Three exciting new virtual courses in the UniPID 2025-2026 offering!

The 2025 academic year is already off to a promising start! UniPID is expanding its Virtual Studies program with three new courses that explore global issues ranging from climate mobility to trademark law and conflict resolution. These additions reflect UniPID’s ongoing commitment, providing students with access to high quality courses on sustainable development pathways and opportunities to collaborate with peers from the Global South. Curious about what’s ahead? Let’s take a closer look!

Spring is blooming in Finland, and while the current academic year nears its end, UniPID is already busy preparing for autumn. Earlier this year, we closed our annual call for course proposals. We were delighted by the diversity and quality of applications but that also meant a very challenging job for our evaluation committee!

The UniPID Virtual Studies programme continues to be a cornerstone of our Education Pillar. Through this programme, we strive to ensure that students have access to high-quality courses that emphasize global responsibility and sustainable development, enriched by collaborative efforts between our member universities and partners in the Global South. These courses are designed to spark critical thinking and foster meaningful academic exchange across borders.

Each year, UniPID identifies thematic priorities to enrich our course catalogue, based on student feedback and current debates in the field of development studies. This year, we placed particular emphasis on proposals that explore decolonial studies, climate justice, environmental conflicts, global health, human rights, academic freedom and local initiatives on development.

After a thorough selection process, we are happy to announce the launch of three new online courses for the 2025 academic year:

• The Power Dynamics Between Global North and Global South in Addressing Climate Mobilities (Tampere University)
• Brands, Trademark Law, and Sustainability: Lessons for the Global South (Hanken School of Economics)
• Collaborative Approaches and Conflict Resolution Strategies for Sustainability Challenges (University of Eastern Finland)

These new additions to our virtual studies catalogue highlight the importance of academic partnerships between institutions in Finland and the Global South. The selected courses bring forward perspectives from the Global South, with several being developed in collaboration with partner institutions in the region. This approach brings diverse insights to the forefront, enriching the learning experience for students in Finland and internationally.

We are excited to see these courses delivered through joint efforts with institutions such as Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (Indonesia), the College of Business Education (Tanzania), and Hanken School of Economics, Tampere University and University of Eastern Finland. These collaborations are at the heart of what UniPID aims to achieve: more inclusive education that reflects global challenges and encourages critical dialogue. Let’s have a deeper look at the new courses.

The Power Dynamics Between Global North and Global South in Addressing Climate Mobilities (Tampere University)
This interdisciplinary course investigates how environmental change drives migration and how political responses especially from the European Union fail to fully address the interlinked nature of climate and mobility. Students will explore concepts like climate-induced displacement, adaptation, and resilience, with strong attention to Global South perspectives. Guest lectures from Global South scholars will add further depth to the curriculum.

Brands, Trademark Law, and Sustainability: Lessons for the Global South (Hanken School of Economics)
Focusing on the legal and social dimensions of branding, this course explores how trademark law can either support or hinder sustainable practices. From cultural hegemony to greenwashing, the course unpacks legal challenges in global development through real-world case studies, particularly from the Global South. It welcomes students from both legal and non-legal backgrounds.

We are especially pleased to feature this course as Hanken School of Economics is our newest member. Read more about it here.

Collaborative Approaches and Conflict Resolution Strategies for Sustainability Challenges (University of Eastern Finland, College of Business Education – Tanzania, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta – Indonesia)
Developed through a well-established North–South and South–South partnership, this course brings together theory and practice on conflict resolution and collaborative governance. It combines asynchronous learning with interactive live sessions and case studies from Indonesia and Tanzania. Students will gain practical skills in negotiation, facilitation, and participatory problem-solving all in a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary context.

What’s next? Are you ready to explore new perspectives?
Are you a student interested in global development, law and sustainability, climate justice, or collaboration across borders? These new UniPID courses are designed for you! With engaging methods and inclusive partnerships, they welcome perspectives, voices and experiences of those interested in global challenges and development studies.

May you be our next UniPID student? Stay tuned to our social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn), website, and mailing list to be among the first to know about our virtual studies catalogue for the next academic year.

Photo credits: Alexander Abero, 2019 on Unsplash.