Social Democracy, Social Policy, & Saunas in Suomi
2009 Exploration Seminar in Finland
Program Director: Charles Emlet & Janice Laakso (Social Work)
Dates of Instruction: August 26 - September 15, 2009
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2009. PLEASE CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLORATION SEMINAR PROGRAM!
In this 3-week program we will learn about the Nordic social welfare system, and the culture of Finland—including their saunas. This seminar will provide a cross-cultural experience of the uniqueness of this member of the European Union, and its social history, with its ties to Sweden and Russia, and its move toward social democracy. Social policy and the social service delivery systems including universal health care, universal day care, family medical/maternity leave and elder care will be the focus of our studies.
Video of Finland: http://abcnews.go.com/gma/video/playerIndex?id=7074834
How might we conceptualize these universal policies and programs in our country? In what way do they bring social justice in comparison to our country? What is their policy toward native and immigrant groups? What are the emergent social problems in Finland and how do they differ from the U.S.? How do ideology, societal values and social policy shape service delivery?
Our trip begins in Helsinki, visiting the Parliament building, National Museum and social service agencies. Next is a week in Tampere, the 3rd largest city in Finland, meeting with professors and students from the University of Tampere, and visiting the Finnish Labour Museum, the Lenin Tamperemuseum, the University Hospital, and other agencies.
We will move on to the coastal city of Pori, where professors and students from a branch of the University of will share knowledge about social policy and take us to a seaside sauna. Finally we will take an overnight train to  Rovaneimi, gateway to the Arctic Circle to study the land of the Laplanders, visit Santa Claus and tour the Arktikum, a museum and science centre of Lapland’s history, traditions, and the environment of the Arctic, including global impacts of the changing Arctic region.
Students will be housed in hostels and use train transportation to move about the country.
Credits: Participants will earn 5 credits of TSOCWF 451 (I&S), International Social Policy and Programs: Comparisons between Finland and the United States. Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.
Student Costs:
 The Program fee covers 21 nights in 4 person hostel rooms with kitchen facilities (some weekends will be free time for students to explore or travel to nearby locations like Tallin, Estonia or further into the Arctic Circle region). 16 days of activities including lectures by local speakers, transportation between cities included in the seminar, museum fees, sauna visits, and two group meals.
Additional expenses include: round trip travel to Helsinki, health insurance, meals (except meals included in program fee) and personal expenses and passport fees.
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