Students at the Helsinki School of Natural Sciences, Upper Secondary School, more familiarly known as Hellu, have been able to take part in a unique course on the Arctic region that is being carried out in cooperation with many subjects. The topics discussed on the course this academic year have included, among others, the Arctic Council, the indigenous peoples of the Arctic region, protection of the Arctic forests and climate change. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been involved in composing the course from the beginning.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Soini will attend the Council of Europe Winter Session in Strasbourg on 21–22 January and hold a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in the capacity of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet in Brussels on 21 January. Finland's representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini. On the morning of the day of the meeting, Finland will host an unofficial ministerial mediation breakfast, which will be attended by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and representatives of African youth.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has published the results of the job satisfaction survey of 2018. Job satisfaction remained at the same level as in the previous year. In the Ministry, the figures correspond to the average survey results in central government. On the scale of school grades, job satisfaction is eight on average.

At the presidential session on Friday 18 January, the President of the Republic decided to appoint new heads of mission to New York, Strasbourg and Tel Aviv.