University of Oulu’s International Staff Week 2026

Preliminary Program

The week offers a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world and exchange ideas and experiences. Our guest speaker, Senior Lecturer and Lead COIL Researcher Simone Hackett from The Hague University of Applied Sciences, will provide an evidence-based perspective on COIL, drawing on her own research and established educational theories to explore its principles, practical applications, and effective design strategies. Participants will also gain insights into how the University of Oulu supports its teaching staff and promotes the wellbeing of international students through extracurricular services.

Monday: Arrival, welcome session, and campus tour.

Tuesday: Lecture on COIL led by Simone Hackett, followed by interactive workshops on COIL.

Wednesday: Showcase of University of Oulu’s best practices and a Study Abroad Fair, where participants are invited to present their home institutions to students and staff.

Thursday–Friday: Tailored meetings with faculty members (optional).

Please note that the program is preliminary and subject to change.

Oulu is European Capital of Culture 2026

As Oulu celebrates its year as the European Capital of Culture, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a vibrant selection of cultural events both on campus and around the city during your stay. The International Staff Week is part of the University of Oulu’s Oulu2026 activities and coincides with the Festival of Cultures, where our multicultural university community shares its cultural heritage through workshops and events. The International Staff Week is partially funded as part of the Festival of Cultures 2026, and Wednesday’s Study Abroad Fair is included in the official program.

Registration

Official registration will open in March. A formal invitation with detailed registration instructions will be sent to our global and UNIC European University partners. There will be no registration fee.

Arrival

You can travel to Oulu by plane, train, or bus. Oulu Airport is one of the busiest in Finland, with numerous flights landing every day. Airlines such as Finnair and Lufthansa operate flights to Oulu from several locations, and the flight from Helsinki to Oulu takes about one hour.

If you prefer to arrive by train, you can find timetables and routes on the VR website. The railway station is located in the heart of the city, just a few minutes' walk from the busiest centre. Right next to the railway station is the bus depot for all the long-distance buses.

For more information, visit the City of Oulu website.

Accommodation

There are several high-quality hotels in the city centre, including Lapland Hotels Oulu, Scandic Oulu City, Original Sokos Hotel Arina and Radisson Blu Oulu. For more information on accommodation options, visit the Visit Oulu website.