Category: Internship

My name is Saana Majander and I am a research intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from August to October 2020. I study law at the University of Helsinki and will write my bachelor’s thesis in the upcoming spring. At the Peace Institute, I assist with a research project that focuses on the impact that the EU-membership has had on the Åland Islands, especially with questions concerning the law-making on the Åland Islands. The internship gives me a fascinating opportunity to learn more about topics that interest me in my law studies, especially how the effectiveness of laws can be improved. At the Peace Institute, I get the chance to examine the legislative process in the unique context of the territorial autonomy of the Åland Islands. During the internship, I will also work with the e-course ”Territorial Autonomy as a Tool for Diversity Management: Lessons from the Åland Example”

Elvira Jansson, is 21 years old and is currently studying social work at Novia University of Applied Science in Turku. She is on her fourth semester and her Bachelor of Social Services is due in 2021. This spring she will do an internship at the Åland Mediation Office. I enjoy my social work studies, and the education also matches my own interests such as humans, relationships, society and social behaviour. I am very happy for the opportunity to do an internship at the Åland Mediation Office as I want to learn more about mediation and how it works in practice. I also look forward to learn about various tools and methods that promote conflict resolution, since I am convinced that you will have a great benefit from that kind of knowledge in your work life.

Mari Ek is a research intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from February to April 2020. In her studies in the Master’s programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research at the University of Tampere, she has focused on human rights, migration, humanitarian aid and gender-based violence. During her internship at the Peace Institute, Mari will assist in e.g. research projects, publication databases and in organizational tasks related to the Kastelholm Talks on Peace.

Calle Koskela is a research intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from September 2019. Originally Calle is from Vaasa, and currently he studies political history at the University of Helsinki. His goal is to finish his master’s thesis during 2020. During his internship at the Peace Institute Calle will assist with publications and research applications.

Karoliina Paakkinen is a communications intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from August to October. She will work with the renewal of the website of the Peace Institute and with other communications tasks. In addition, she will assist at conferences and presentations where the Peace Institute takes part. Karoliina studies Social Sciences at Tampere University and she is writing her Master’s thesis about Zambian female politicians’ possibilities to participate in the decision-making processes.

Jack Hancock is currently attending the local gymnasium Ålands Lyceum and will during the summer assist the Peace Institute in its activities within the month of June. During his time at the Peace Institute he will help with the preparations, implementation and the participation of the event Alandica Debatt. In addition to this he will also assist in the development of a cooperation with the Social Studies education at Ålands Lyceum about the “Åland Example”. A written article for the recurring stand-alone paper Fredsposten about the “Alandic Youthorganisation for the Environement” (AYE) and their opinions relating to peace, will also be included as part of his work at the institute. Supervisor is Petra Granholm.

Mirjam Granström has been a research intern at the Åland Islands Peace Institute from March to May 2019. Here are her reflections on the internship period: The core reason for my interest in an internship at the Åland Peace Institute was that I wanted to become better acquainted with research and with issues that the Institute is working on in the field of peace, security and minorities. When I think back on my internship, I realise that in addition to gaining an insight into how the Institute works with research, I have really become aware of what Åland’s special status entails. As a Swedish-speaking Finn I have read about the “Åland example” in history class, but it was only during the internship period that I really understood what this special position entails and how Åland can serve as an example of a peaceful solution of a minority conflict. In practice, I have had the opportunity to work on the development of the e-course “Territorial Autonomy as a Tool for Diversity Management: Lessons from the Åland Example”, I have participated in the Kastelholm talks and in various seminars concerning questions about the special position of Åland, the position of the Swedish