Programme

Please note that the programme is subject to change.

Wed 25.2.2026

Pre-conference events

12.00–15.00 Master’s Workshop 2026 | “Navigating the Road to Completion”
13.00–15.00 DocShop2026 | “Beyond Academia: Doing Development Research in Different Fields” (Resource Persons: Maaria Seppanen, Heini Vihemäki, Axel Sointu, Joni Valkila, Outi Hakkarainen, and Nea-Mari Heinonen)
17.00–19.00 Public Forum | “Whose Future? Global Visions in a Contested World” with the conference keynote speakers Walden Bello, Robtel Neajai Pailey, and Alfredo Saad-Filho, co-organized by Global Visions and Finnish Society for Development Research, moderated by Max Tallberg and Astrid Aminoff (Think Corner)

Thu 26.2.2026

Conference Day 1

08.30–09.00 Registration (Small Festive Hall foyer)
09.00–09.15 Opening of the conference and welcome remarks: Bonn Juego, Chair of the FSDR & Senior Lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä
09.15–10.00 Keynote Lecture: Walden Bello, “Revisiting Deglobalization in an Era of Geopolitical Competition”

  • Commentator: Liisa Laakso, Chair, Human Rights Committee, Council of Finnish Academies
  • Commentator: Erkki Tuomioja, Founder, Historians without Borders & Former Minister, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
  • Chair: Teivo Teivainen, Research Director, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies

10.00–10.30 Q&A: open forum/discussion
10.30–12.00 Keynote Conversation: Robtel Neajai Pailey, “Alternative Development in a Post-Aid World”

  • Facilitator: Eija Ranta, Academy of Finland Research Fellow
  • Commentator: Juhani Koponen, Professor Emeritus, University of Helsinki & FSDR Honorary Member

12.00–13.00 Lunch break
13.00–14.30 Working Groups I (parallel sessions: onsite/hybrid/online)
14.30–15.00 Coffee break
15.00–16.30 Working Groups II (parallel sessions: onsite/hybrid/online)
16.30–18.00 Working Groups III (parallel sessions: onsite/hybrid/online)
18.15-18.45 Announcement of the Master’s Thesis Award in Development Studies (UniPID)
19.00–20.00 Conference reception hosted by the City of Helsinki (Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13)

Fri 27.2.2026

Conference Day 2

09.00-09.15 FSDR@40: “How did it begin?”, by Ullamaija Kivikuru (Professor Emerita, University of Helsinki) & Kaarle Nordenstreng (Professor Emeritus, Tampere University)
09.15–11.15 Plenary Roundtable: “The State of Development Research: Critical Perspectives from Finland, Europe, and the Global South” , with panelists:

  • Anja Nygren, Professor of Global Development Studies, University of Helsinki
  • Eleanor Fisher, Professor of International Development & Head of Research, NAI – Nordic Africa Institute
  • Alfredo Saad-Filho, Professor, Queen’s University Belfast & Vice-President, EADI – European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes
  • David Barkin, Distinguished Professor, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, México
  • Chair: Tiina Kontinen, Professor of International Development Studies, University of Jyväskylä
  • Commentator: Barry K. Gills, Professor Emeritus, University of Helsinki

11.15–12.15 Lunch
12.15–13.45 Working Groups IV (parallel sessions: onsite/hybrid/online)
13.45–14.15 Coffee break
14.15–15.45 Working Groups V (parallel sessions: onsite/hybrid)
15.45–16.15 Conference summary and closing remarks (Small Festive Hall)
16.15–16.30 Break
16.30–18.00 FSDR Annual General Meeting (Small Festive Hall)