Non-Degree / Dates: 14 July - 1 August 2025

15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 July 2025

As Estonia is one of the Uralic nations, it is the best place to get to know Finno-Ugric cultures! A 6-day workshop on Finno-Ugric Studies provides an overview of the Finno-Ugric nations’ history, culture, and modern developments.

As the scientists found out, the Finno-Ugric peoples have inhabited the European continent for around ten thousand years. Mainly, they live in the territory of Estonia, Russia, Finland, and Hungary. How these countries are connected? During the workshop, we will study how the Hungarians, Finns, Estonians, Sami, Komi, Mansi, and many other Finno-Ugric nations are related to each other, how they settled so far from each other, and what are the roots of their origin. The topics covered by the course include not only the history of the Uralic peoples, but also contemporary politics, modern forms of cooperation, and cultural trends. We will have a chance to learn the basics of some Finno-Ugric languages and talk to representatives of some organizations working with Finno-Ugric issues (for example, NPO Fenno-Ugria, NGO Komi Cultural Society).

Teacher(s)

The workshop is led by Anna Kuznetsova.

Anna Kuznetsova – MA in History and a PhD candidate working on the research on language policies and institutions of ethnopolitics in Finno-Ugric regions. Anna was also the head of the Estonian NGO Hõimulõimed and Society Fenno-Ugria Noored, Board member of the NPO Fenno-Ugria dealing with developing and promoting Finno-Ugric cultures and cooperation.

Timetable

15.07.2025 at 14:30 – 16:00 Lecture: Origin and history of the Finno-Ugric peoples. Socio-economic situations and modern political developments in Russian Finno-Ugric regions

17.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 Lecture: Estonian and other European Finno-Ugric peoples: definition, self-identity, history, culture

22.07.2025 at 14:30 – 16:00 Seminar on Finno-Ugric traditional and modern culture

24.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 – Study visit to the NPO Fenno-Ugria (a subject to change) 

29.07.2025 at 14:30 – 16:00 – Guest lecture or study visit to an exhibition (TBC)

31.07.2025 at 17:00 – 18:30 – Seminar on Komi culture and language (a subject to change)

PARTICIPANTS

The course is open to everyone interested in the topic.

Credit points

Optional: Students will be awarded 1 ECTS for full participation and satisfactory completion of a 2000-word written assignment

Course fee

120 EUR

NB! Accommodationcultural programme and meals are not included in the price.

"BOTH PROFESSORS WERE AMAZING, WITH DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND WAYS OF TEACHING. THE COURSE IN GENERAL WAS INTERESTING, I LEARNED A LOT AND AT THE END THE SPECIAL GUEST GAVE US INFORMATION IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS REGARDING THE COURSE. I WILL RECOMMEND CONTINUING THIS TYPE OF COURSES IN THE NEXT SUMMER SCHOOLS"

Ester, Guatemala
Introduction to Estonia and Finno-Ugric Cultures and Nations course (Online edition)

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