Kummi Family Programme

The Kummi Family Programme is open to international degree students studying at the University of Oulu. One student can participate in the programme once for one academic year, even if the student's degree programme may be longer.

The programme does not include accommodation. Students live independently in their apartments, not at the kummi family's home.

Students participating in the programme will be connected with a local family and become “kummiteltavat." Spending time with kummi families allows students to immerse themselves in Finnish culture while sharing their own culture with the family.

It is up to the students and families to decide how they spend time together and what activities they do. For instance, you could go berry picking, make dinner together, host a movie night, attend a hockey game, spend a weekend at the kummi family’s summer cottage or walk the kummi family dog with your kummi siblings.

Please note that as there are many different families and students with different interests participating in the programme, each experience and relationship is unique.

All families living in the Oulu region are welcome to participate in the Kummi Family Programme. Families can have diverse backgrounds regarding their family type, status, interests and hobbies. There are no prerequisites, the most important thing is that the family is genuinely interested in spending time with their kummi student. No matter your family status, we welcome you to participate!

We wish that the Kummi families:

• Are genuinely interested in the programme and intercultural experiences.
• Have at least one family member who is able to communicate (even at the basic level) in a language other than Finnish. Do keep in mind that many international students wish to learn Finnish, too.
• Are willing to commit to the principles of the Kummi Family Programme.

The Kummi Family and the student are expected to be interested in cultural exchange and willing to commit to the programme. The family, at least one family member, should be able to communicate in some other language than Finnish. Participants should make sure to have enough free time to meet each other.

The programme runs September-May each academic year. The application period for students varies and will be announced through for example the student Intranet. Families can sign up for the programme year-round through the Kummi Family Programme website. Families and students will be matched based on the information in their applications. The university cannot guarantee a Kummi Family for all students nor a student for all aspiring Kummi Families.

The university organises a get-together meeting in the beginning the autumn semester. The family and the student then plan and decide together how often they meet and how they wish to spend their time together between September-May.

The core idea of the programme is to promote understanding and friendship across cultures. The students and families are expected to act respectfully towards each other. The student’s as well as the family’s welfare, safety and cultural differences must be taken into consideration. The student or the Kummi Family must not cause any harm to each other.

The student has no obligation to work for the Kummi Family, for example as a babysitter. The Kummi Family is not responsible for the student’s everyday life arrangements, such as housing and banking. The Kummi Family does not have any financial responsibilities for the student. The Kummi Family is not expected to provide the student with a special and costly free-time activity, such as trips.

Taking part in the Kummi Family Programme is voluntary for both the student and the family. If you have any problems with your family or student that you cannot talk through, please let the Kummi Family Programme contact person know at your earliest convenience. Both parties have a right to withdraw from the programme.

The university has the right to choose the families and the students for the programme on the basis of applications. The university has a right to remove a student or a family from the programme if necessary.

The Kummi Family programme, as well as the meetings organised by the university, are regarded as a free-time activity. Please make sure you have adequate insurance cover. The University does not provide an insurance for the participants.