Cluj Napoca, Romania
Celebrating the Finnish language in Transylvania
​I was on an Erasmus+ study trip from 12-16 November 2025 in the heart of Transylvania, in Cluj Napoca (Kolozsvár in Hungarian and Klausenburg in German). Finnish has been taught at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj since the late 19th century, and Finland has been sending foreign lecturers there since 1975. I myself was a lecturer at UBB between 2000–2002 and was thus the seventh lecturer in the series. So now it was time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lecturership.
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At the celebratory seminar, the lecturers had places of honor in the front rows. Two of my predecessors from the Helsinki upper secondary school world were also present – ​​Finnish language teacher Kirsi Seppänen from Konepaja High School and principal Sanna Manner from Helsinki Language High School. We received thanks for the work we have done, which for me is still continuing after two decades. Mayor Emil Boc emphasized that language is a bridge, not a barrier. UBB Vice-Rector Horia Poenar and Dean Rares Moldovan emphasized the importance of imagination and the courage to say important things out loud and move towards them. ​​
Cluj Mayor Emil Boc emphasized that language is a bridge, not a barrier.
Finnish language and culture were celebrated in Romania in many ways.
The Finnish Ambassador to Romania Leena Liukkonen encouraged the young translators who graduated from the department.
Life has not always been easy in Transylvania, which was evident in many speeches. The lecturers' recollections included, among other things, the listening devices in the lecturer's apartment and the difficulties in getting students passports to come to Finland for language courses. There have been challenging times for the Hungarian-speaking minority, which was strongly reflected in the lecturer's work and everyday life. Hungarian and Romanian were used equally at this celebration.
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The cooperation between TUVA and UBB in Eiran started about three years ago between native-speaking Finnish students on TUVA and Romanian-speaking Finnish students at UBB with a joint spoken Finnish course, which was done both remotely and online. Now the cooperation will continue through the Erasmus+ program. Master's student, Romanian-speaking Alexia Pintilie and Hungarian-speaking Zsófia Burkhardt, will come to visit TUVA. Arranging their funding from their home universities is, however, a challenge.
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Moods from a long seminar day.
The presenter of the inaugural lecture was given by Associate Professor Ilmari Ivaska from the University of Turku, who has studied the importance of motivation in teaching Finnish as a foreign language. According to Ivaska, background factors (such as Finnish ancestry) do not so much affect success in studies, but the ability to dream and imagine the benefits of future language skills is crucial.
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We also heard the thoughts of young Romanians who graduated with a degree in Finnish about translation and the cultural differences between Romania and Finland. In addition, children's author Markus Majaluoma introduced his career as an illustrator and author. I learned that my favorite Mikko Mallikka's father, with his pipe and slippers, is the prototype for one of Majaluoma's characters.
Cluj is also called the pearl of Transylvania - and for good reason.
Before the evening reception at the embassy, ​​Finnish Ambassador to Romania Leena Liukkonen opened a Finno-Ugric comic book exhibition. Also supporting the event were FinnAgora Director Riikkamari Muhonen and OPH’s Krista Heikkilä.
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A trip to Cluj is always rewarding with its discussions and meetings, but the journey there is long, as there is no direct flight. However, a colourful advertisement of Santa Claus was displayed on the wall of the concrete building: The Lapland boom has reached the Carpathians, as you can now take a charter flight from Cluj to go on a mini-vacation to see Santa Claus. All the distinguished guests and lecturers unanimously wished for a direct flight from Finland to Cluj.
Alexia Pintilie is coming to visit Eira TUVA in early 2026.
Both Romanian and Hungarian-language media were interested in the importance of the Finnish language and culture in Romania and covered the lecturers' party on multiple channels.