020 and Valtioneuvoston selonteko kulttuurin tulevaisuudesta, both issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The current state and cultural politic state of the Suomi-koulu can be described as good and stable. The number of the schools as well as the number of student have increased between the years 2009 and 2015. The cultural politic state can be argued by the two documents studied. Four repetative themes were found to support this view. The themes were identity, value of culture, culture heritage and export of culture. All these themes speak on behalf of the Suomi-koulu being important to the individual, to different communities and to the state of Finland. Many aspects such as long history, active support from the Ministry of Education and Culture, committed teachers and parents, increasing emigration from Finland and the overall appreciation for the Finnish culture have had an effect to the good present state of Suomi-koulu.