ºÚÁÏÃÅ

Contemporary Finland: The World’s Happiest Country
Three In-Person Sessions
Wed., Sept. 3, 10, 17, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

For eight consecutive years, 2018-2025, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world according to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network World Happiness Report. What’s more, Finland ranks consistently high on global comparisons of equity, education, personal safety, wellness and mutual trustꟷand low on corruption, crime and pollution.

With about 5.6 million people, Finland has a low population density of 49 people per square mile. In this beautiful and lush land of forests and lakes, berries and fish, the people live in a symbiotic relationship with the country’s complex and diverse nature that supports many types of flora and fauna. The Finns are known for their dedication to preventing environmental pollution and boosting sustainability as they carefully manage their natural resources. In fact, the Finnish government has set a goal to make Finland carbon-neutral by 2035 and carbon-negative soon after that.

Join DU adjunct faculty Ann Mäkikalli, who lived and taught in Finland for nearly 10 years, for a fun and informative historical and cultural exploration of Finnish society. Discover how Finland thrives with equality and trust. Learn about the prevailing mindset of the Finns. Delve into the reasons why the Finnish lifestyle lends itself to satisfaction and happiness. And meet a Finnish guest speaker who discusses modern politics and explains the framework of the multi-party system which minimizes the possibility of a single party dominating power.

Finally, explore the mainstays of Finnish food and drink, which have been greatly influenced by sustainable, local food sources. Sample some tasty Finnish treats at each session.

Come away with a deeper appreciation for contemporary Finnish society, politics, cuisine and much more.

is adjunct faculty at the ºÚÁÏÃÅ’s Office of Internationalization. She lived in Finland for 10 years and taught English and U.S. culture at the University of Turku, Finland. She has traveled extensively in all five of the Nordic countries and their neighboring countries.