Dr Pirjo Suvilehto was the substantive supervisor at the University of Oulu.
The internship included collaboration in an international research team focusing on the issues of storytelling, sustainable development and intergenerational management, including an analysis of the work of Tove Jansson and the concept of Moomin management in the context of contemporary organisations.
For the research team, this was an opportunity to see how academic postulates of "mental ecology" function in everyday social practice. The atmosphere as Oulu was preparing to become European Capital of Culture 2026 was an additional incentive. The city prioritises culture as a space for dialogue, which aligns with our research on the role of narrative in building a community
– explains Prof. dr hab. Jarosław Płuciennik.
As part of the stay, two scientific seminars were carried out ("Storytelling as a Tool for Sustainability and Intergenerational Management: Research Design and Pilot Findings" — Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu and "Research on Sustainability, Storytelling and Intergenerational Management at the University of Lodz (Poland) and the University of Oulu (Finland): research framework and pilot study results" — Faculty of Education, University of Lapland - Rovaniemi). The scientists from Lodz also participated in the seminar entitled "Playfulness in the Workplace" led by Dr. Marjaana Kangas (University of Lapland).
Additionally, during the internship, work was conducted on a research project with an international research team and the preparation of a scientific publication. The stay in Finland was used to collect research materials. Researchers from the University of Lodz conducted methodological consultations and qualitative research planning, carried out study visits related to culture, education and sustainable development initiatives in Finland. What is more, they established collaborations with experts in the fields of literary education, art pedagogy, bibliotherapy and the concept of Moomin management.
Activities combining science, culture and well-being – including study visits, seminars and cooperation with Finnish researchers – were particularly inspiring.
The trip to Oulu confirmed that membership in the UNIC Alliance is a real tool for building an international research career. We return with a specific publishing plan and the conviction that the most valuable projects arise where the formal structure of a university meets authentic exchange of ideas – even if it takes place in the Arctic cold
– concludes Prof. Płuciennik.
