Aalto University: Aalto's Year 2010 in Review
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Aalto’s Year 2010 in Review Aalto’s first year Changes, hard work and inspirational initiatives Aalto University commenced operations as a fully research and teaching functions: they are suc- that the reciprocal exchanges of competence that empowered, independent foundation university cessful in recruiting the best talent and provide occur in such environments provide the key to the on the first day of 2010. The launch was marked these people with resources that enable them creation of fresh innovations. with a gala event held at Finlandia Hall and the to focus on their work and engage in long-term Our Factory concept has aroused extensive Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma on 8 Janu- projects at peace from other concerns. Aalto has interest. The first international competence ary, one of the coldest days of that year. set up a new academic career system, Tenure workshop, Aalto-Tongji Design Factory, was es- Aalto’s first year was filled with hard work and Track, to help establish a similar operating envi- tablished at the campus of Shanghai-based Tongji great changes. It also included many inspirational ronment. Some 41 recruitment processes were University in spring 2010. At the same time, a initiatives and events that bore witness to the launched in 2010 and the three first appointments hundred-strong group of Aalto students set the creativity and vitality of our new university. The were made at the beginning of 2011. stage for an extraordinary learning experience by challenge of change was and is alleviated by the Our services have also been reorganised dur- leasing a private train to transport them across fact that Aalto University was created on its three ing the year under review. The aim is to liberate Siberia to the World Expo in Shanghai. founding schools’ own initiative and by the strong academic personnel from non-essential routines, One of Aalto’s central policy decisions was to support provided to us by the State and the busi- enabling them to spend more time on the core make students the core focus of our operations. ness community. tasks of research and education. Graduation is the best way to disseminate our The merger was carefully prepared for over a Aalto University is striving to remove confron- university’s expertise into surrounding society. period of several years. These diligent prepara- tational attitudes: basic research, the application We have been proud to see how the student- tions resulted in excellent designs, which will of fresh research knowledge and interaction with established Aalto Entrepreneurship Society has help focus our efforts to elevate Aalto University society and industry are all equally significant succeeded in promoting entrepreneurial thinking into a world-class institute of higher learning in goals. Another important objective is the dissemi- and spirit. the next ten years. The realisation of this plan nation of new, research-based knowledge through Solutions for a future Aalto University campus is supported by the reformed Universities Act, teaching. Alongside evaluations of research per- were debated extensively in 2010. The work is on- which increased Aalto’s autonomy, as well as by formance, the recruitment of professors needs going, and the Aalto University Board is expected the considerable additional resources the State to take better account of teaching-related merits to resolve the campus issue in 2011. and private benefactors have provided to us. Our and social impact. Multidisciplinary goals should Changing such a large organisation requires fundraising campaign has demonstrated that not be pursued at the expense of profound exper- perseverance and determination. Although we are Finland’s business community, industrial founda- tise in constituent disciplines, as each pursuit has only taking the first steps in our path to change, tions and federations as well as a great many pri- its own place: cooperation will produce the best much has already been achieved. Enthusiasm and vate individuals have faith in Aalto University. results when those who participate in it represent confidence in the future have also been stoked by Aalto University is a national project that aims the pinnacle of their respective fields. the numerous awards and other recognitions that to support the success and prosperity of the whole Aalto’s capacity to produce added value is de- have been won by Aalto faculty members, stu- of Finland. We can contribute to national compet- rived from our ability to connect many different dents and alumni during the year. We’ve built up a itiveness by deepening our research, modernising types of expertise – both within a discipline and lot of momentum, which will support our drive for teaching and exploring new models for diverse in cooperative projects involving partners from change also in the coming years! multidisciplinary cooperation. The research as- highly divergent areas of specialisation. The sci- sessment exercise Aalto realised in 2009 and the entific and artistic disciplines practised at Aalto ongoing teaching assessment exercise give us are involved in cooperation as part of multidisci- an accurate picture of our strengths, providing a plinary study and research programmes. Society The Presidential gown and chain of office were taken into use at the university’s solid foundation on which to build for the future. and business life has become more comprehen- opening ceremony. The ceremonial gown was designed by Jewellery Designer Inni The world’s leading universities employ sim- sively involved in our activities as part of the Aal- Pärnänen (left) and the chain by Designer Saara Renvall (right). ple models in the production of high-standard to Factories workshops, for example. We believe Tuula Teeri, President 2 PHOTOGRAPH | AINO HUOVIO RECTO R’S REVIEW 3 Aalto University’s values are: A paSSION THE FREEDOM THEU CO RAGE THES RE PONSIBILITY F OUNDED ON for exploration. to be creative to influence to care, accept high ethics, openness, and critical. and excel. and inspire. and equality. Va LUES 4 1. Working for our fellow neighbours 2. Let’s take the train to China 3. Courage to innovate and launch enterprises The Mind the Seniors project considered ways Aalto on Tracks demonstrated that borders for enhancing the wellbeing of senior citizens. are made to be crossed. When you think freely, Student Kristo Ovaska (on the cover of Aino Graphic design student Stefania Passera (on nothing’s impossible. The weeklong event, magazine) has been involved in the creation of the left) came up with the Call your Grandma which was conceived and realised by students, the Aalto Entrepreneurship Society and the Ven- campaign, which formed the central aspect of transported some 100 Aalto representatives on ture Garage, both of which help Aalto students this project. It shaped design into a campaign their own train to the World Expo in Shanghai. launch business start-up ventures. These stu- of caring for others that used photography and The train travelled more than 10,000 kilometres, dent-inspired activities have won much praise social media, among other things, to encour- providing a novel learning environment and for their courage and creativity: Ovaska received age random people to call their grandmothers opportunities for scores of unique meetings a European Academic Enterprise Award for his or –fathers in an effort to combat the loneliness between people representing different fields boldness and initiative, with his promotion of en- of the elderly. The campaign of expertise. trepreneurship and in- received much at- novation singled out tention and Fin- for special praise. land’s ET magazine awarded it with its Friendship prize. 4. Passionate about research 5. Towards sustainable and tango development Researcher and Project Manager Aalto University has a mission to Markku Anttonen from the School of change the world. The promotion of Economics has two passions: research sustainable development is built inside and Argentinean tango. The former he this mission. It connects both with pursues in the corporate responsibility Aalto’s own activities – in particular research programme, while the latter the designing of an ecologically sus- has been on display at, for example, the tainable campus – and the emphasis show arranged as part of the School of on responsibility and ethics in the university’s research and teaching. The Economics’ 100th jubilee celebrations. themes of sustainable development relate to, for example, the utilisation of Favela Vera Ortiz partnered Anttonen in energy and natural resources as well as the designing of human-oriented liv- the tango. ing environments. PHOG TO RAPH | KAROLIINA PAATOS PHOTOGRAPHS | TUULI SOTAMAA | VEERA LIPASTI / AINO MAGAZINE| AINO HUOVIO | JULIA WECKMAN VALUES 6 Restructuring the School of Science and Technology The Aalto University School of Science and Technology (TKK) was divided into four schools at the beginning of 2011. The schools of Engineering, Chemical Technology, Science and Electrical Engineering were formed on the basis of the departmental restructuring conducted in 2008. Technology accounts for two-thirds of the funda- Services that were before produced in a cen- mental volume of Aalto University and the new tralised manner were relocated closer to the user organisational structure makes this more clearly at the new schools and departments as part of the evident to external stakeholders in particular. restructuring. From the perspective of the stu- Aalto University now consists of six schools dents, changes are only minor. that are almost equal in size. A more balanced Students still apply for a place in Aalto Uni- division makes the structure and management of versity’s technological degree programmes, Aalto clearer. The removal of the administrative which are produced by the schools of technology “TKK level” provides the different departments of together and cooperatively. It also remains pos- technology with more direct access to the leader- sible to choose minor subjects freely over school ship of Aalto University. boundaries. The joint research and education The new schools were given greater responsi- programmes of the schools further emphasise the bility for their own fields.