SPOTLIGHT
Making a Difference: The University of Helsinki Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of SYLFF
By Isamu Maruyama
Isamu Maruyama, senior officer in the scholarship Division, writes about the 10th-anniversary celebration of the SYLFF Program, held at the University of Helsinki, Finland, on October 18, 2001 The university, which awards fellowships to graduate students pursuing studies in international relations Asian and African studies, and social and cultural anthropology, was presented the 32nd SYLFF endowment in December 1991.
The 10th anniversary of the establishment of SYLFF was celebrated at the University of Helsinki on October 18, 2001. The celebration, which took place in the main building of the university, was attended by some 40 people. Among the participants were Dr. Kari Raivio, rector of the University of Helsinki; Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, president of The Nippon Foundation; Norimasa Hasegawa, Japan's ambassador to Finland; and Dr. Reijo Vihko, president of the Academy of Finland; as well as current and former recipients of SYLFF fellowships.
Rector Raivio, in concluding his opening remarks at the 10th-anniversary celebration, related the following story:
A young man went running on the seashore one morning as the tide was receding. The beach was full of starfish that had been stranded, and they were starting to dry up due to the heat from the sun. The young man then noticed an elderly gentleman in front of him, bending and picking up the starfish and throwing them into the ocean, one after another. Puzzled by this seemingly futile effort, the young man asked, "What are you doing? You are throwing these starfish back into the sea, but can't you see there are thousands of them here. You cannot possibly throw all of them into the safety of the waves. What difference does it make?" The elderly man looked at the starfish in his hand, threw it into the ocean, and said, "For that particular starfish, it does make a difference."
Mr. Sasakawa speaking with University of Helsinki students.
Rector Raivio and Mr. Sasakawa exchanging greetings at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the SYLFF Program.
Rector Raivio compared the actions of the elderly gentleman to the untiring efforts of The Nippon Foundation on behalf of the less fortunate, especially those in developing countries, noting that the effort to make a lifetime difference in the lives of young people is the spirit of the SYLFF Program.
SYLFF at the University of Helsinki
Established in 1640, the University of Helsinki is the oldest and largest academic institution in Finland. Its nine faculties represent most fields of learning except technology and business, and instruction at the university is given in both Finnish and Swedish. This comprehensive university provides a diverse environment for students who are interested in complementing specialized studies with elements from other disciplines.
Dr. Klaus Helkama, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and member of the SYLFF steering committee, who has been involved in the SYLFF Program since its early years, talked about his experiences and reflections during the past 10 years. He discussed some of the criteria by which the committee selects the "best and brightest" fellows from among the highly-qualified candidates. On the basis of fundamental criteria such as intellectual and academic excellence, enthusiasm, maximum-age limit (35 years old), and leadership qualities, a variety of factors―such as research areas, faculties, nationalities of the students, and gender―are taken into consideration. So far, 27 one-year fellowships have been awarded to 26 students (1 student was supported for two years).
Opening Your Eyes to the World
Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, president of The Nippon Foundation, encouraged the SYLFF fellows by his speech, saying:
I am certain that the recipients of SYLFF fellowships are the "best and brightest" students in this university, people who will soon become outstanding figures in their respective fields. However, I encourage you not to become complacent after receiving honors. I exhort you to open your eyes and minds to manifold challenges, and to have the courage and commitment to work to make a better world.
He emphasized that the very core and spirit of the SYLFF Program is to foster leaders who transcend the boundaries of nations, ethnicity, cultures, and beliefs, so as to proactively meet local, national, regional, and global challenges.
Rector Kari Raivio giving the opening remarks at the 10th-anniversary celebration.
Ms. Sari Inkinen
Mr.Antti Leppänen
Mr. Kamrul Hossain
Following Mr. Sasakawa's speech, three fellows at the university shared with the audience what the SYLFF fellowships had meant to them. These students represented the diversity of fellows, disciplines and backgrounds. Mr. Kamrul Hossain, from Bangladesh, specializes in international law, and his research focuses on the UN Security Council and its activities under Article 39 of the UN Charter. Mr. Antti Leppänen is a Ph.D. candidate in cultural anthropology who is specializing in small businesses in South Korea. Ms. Sari Inkinen, a political science major, is conducting research on diplomatic relations between Finland and China during the period of 1919-1989. A11 of them impressed us with their commitment to and enthusiasm regarding their research. They are also well aware of the international and leadership dimensions of the SYLFF program, and they are seriously committed to its goals.
Although the University of Helsinki's 26 SYLFF fellows represent only one-third of one percent of the total of nearly 8,000 SYLFF fellows throughout the world, we should keep in mind that the impact of the SYLFF Program is not necessarily proportionate to the number of fellows. I am confident that the SYLFF Program will not only make a difference in the life of each fellowship recipient, but―if these talented fellows work together with enthusiasm, commitment, and patience for the betterment of society-they will make a great difference in this world, in which intolerance, hostility, and antagonism still threaten us.
