About the Finnish Studies Program
Finnish Studies is a research area within the humanities and social sciences that not only includes the obvious fields of Finnish language, literature, culture, and history but also more broadly any field of inquiry which includes Finland as an object of study.
The University of Minnesota is one of the few universities in North America to offer courses every year in beginning, intermediate, and advanced Finnish. In September 1989, a Visiting Professorship in Finnish Studies was created with the joint efforts of the Government of Finland, the University of Minnesota, and David and Nancy Speer. Each year, the University hosts one or more visiting professors from Finnish universities in various fields in humanities and the social sciences. See the "People" link on the left for information about current and past visiting faculty.
*What's currently happening in Finnish Studies*
Job posting: Visiting Professor in Finnish Studies sought
University of Minnesota
College of Liberal Arts
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer
Visiting Professorship in Finnish Studies
The College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a full-time, 9-month appointment as Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professor in Finnish Studies beginning fall semester 2008. This appointment is for academic year 2008/09, 25 August 2008 to 24 May 2009, with the possibility of renewal for one or two additional academic years.
The University of Minnesota is a major research university serving undergraduate and graduate students, and is the only Ph.D. granting institution in the state of Minnesota. Its main campus is in the large metropolitan area of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The Government of Finland/David and Nancy Speer Visiting Professorship was created in 1989 to stimulate interest in Finland; to raise awareness of unique and important Finnish contributions in cultural, political, and social spheres; and to establish new networks between scholars in Finland and the United States.
The University of Minnesota is currently soliciting applications from Finnish scholars and creative artists in the following fields:
Music : ethnomusicology or music education
Theatre Arts: design/technology or historiography
Art: photography
Position: Full-time, nine-month academic year position at the rank of visiting professor, visiting associate professor, or visiting assistant professor, based on the rank held at the home institution. Scholars and creative artists from non-academic institutions will be appointed depending on qualifications and experience, and consistent with Collegiate and University policy.
Responsibilities: The Visiting Professor will teach no more than three courses per academic year at the undergraduate and/or graduate level (including seminars) arranged according to the candidate’s expertise, curricular needs of the department, and in consideration of the mission of the Professorship. The Visiting Professor will also organize and coordinate research/creative, teaching and outreach activities; participate in efforts to promote wider interest in Finland; and strengthen ties between Finland, the University, and the arts, business, or political communities in the region.
Qualifications: Ph.D., M.F.A., M.M.A, or equivalent terminal degree in Music, Theatre, Art or related field, or commensurate professional achievement and recognition; two years university-level teaching or equivalent professional experience; and proficiency in the English language are required.
Appointment: Initial term of appointment is for academic year 2008/09 (25 August 2008 to 24 May 2009). Appointment is annually renewable for up to two additional years, subject to performance and availability of funding. The University is especially interested in receiving applications from candidates willing to teach at Minnesota for two to three years. Salary is competitive, based on qualifications and experience. Benefits are commensurate with visiting faculty appointment.
Candidates should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae (including publications and exhibitions), a two-page statement of research/creative work and teaching interests with an explanation of how these interests will contribute to the development of multidisciplinary Finnish Studies, and names and addresses of three references. In addition photography candidates should send a portfolio of 20 high quality digital images of work completed within the last five years; design candidates should send high quality digital images of creative work; music candidates may send CDs of creative work. All materials should be sent to:
Ms. Annu Jylhä-Pyykönen
Director
Ministry of Education / Department for Education & Science Policy Division
Division for Higher Education & Science/Research
P.O. Box 29
FIN-00023 Government
Finland
Please note that all application materials must be submitted in English. For technical questions about the position, please contact Ms. Annu Jylhä-Pyykönen (annu.jylha-pyykonen@minedu.fi, tel. +358-9-16077200), Ministry of Education / International Relations, Finland. For further substantive information or questions about the position, please contact Dr. Evelyn Davidheiser (edavidh@umn.edu), Director, Institute for Global Studies, University of Minnesota.
Application deadline: 15 January 2008. Applications will be reviewed initially in Finland and interviews will be conducted in Finland by a committee appointed by the Ministry of Education and by representatives of the University of Minnesota. Selection of finalists will be determined by the University of Minnesota by 1 March 2008.
For additional information please see http://finnish.umn.edu/
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.