Wikipedia

Draft:Finnish Institute in the Middle East

The Finnish Institute in the Middle East
The building of the Finnish Institute at Athens
FIME's office is located in the Chaoui Building, in Beirut
Location30 Badaro Street, Chaoui Building, Beirut
TypeAcademic institution
Founded1994
https://www.fime.fi/en/

The Finnish Institute in the Middle East (FIME)[a] is one of Finland’s four academic institutes located abroad and is part of the network of Finnish cultural and academic institutes. The institute’s purpose is to support research and teaching related to the languages, cultures, religions, and societies of the Middle East, as well as to promote academic and cultural cooperation between Finland and the region. In addition, the institute contributes research-based perspectives to public discussion about the Middle East in Finland.[1]

FIME was founded in 1994. Its area of operation broadly covers the entire Middle East, and it has an office in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as a representative in Cairo, Egypt. The institute’s current director is Juha Mäkelä.[2] The institute’s activities are maintained and supported by the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East. The Foundation’s funding consists of an operational grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture, as well as other grants, its own revenues, and donations.[3][3]

History

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The Foundation for the Finnish Institute in the Middle East began its operations in 1994, and the institute is the third oldest of Finland’s academic institutes operating abroad.

Background

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The roots of Finnish research on the Middle East date back to the 17th century. Middle Eastern languages began to be taught at the Academy of Turku (now the University of Helsinki) shortly after its founding in 1640.[4]  Later, the study of Middle Eastern languages, religions, and cultures became established as part of Finnish university research, particularly in the fields of theology, linguistics, and history, especially at the University of Helsinki.[5]

In the late 20th century, the international connections of Finnish Middle Eastern research strengthened, and discussions began about establishing a Finnish academic institute in the region.[6] The goal was to create a permanent base for Finnish researchers and students, as well as to strengthen scientific cooperation with universities and research institutes in Middle Eastern countries. This ultimately led to the founding of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East.

Founding

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The Foundation for the Finnish Institute in the Middle East was established in 1994. Its founders included a broad group of Finnish universities, foundations, and church organizations, reflecting its multidisciplinary research tradition.[7] The aim was to create a permanent academic institution for Finnish Middle Eastern research similar to those previously founded in Rome (1954) and Athens (1984).

In its early years, the institute did not have its own premises or full-time staff; instead, its activities were run from Finland by the Foundation’s executive together with three representatives based in the Middle East.[7]

In the early 2000s, the focus of the institute’s activities shifted to Damascus, Syria. In 2005, with support from the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, the institute acquired its own building, the so-called Zeituna House, in the Old City of Damascus. The house was restored in a way that respected local building traditions, with funding from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Svenska Kulturfonden, the University of Helsinki, Åbo Akademi, and the Thuring Foundation. The building served as the institute’s center until the Syrian civil war made operating in the country impossible.[7]  

In 2013, the institute’s office moved via Amman to Beirut, Lebanon, where it continues to operate in the Chaoui Building located in the Badaro district. The city was chosen due to its long academic tradition and multicultural environment. In addition to its Beirut office, the institute has also maintained cooperation and representatives in other cities in the region, such as Cairo.[7]

Despite the sometimes difficult and unstable conditions in the Middle East, the institute has succeeded in growing and expanding its activities and in establishing itself as an expert organization on the region.[7]

Directors

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The organization has had numerous directors since it's founding:[7]

  • Mikko Louhivuori (1998–2002)
  • Irmeli Perho (2002–2005)
  • Raija Mattila (2005–2008)
  • Hannu Juusola (2009–2010)
  • Ari Kerkkänen (2011–2014)
  • Raija Mattila (2014–2020)[8]
  • Irina Piippo (2020–2023)[9]
  • Anu Leinonen (2022 vt.)
  • Susanne Dahlgren (2023–2026)[10]
  • Juha Mäkelä (2026– )[11]

The Finnish Institute in the Middle East is an academic institute whose mission is to conduct and support research and teaching related to the Middle East, as well as to bring research-based knowledge into Finnish public and societal discussion.[1]

In addition to the director, the institute’s staff includes two researchers, a resident researcher, an administrative secretary, interns, and a representative in Cairo.[12]

Academic activities

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The institute conducts scientific research covering the classical and modern languages, cultures, religions, and societies of the Middle East. It acts as a link between Finnish and local researchers, promoting cooperation between Finnish and Middle Eastern universities and research institutions.[13]

FIME supports and hosts research projects and organizes scientific conferences, seminars, and workshops. The institute also has a Resident Scholar program[14], Research Residency program[15], and affiliated (non-resident) scholars[15]. To support research, the foundation grants scholarships for fieldwork and research in the Middle East, as well as for Arabic language studies.[16] In addition, the foundation awards the Aimo T. Nikolainen scholarship, aimed at ecumenical research, every two years; it is funded by the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni.[17] Furthermore, the Friends of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East association awards an annual master’s-level thesis scholarship to students.[18]

Education and Communication

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The institute’s educational activities focus on university-level intensive courses held in the Middle East, where participants study the region’s languages, history, and contemporary societies, as well as university courses organized in Finland or online. The institute also provides in-service training for primary and secondary school teachers.[19][20]

In addition, the institute offers open online courses related to the Middle East: A Misunderstood Religion? Basics of Islam, Understanding the Middle East Today, Israel–Palestine – what is the conflict about?, and The Age of the Cuneiform: Discover the Ancient Near East.[21][22] These online courses are free of charge and do not require prior knowledge. They can be taken as to further education or out of general interest. The courses, or parts of them, can also be applied, for example, in teaching.[21]

In its science communication, the institute uses several channels to disseminate expert knowledge:[23]

Lähi-itä NYT -blog: An expert blog, where Middle East specialists analyze, clarify, and comment on various current phenomena and events in the Middle East.

Lähi-itä NYT -podcast: In podcasts, experts are interviewed about their work, publications, research, and experiences.

Paikan päältä -blog: A blog series in which writers share their personal experiences of living and working in the Middle East.

Previously, the institute has also published the following series:

Lukemista Levantista (2011–2019): A series of accessible, science-based expert articles on topics related to the Middle East.

Mosaiikki Blog (2014–2018): The blog covered various aspects of the countries within the institute’s area of activity, and it featured contributions from Finns who had observed the Middle East on location, as well as experts on the region.

The Friends of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

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The Friends of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East association, founded in 1995, aims to support the activities of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East and to promote cultural and academic exchange between Finland and Middle Eastern countries. The association organizes, among other things, lectures, public events, and trips, and awards scholarships to students conducting research related to the Middle East.[24]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Finnish: Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti; Swedish: Finlands Mellanösterninstitut; Arabic: المعهد الفنلندي في الشرق الأوسط, romanized: al-Maʿhad al-finlandī fī š-šarq al-ʾawsaṭ

References

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  1. 1 2 "Institute". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  2. ↑ Aho, Laura (2026-02-10). "Juha Mäkelä Appointed the Next Director of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  3. 1 2 "Annual Reports". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  4. ↑ Klinge, Matti. A History of the University of Helsinki 1640–1990. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press, 1990.
  5. ↑ Hämeen-Anttila, Jaakko. “Semitic Studies in Finland.” Teoksessa Semitic Studies in Europe, toim. J. Retsö. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2012.
  6. ↑ Hämeen-Anttila, Jaakko. “Finnish Scholarship on the Middle East.” Studia Orientalia 99 (2006).
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Säätiön historia". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin säätiö (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  8. ↑ Aho, Laura (2020-06-15). "FIME kiittää eläköityvää Raija Mattilaa". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  9. ↑ Aho, Laura (2020-06-01). "Irina Piippo aloittaa Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin johtajana". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  10. ↑ "Susanne Dahlgren instituutin seuraavaksi johtajaksi". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti (in Finnish). 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  11. ↑ Aho, Laura (2026-02-10). "Juha Mäkelä Appointed the Next Director of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  12. ↑ "Personnel". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  13. ↑ "Research". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  14. ↑ "Resident Scholar Program". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  15. 1 2 "Research Residency Program". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  16. ↑ "Grants". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin säätiö. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  17. ↑ "Aimo T. Nikolainen Grant for Ecumenical Research". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin säätiö. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  18. ↑ "Current grants". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin säätiö. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  19. ↑ "Courses". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  20. ↑ "Täydennyskoulutuskurssit". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  21. 1 2 "Online Courses". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  22. ↑ Lähi-itä-verkkokurssit, FIMEn. "FIMEn Lähi-itä-verkkokurssit". FIMEn Lähi-itä-verkkokurssit. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  23. ↑ "Explore the Middle East". Suomen Lähi-idän instituutti. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  24. ↑ "Yhdistys | Suomen Lähi-idän instituutin ystävät ry" (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-06-01.

Further reading

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