Aalto University: President Teeri challenged political parties to make education and research an election theme

Almost five hundred Aalto staff and students and cooperation partners took part in the event. The programme included a joint dialogue by President Tuula Teeri and Piia Kuosmanen, President of the Aalto University Student Union. State Secretary Olli-Pekka Heinonen presented a message from the State.

The Aalto Talk was given by newly appointed Aalto Distinguished Professor Erkki Oja from the School of Science. This title is given to an exceptionally deserving university professor. Oja is one of the world’s most widely cited researchers in the field of machine learning and data analysis.

The Aalto Act of the Year Award, which is aimed providing recognition to a significant initiative or activity within the university, was also presented at the ceremony. The Aalto Act of the Year was awarded to Aalto University Executive Education (Aalto EE), which is a leading management education institute in the Nordic countries. The grounds for the award emphasised that an increase of nearly 50% in operations in a few years in a highly competitive international market has been the result of persistent hard work.

‘People say that elections are not won or lost on research and education matters. However, since we are now aiming to become the most competent nation in the world, I would like to present Finnish political parties with a challenge. Who is bold enough to make strengthening the preconditions for education and research a central election theme?’

Teeri emphasised that university activities are based on international competition. Finland has to have top researchers if it wants to be successful. ‘Failure to succeed in this competition means that, over time, Finnish industry will not have anything to utilise’, said Teeri.

High-quality research also requires investments in equipment and facilities. ‘State funding of Finnish universities still does not take technology and, for example, the experimental infrastructure of our creative industries and the related need for special facilities, sufficiently into consideration – not just in research and artistic work but also in education’, stated Teeri.

According to Teeri, the enthusiasm of Aalto University students regarding start-up entrepreneurship could well be the key to increasing the number of small and medium-sized enterprises in the future. ‘Finland is rapidly becoming the most interesting start-up ecosystem in Northern Europe. This is a good example of how encouraging and trusting students can produce results in a rather short time.’

Universities have to compete with quality in a new type of operating environment

Piia Kuosmanen, chair of the Aalto University Student Union, encouraged people towards bold, high-quality education. ‘The time when university teaching focused on pouring information into a student’s head is over. China awards six million master’s degrees each year. The size of our age groups is less than 60,000 people. We have to compete with quality.’

According to Kuosmanen, instead of turning out rank and file graduates, a university has to produce passionate young people who understand themselves and are ready to meet the challenges of the world – responsible young adults. ‘I believe that Aalto University can succeed in this task.’

State Secretary Olli-Pekka Heinonen's speech focused on the changed role of universities now that historical institutions have been dismantled.  In addition to teaching and research, Heinonen believes that universities as work communities have a significant influence on the kind of work and management culture that the strengths of Finnish society become.

 ‘I have brought the permanent secretaries from all of the ministries to visit Aalto University and I could see the empowering impact that this short visit had on them. I believe that this is where we can find the keys to how we Finns will, once again, not only get down to business but also accomplish things in a new operating environment.’