2. Contents
• Aalto University
• Project Backround
• Goal
• Unique Opportunity
• Aalto University Foundation, Mission
• Governance and Funding
• Partners
• Board
• President, Aalto University
• Transformation Organisation
• Studying and Research at Aalto University
• Factories
• The Name
• Universities
• Aalto News
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 1
3. 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 together
– Helsinki School of Economics, founded 1911
– University of Art and Design Helsinki, founded 1871
– Helsinki University of Technology, founded 1849
• Aalto University starts on 1 January 2010.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 2
4. Project Background
• Finnish Government entered in its Programme in 2007 its aim
to extensively reform higher education in Finland.
– New structures in use by 2012
– Financial and administrative autonomy increased
• The Government mandated the Ministry of Education in the
spring of 2007 to execute the reform.
• Innovation University Project one of the spear-heading projects
at the Ministry of Education.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 3
5. Goal
The goal for 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.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 4
6. 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
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 5
7. Aalto University Foundation
Mission
The Aalto University Foundation’s national mission is to
advance the success of Finland through education and
research.
The University will make a positive contribution to Finnish
society, technology, economy, art, art and design and
international appeal, and support the welfare of both humans
and the environment.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 6
8. Governance and Funding
• The University is Governed by the Aalto University Foundation
– The Charter of Foundation signed in June 2008
• Seven-member Board appointed in August 2008 by the Finnish
Government and representatives of external funding
• Contributions as per the Charter of Foundation
– Finnish Government contributed EUR 500 million towards
the basic capital of the University
– Donations of at least EUR 200 million
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 7
9. Partners
• Finnish Government
• Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
• Foundation for Economic Education
• Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers
• Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers
• Finnish Association of Business School Graduates
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 8
10. Board
Aalto University Foundation
• Chair, Matti Alahuhta,
President & CEO of Kone Corporation
• Vice Chair, Marja Makarow, Professor
CEO 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
Left-right: Bengt Holmström, Anne Brunila, Marja
• Bengt Holmström, Professor, MIT
Makarow, Robert A. Brown, Anna Valtonen,
• Saku Mantere, Professor, Saku Mantere, Matti Alahuhta
Hanken School of Economics
• Anna Valtonen, Senior Design Manager,
Nokia Corporation
All seven Board members hold a Doctoral Degree.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 9
11. President
• Professor, Ph.D. Tuula Teeri is the first
President of Aalto University.
• The Aalto University Foundation Board
appointed Professor Teeri for a term of
five years beginning 1 April 2009.
• Professor Tuula Teeri is currently Vice
President at the Royal Institute of
Technology in Stockholm. Professor Teeri
has worked there since 1996.
• Professor Teeri completed her doctoral
Photo: Aino Huovio
thesis at VTT (Technical Research Centre
of Finland), and received her doctorate
from the University of Helsinki.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 10
12. Transformation Organisation (1/2)
• Aalto University is being prepared by the Transformation
Organisation with the support of the Aalto University
Foundation Board.
• President Tuula Teeri (Aalto-yliopisto) and Rectors Helena
Hyvönen (TaiK), Eero Kasanen (HSE) ja Matti Pursula (TKK)
form the Steering Group which the Transoformation
Organisation reports to, in addition to the Board.
• The preparation work on Aalto University is conducted in all
three Universities.
• Staff and students are represented in the working groups.
• In total, 400 people are involved in this work.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 11
13. Transformation Organisation
Structure (2/2)
• The Transformation Organisation is
divided into Theme Areas, with leader.
– Overall Focus, Mauri Airila
– Teaching, Hannu Seristö
– Research, Outi Krause
– People Processes, Timo Saarinen
– Societal Impact, Markku Markkula
– Administration and
front row l-r: Esa Ahonen, Jari Jokinen,
Services, Pekka Saarela Pekka Saarela
back row l-r: Timo Saarinen, Mauri Airila,
– Financial Issues , Esa Ahonen Outi Krause, Hannu Seristö
Missing from photo: Markku Markkula.
• Theme Areas are further divided into
Core Teams and Working Groups.
• Jari Jokinen is Secretary to the Board.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 12
14. Studying at Aalto University
• Our common goal is to create a
student-centred culture that encourages
people to learn new things and
continuously broaden their perspectives.
• Students have been involved in different
Theme Groups which have mapped and
planned for the future from the teaching
and learning point of view.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 13
15. 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:
1. Sustainable Communities
2. Neuro Applications
3. Economics and the Internet of the Future
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 14
16. Factories
Multi-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.
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 15
17. Aalto University – The Name
• The quot;Aaltoquot; name communicates an uncompromising effort to become one
of the top international universities.
• Working title quot;Innovation Universityquot;
– the new University named Aalto University on 29 May 2008
• Over 1,600 ideas received in a competition to name the new university
• Alvar Aalto (1898–1976)
– a learned Finnish humanist, diversely creative person
– Diploma in Architecture from TKK
– Founder of Artek 1935
– Professor MIT (1946–1948)
• Aino Marsio-Aalto (1894–1949)
– Architect
– Artek: Industrial Design Director, Managing Director
– married Alvar Aalto in 1924
• Elissa Aalto (1922–1994)
– Finnish architect and author
– married Alvar Aalto in 1952
Source on Alvar, Aino, and Elissa Aalto: Alvar Aalto Foundation
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 16
18. 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
Source: www.hse.fi
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 17
19. University of Art and Design Helsinki (TaiK)
Leader in Media, Art and Design Education
Pro Arte Utili – For Useful Art
Important 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
Source: www.taik.fi
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 18
20. 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
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 19
21. Aalto News
Read the latest
developments and news
on our journey to Aalto
University in Aalto News
newsletter, published
fortnightly at
www.aaltouniversity.info
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 20
22. More information at
www.aaltouniversity.info
20 January 2009 Aalto University/Communications 21