Learning and Creativity in a New Environment

Anna Valtonen11.6.2009

Innovation in Learning Communities EDEN 2009 Annual Conference

Why is our environment new?

Finnish Higher Education Reform and

Aalto University

The aim of the Finnish HE reform is to help the universities to:

• react to changes in the operational environment • diversify their funding base • compete for international research funding • cooperate with foreign universities and research institutes • allocate resources to top-level research and their strategic focus

areas • ensure the quality and effectiveness of their research and teaching • strengthen their role within the innovation system

The Finnish HE Reform – Legislative Means

1. The autonomy of universities will enlarge further

2. Universities will take the place of the State as employers

3. Universities will have more latitude in the management of their finances.

4. The composition of the university boards will change in line with the strategic management responsibility.

The Finnish HE Reform – New Universities

• Helsinki School of Economics, the University of Art and Design Helsinki and Helsinki University of Technology

Aalto University

• The Universities of Kuopio and Joensuu Eastern Finland University

• The University of Turku and Turku School of EconomicsUniversity of Turku

the Aalto University• what is it• what is new

Aalto University• Full merger between three existing universities• Three leading institutions in Finland in their fields with major

impact on Finnish industry, economy and culture.

• Hundreds of years of history and knowledge brought togetherHelsinki School of Economics, founded 1911University of Art and Design Helsinki, founded 1871Helsinki University of Technology, founded 1849

• Aalto University starts on 1 January 2010.

• Aalto University Foundation founded in June 2008Finnish Government EUR 500 million Private donations of at least EUR 200 million

• Seven-member Board appointed in August 2008

• President Tuula Teeri appointed in December 2008• The responsibilities of three universities will be

transferred to Aalto University Foundation on 1 January 2010 (new University Law)

• The Finnish Government will remain the main financier of the activities

Aalto University

• Chair, Matti Alahuhta,President & CEO of Kone Corporation

• Vice Chair, Marja Makarow, ProfessorCEO of the European Science Foundation ESF

Members

• Robert A. Brown, President of Boston University• Anne Brunila, President and CEO of the Finnish Forest

Industries Federation• Bengt Holmström, Professor, MIT• Saku Mantere, Professor,

Hanken School of Economics• Anna Valtonen, Head of Design Research & Foresight,

Nokia Corporation

All seven Board members hold a Doctoral Degree.

BoardAalto University Foundation

Left-right: Bengt Holmström, Anne Brunila, Marja Makarow, Robert A. Brown, Anna Valtonen, Saku Mantere, Matti Alahuhta

Helsinki University of Technology (TKK)University of Excellence in Education and Research

• Founded 1849

• University status in 1908

• Around 15,000 students, 3,700 employees

• Leading university in technology and architecture in Finland.

• Annually around 1,000 MA degrees and 160 Doctorates

• April 2008, the 20th Ceremonial Conferment of 402 Doctoral Degrees, a record number

RectorRector: Matti Pursula

Helsinki School of Economics (HSE)Largest and Leading Business School in Finland

• Founded 1911• State ownership since 1974• Certificates of Excellence

• AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS (Triple-crown)• FINHEEC, The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council

• Around 4,000 students, 500 employees• Degrees: B.Sc., M.Sc., Lic.Sc., D.Sc.,

and PhD• HSE Executive Education Ltd, incl. MBA

and EMBA• In 2007, 391 M.Sc. degrees and 39 Doctorates

RectorRector: Eero Kasanen

University of Art and Design Helsinki (TaiK)Leader in Media, Art and Design Education

Leading Role in the Success of Finnish Design

• Founded 1871

• State ownership since 1965

• University of Art and Design since 1973

• Six Schools

• Around 2,000 students, 450 employees

• International forerunner in design research.

• BA, MA, and Doctorate degree students

• In 2007, 110 BA and 201 MA degrees, 8 Doctorates

RectorRector: Helena Hyvönen

The goal of the Aalto University is to be one of the leading institutions in the world in terms of research and education in its own specialised disciplines by 2020.

Unique Opportunity

• Significant increase in resources• Independent governance model enables the University to develop itself • Laws governing university activities are changing• Combining three disciplines in a unique way

• Create inspiring learning centric culture• Increase commitment from staff and students to teaching and learning• Focus on quality of teaching in recruiting and evaluations• Improve student recruiting practices• Reduce student-faculty ratio and shorten studying times• Provide multi-disciplinary learning opportunities• Rewarding excellence in research• Stable basic funding for faculty• Careers – Tenure Track• Internationalization

Focus on quality of teaching and research

More information at www.aaltouniversity.info

Creativity?

FactoriesMulti-disciplinary Opportunities

Expertise workshops, the first new plans within Aalto University:• Design Factory• Media Factory• Service Factory

Based on areas in which the three universities already co-operate.The workshops are environments to

• learn• teach• research, and• co-create.

Academic teams and projects, as well as companies or communities work together.

© 2008 Nokia V1-Filename.ppt / YYYY-MM-DD / InitialsCompany Confidential21

DesignFactory

Project work

Computers/ personal workspaces

Prototyping / group work

Researchers rooms & spaces

Relaxation

Coffee and food

Research at Aalto University

Three Research Projects Combine Expertise

In connection with the preparations for Aalto University, a call for ideas was announced to researchers and research groups regarding research projects that would draw upon the expertise of the three universities.

The selected projects are:• Sustainable Communities• Neuro Applications• Economics and the Internet of the Future

AivoAALTO

Learning?

More teachers per student; mentoringPedagogic trainingNew teaching methods, e-learningThe best scientists as teachersMultidisciplinary opportunities

Motivation, inspiration, responsibility

Thank You.