This spring, more than 360 scholarships, grants and prizes from the University of Helsinki's own funds were awarded to students and researchers. The funds are based on donations to the University of Helsinki.
The University's endowment funds provide around €400 000 annually in the form of individual scholarships, grants or prizes. The various amounts of funding include working grants, travel grants to enhance the international character of studies and research, support for writing a Master's thesis and prizes for good academic performance at various stages of studies. In addition, the endowment funds provide several million euros each year to support research and teaching activities based on endowments, as well as direct support to research teams.
Science gives direction and creates hope
A record number of more than 250 students and researchers turned out this year for the annual celebration of grants and donors to celebrate meaningful and impactful donations with donors, university personnel and friends of the university. The joy of encounters was strongly present at the celebration. For students, the scholarships are a recognition of their work, a way to support the meaning of their studies and an incentive to continue on their career path. For researchers, a fellowship can open up new horizons, for example in terms of equipment procurement or building international cooperation.
Speakers at the event reflected on the unknown future and on science's ability to provide direction and hope. Artificial intelligence researcher and Associate Professor Linda Mannila stressed the importance of human interaction, Professor of Education Minna Huotilainen highlighted the ability of learners to adapt and Joona Aaltonen, Liaison Manager of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, discussed the importance of universities.
Lotta Vuorio, a PhD researcher and a member of the University of Helsinki's 30 under 30 list, published in spring 2025, summed up the importance of science:
"Many events in the past have been the end result of chance and misadventure, which also tells us that the future is difficult to predict. To prepare for the future in the best possible way, it is better to know more than less and to keep our scientific shoulders broad."
Anna Herlin, Development Director of the TAH Foundation and member of the Board of Directors, highlighted the importance of collaboration in creating hope.
"In addition to science, in my own experience, bringing people together gives direction and conditions for action and thus becomes a source of legitimate hope. I believe that one of the happy, central honorary mission of universities and other institutions is to enable them to act as a crossroads for individuals."
The mini biographies of the funds also shed light on the world of the past
Rector Sari Lindblom and Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri's thanks to donors span centuries of history.
"Our funds have been built over generations and their impact has been proven in many situations. Today, we are grateful to all those who have helped build this legacy - the founders, donors and supporters whose contributions continue to be visible and influential for generations of students and researchers. Giving is a way to truly contribute to your values in the long term," said Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri.
The results of the work of 13 history students were also published during the scholarship and donor celebrations: a compilation of the mini-biographies of donors to the University of Helsinki funds. The students of the Faculty of Arts' Working Life course immersed themselves in the lives of the donors to the funds in autumn 2024, when each student wrote 2-3 mini biographies of donors who lived in the 1700s-2000s. The students' mini-biographies provide interesting chronicles, tell inspiring personal stories and highlight the importance of donors to the university over the centuries. The course also aimed to show how history studies and research skills can be used in professional life. The course was taught by Sakari Siltala, historian and award-winning non-fiction writer.
