Content 8/2008
Eero Kasanen: Dare to launch into the change!
New board began its operations
Last week witnessed the entering of a new stage in founding the Aalto University and its foundation. The university foundation board was appointed and the board members held their inaugural meeting on Friday, August 15. In the meeting the members appointed D.Sc. Matti Alahuhta, President of Kone Oyj, as Chair, and Professor Marja Makarow, CEO of the European Science Foundation ESF, as Vice Chair. The other members of the board are President of Boston University Robert A. Brown, President and CEO Anne Brunila, Professor Bengt Holmström, Professor Saku Mantere and Senior Design Manager Anna Valtonen.
The newly appointed board of the Aalto University Foundation conforms to its original visualization. The board members possess strong expertise in science, art, business management and university administration. The composition of the board therefore offers a good basis for the future and the members of the board are eager to tackle the ambitious tasks of the Aalto University Foundation.
The board of the Aalto University Foundation will begin its operations by handling important issues. The first item on the agenda is the appointment process of the university rector. As soon as the rector is appointed, a normal division of work between him/her and the board will commence: the rector will take responsibility for the preparatory work and operations in cooperation with the board.
Groups involved in preparation and planning
Simultaneously, upcoming changes are under preparation. Individuals from each of the three universities have been selected to participate in the Aalto University transformation groups. The transformation groups include active key persons who are future-oriented and participate in the implementation of all the new issues. The purpose of these groups is to provide assistance to the rector and the board in the preparation for the new university.
The groups operate in accordance with board decisions and report to the board. The agenda includes, for example, change management, designing a new organization, regulations and task descriptions, as well as planning a vision and a mission. The duration of the work is about one and a half years, so that everything is finalized by the end of the year 2009. Responsibility will then be transferred from the accounting offices to the new foundation. However, it has to be remembered that parliamentary procedures may cause changes in the preparation process.
University community is actively developed
A new era has now begun in the preparations for the Aalto University. The process has not had an actual owner before, as so far the active bodies have included mainly the founding universities and the ministry consultative committee. Now the board of the university foundation and the rector to be appointed later will construct and guide this work. The transformation groups, which are the first operational bodies of the new university, provide assistance with this task.
The administrative model of the new university differs from the former. The aim is to achieve a cultural change, which will reduce bureaucracy, increase professional leadership and enhance teachers’ possibilities to focus on top-level research and teaching. Many researchers, among others, have wished for a change in this direction.
The future administration model consists of committees responsible for various tasks. Personnel can have an influence in the groups and participate in preparatory work. An exciting possibility to develop a university community is on its way and it is worth launching into this opportunity actively.
Eero Kasanen
Rector of HSE
Matti Alahuhta: Academic community establishes Aalto University
The board of the Aalto University Foundation held its inaugural meeting on Friday, August 15, 2008. The entire board has eagerly accepted the challenge of constructing a new university and we strongly believe in the possibility to develop the Aalto University into something highly significant in the long run – something that will also contribute to Finland’s success in the future.
The future success of the Aalto University is created by enhancing the quality of research, teaching and artistic work in the science and art community formed by TKK, TaiK and HSE. The improvement of the operational preconditions of students, teachers and researchers is essential to this change. It is the board’s task to enable this development.
Our objective is to strengthen the current assets of the three universities constituting the Aalto University and actively utilize the multidisciplinary nature of the new university. The three universities have already done good work in creating a basis as a starting point for the new university’s development.
In constructing the Aalto University, our aim is to establish a student-centered culture that will motivate passionate learning and the search for new ideas. We will also advance the opportunities for long-term, high-quality research. We intend to create motivating academic career paths and working environments that attract the best individuals to work in the new university.
The Aalto University should possess a significant role both in Finland and internationally. It must create a strong domestic and international cooperation network and form partnerships that provide support in striving toward the university’s objectives.
The board also initiated the appointment process for a new rector, which will be carried out through a broad international search. Our aim is that the new rector will be appointed already during fall this year, to provide a leader for the commencing changes as soon as possible.
We are facing a great opportunity. I wish all the members of the TKK, TaiK and HSE science and art community courage, open-mindedness and curiosity as we work together to make this opportunity a reality.
Matti Alahuhta
Chair of Aalto University Foundation
Jari Jokinen: Aalto University and Foundation
Preparations for the Aalto University have advanced rapidly. The foundation was established in June and the board was appointed on the second week of August. The board of the foundation has already begun its operations.
The entire university reform has also progressed with speed and the Ministry of Education circulated the university draft law for comments in mid-August. According to the draft law, the regulations would apply mainly for the university operations that the Aalto University Foundation, also operating as Aalto University, engages in. The Aalto University is a foundation in compliance with the foundation law, into which the university operations currently carried out in the Helsinki School of Economics, the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and the Helsinki University of Technology will be transferred, in accordance with the government bill.
Although the foundation’s name is Aalto University Foundation, it would operate as Aalto University when engaging in university activity. The foundation may also engage in other activity within the framework of its regulations.
According to the draft, significant sections of the university law would also apply to the Aalto University, excluding certain decrees concerning the organization and financial matters. Issues concerning the juristic person form of the foundation are enacted in the foundation law, foundation rules and the ordinance formulated as a result of the preparation process.
Jari Jokinen
Project Director, Ministry of Education
Travelling broadens your horizons
On an early August morning, the seven members of the Teaching Theme Group set out on their journey to London. The purpose of the trip was to visit two top universities in their field and observe their best practices. Naturally, we also discussed the origins and goals of the Aalto University, as well as the Finnish university system in general. Indeed, the Aalto University generated a lot of interest. We are clearly on the right path!
Our first visit took us to the cradle of art and design, The Royal College of Art (RCA), where we were welcomed by our host, Graca Almeida, who is responsible for educational administration. The RCA, located in the heart of London’s academic area, is a very small university with only 800 postgraduate students. The school is highly selective and studying is very intensive and demanding. Compared to other art universities, the RCA is much more business-oriented and almost all students carry out different business projects during their studies. The Helen Hamlyn Center, located in the vicinity of the RCA, specializes in people-centered design. Jo Anne Bichard and Jonathan West introduced us to their fascinating research projects.
On the second day, we visited Cranfield University, which is also dedicated solely to postgraduate studies. At Cranfield, we were hosted by Professors Clifford Friend, Joe Lunec and Raj Roy. Cranfield is a technical university with a strong management school. Its most significant field of specialization is aviation. In addition and perhaps slightly surprisingly, the university recently celebrated the opening of a new institute, Cranfield Health, which, as the name suggests, focuses on medical solutions. There is also a design department under construction, which aims to unite all the faculties of the university. Significantly, the university has genuine and continuous, overarching cooperation between the researchers and the students, as well as active encouragement of academic entrepreneurship, which enables professors and researchers to fund various research projects.
In my opinion, we gained a lot from these visits, because strong business contacts, high appreciation of and investment into teaching, and continuous development are qualities I would personally like to see in the new Aalto University. Cooperation and the courage to innovate are clearly the keys to success. Top universities are evidently doing the very things that we are also striving for.
Laura Lappalainen
Educational Affairs, KY
Brainstorming for Aalto University campus area generated fascinating solutions
A public roof garden on the university roof, public lectures in the metro, and integration of activities into the everyday bustle of the city. In planning the new campus area, TKK’s students of architecture did not allow the university walls to restrict them into settling for traditional solutions.
Hannu Louna’s vision of the city-like environment constructed on the intersection of the green belt and the urban street area in the heart of Otaniemi offers a multifunctional framework for both the university and the broader urban community. The metro station to be constructed in Otaniemi would be a starting point for area development and gradually the borderlines between HSE, TaiK and TKK would disappear naturally, as the new university’s activities would be distributed to the most suitable quarters and facilities.
Auvo Lindroos would bring the university to the vicinity of the people. Situating the campus along the railway line from Ruoholahti to Töölönlahti would rejuvenate the city structure. The location would enable the university to develop into an educational supermarket for the entire city. Among others, open lecture series, exhibitions and the so-called “factories” would shape the university and integrate it into the city and the urban life.
Essi Vehkanen’s open-minded design features the campus spread out along the metro line to connect and equalize the metropolitan area. The current three universities would be interconnected by network nodes where operations from the main campuses could gradually be transferred. Metro cars and stations would support university activity by, for example, information services and open lectures. The new university would be taken to places where people and information are on the move..
Questions and Answers
Question: Will Art Education change at Aalto University?
Answer: The planning of Aalto University's teaching is about to begin. Art Education at TaiK is one of its areas of strength and a starting point in the planning. Different theme groups will map and plan for the future from the teaching and learning point of view.
Question: Will mobility possibilities change at Aalto University?
Answer: It has already been possible to attend courses or study programmes at the merging universities through JOO studies (National Agreement on Flexible Study Rights, JOO agreement). In the Aalto University mobility will be improved. This can mean e.g. that one can include and have confirmed a minor subject in one's degree. Design Factory, Media Factory, and Service Factory are the first new plans of the Aalto University. They are new expertise workshops. They are based on areas in which the three universities already co-operate. The workshops are learning, teaching, research, and co-operation environments in which the academic teams and projects as well as companies or communities work together.
News
Board of Aalto University Foundation appoints Matti Alahuhta as Chair
The seven-member board of the Aalto University Foundation formed by the Helsinki School of Economics, University of Art and Design Helsinki and Helsinki University of Technology, appointed on 14 August 2008, has appointed a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. In the inaugural meeting, President of Kone Oyj, Matti Alahuhta (D.Sc. in eng.) and Professor Marja Makarow, CEO of the European Science Foundation ESF were appointed Chair and Vice Chair respectively.
The other five members of the board are President of Boston University Robert A. Brown, President and CEO Anne Brunila, Professor Bengt Holmström, Professor Saku Mantere and Senior Design Manager Anna Valtonen. All board members hold a doctorate.
Original press release
Short introductions of the members
TaiK IT to merge with joint HSE and TKK IT services
TaiK's IT Department will become a part of the already joint IT services of HSE and TKK. This change is effective as from the 1st of September 2008.
This joining of forces requires no action from the customers, nor does it bring any immediate changes in IT services.The purpose of a joint IT services is to produce synergies to the Aalto University IT and to facilitate the planning of its IT services for the future.
Education for the personnel of the Aalto University
During autumn there will be several courses and seminars for the personnel of the Aalto University. Registrate to the seminars below by sending a message to your own school's personnel training e-mail address, which are: henkilostokoulutus(at)taik.fi, henkilostokoulutus(at)tkk.fi and henkilostokoulutus(at)hse.fi.
Seminars (in Finnish):
- Ben Furman "Kukoistus, kitka ja kahnaus - palautteen antamisen jalo taito" 8.10. at HSE
- Pekka Järvinen "Toimivan työyhteisön peruspilarit" -tilaisuudet henkilökunnalle ja esimiehille 15.10. at TKK
- Camilla Reinhoth "Älä lankea kiusaukseen" -lecture 19.11. at TaiK
In addition you can register e.g. to English language, coaching and mentoring groups.