News and event feeds are taken from the website aalto.fi and the websites of individual schools as well as news from Aalto University Student Union (AYY).  More news from the Into student portal are now available in the service (especially in Finnish). The applications provide the users with more chances to receive the news and events that they want.

Respondents to the user surveys conducted by the university have put these contents at the top of their wish list. Feedback on the service will already be gathered during the early stages of its introduction so that the service can be continuously improved to meet the users’ needs.

The applications are available in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play application distribution platform. In the future, new applications making use of the interfaces offered by the university may also be added to the mobile service. Please contact mobile@aalto.fi for more details.

The languages of the mobile application are Finnish and English. The service is provided by Aalto University’s Communications Unit and IT Services. NearMe Services Oy and Nemein Oy (data transfers) are responsible for the technical aspects of the service. TBWA\Helsinki has created a visual image for the service.

For more information:

Manager, Digital Media
Juha Stjärnstedt, juha.stjarnstedt@aalto.fi, mobile@aalto.fi, +358 40 774 2588

Aalto-1 prepares for Critical Design Review

Things are going well for the Aalto-1 student satellite project. The engineering models for the satellite parts are nearly ready. Summer plans include attempting to assemble the mechanical parts and testing how the satellite's subsystems work together. The Critical Design Review lies ahead in the autumn. This involves an assessment by space technology experts to determine whether the satellite has been designed well enough to be sent into space.

The heart of the project is the enthusiastic students who have put so much effort into it. These are exciting times, as many of the students who have been involved in the project on a long-term basis have just graduated.

‘We students were given a lot of responsibility during the project. Taking part in this project has required everyone to show initiative rather than simply working under guidance, so I think that the project will produce quite good space engineers,’ explains Maria Komu, who majored in space technology and is a recent graduate from the project.

‘The Aalto-1 project has taught me so much about space technology and project work. In my opinion, the best way to study almost anything is through a project of this type, because I don’t believe that you can learn as effectively during formal lessons,’ continues Maria.

Hannu Leppinen, who studied in the Department of Automation and Systems Technology and took space technology and radio science as a minor subject, feels the same way. He did his thesis on integration of the Aalto-1 GPS system.

‘Aalto-1 has provided an outstanding opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in space technology and to see the results of my work in a device that will hopefully be launched into space soon,’ says Hannu.

Partners also play an important role in the project, especially VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Universities of Helsinki and Turku, who provided the satellite's payload. The project has given students a link to this co-operation network through, for example, their theses.

Aalto-2 aims to be part of a flock of 50 satellites

Our second generation satellite project is called Aalto-2. It is aiming to participate in the European QB50 project, which will launch 50 small CubeSat satellites in the Earth’s orbit. The satellites in the project are all built by different universities. Their task is to explore the lower thermosphere, which is located at an altitude of 90-320 km. This is the first time that satellites are being used to study this part of the atmosphere.

‘This co-operation project offers us great networking opportunities across Europe,'  says university teacher Jaan Praks.

Aalto-2 has already passed the Preliminary Design Review phase of the project. The satellite prototypes are expected to be ready by the autumn. Such a quick schedule is possible because Aalto-2 is, to a large extent, based on its predecessor Aalto-1.

ICEYE looks to the Arctic seas

This year also marked the beginning of a new spin-off project called ICEYE, which was established by three students who were involved in the Aalto-1 project. ICEYE is preparing to use satellites to collect information about the ice situation in Arctic sea routes.

Text: Anni Aarinen. Photo: Adolfo Vera.

More information:

• Aalto-1 wiki
• QB50 project
• ICEYE is hiring new employees
• ESTCube-1 in Wikipedia

The course provides students with astronomical views of areas such as civil and structural engineering, architecture and the arts and examines how astronomy and space technology affect science and culture. This year’s course began with a lecture series in early spring and continued with student projects during which the participants focused on astronomically relevant themes from the perspective of their major subject.

‘As far as we know, similar courses are not available elsewhere in Finland, probably not anywhere in the world. Some universities provide courses covering the history of science that are similar to the first part of our course, but only a multidisciplinary and technically oriented university like Aalto can achieve something as concrete as what we have achieved in our student projects,’ says Joni Tammi, one of the teachers of the course.

Rotating camera mount helps to capture impressive shots of stars

The project of students Sampsa Laapotti and Hannu Huhtanen from the School of Science entailed designing a camera mount for photographing the night sky. Their goal was to build a mount that would rotate at the same speed as the Earth rotates so that the stars would appear to stay in one place. This enables the mounted camera to take long-exposure photographs of the night sky and display more stars than would be visible to the naked eye. This kind of mount also enables the photographer to create time­lapse videos of phenomena in the night sky while the stars remain static. The students created a prototype of the mount using a 3D printer at Aalto University ADDLAB.

‘The greatest insight provided by the course was understanding the position of the Earth in relation to other celestial objects. This also changed my understanding of the size of the Earth and our location in the universe. As the course progressed, I gradually began to understand more about the Sun and stars: I no longer took the Sun for granted, but saw it as an epic, continuous fusion bomb that gives us light and heat,’ Sampsa describes the offerings of the course.

Exoplanets as a source of inspiration for a musical composition

Exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, are planets located outside the Solar System. Information and computer science student Iiris Laihanen from the School of Science was inspired to create a musical composition based on data related to exoplanets. She created a database of 675 confirmed exoplanets discovered between 1988 and 2013. The exoplanets were converted into notes based on discovery date and method, mass, orbital period, distance from the Earth, declination and planetary habitability. 

‘I got the inspiration for my project from the first half of the course when one of our assignments was to listen to astronomy-related music. The inspiring piece was John Cage’s Atlas Eclipticalis that he composed by placing music paper on top of star charts,’ Iiris explains.

Wide range of space-related topics

The topics of the student projects also included the music genre known as space rock, dark matter, sending a digitised guestbook to space with the Aalto-1 satellite, gravity simulation and Finnish participation in space technology projects. One of the students created a database programme that will be taken into use by the researchers of the Metsähovi Radio Observatory and presented at a scientific conference.

The next course will be organised in the spring of 2014.

More information:

• Course wiki
• Student projects
• The course blog contains a lot of fascinating information and links to other interesting sources
• Metsähovi Radio Observatory

“We are looking at ways to work closely together on teaching, research and corporate relations,” said Eero Kasanen, a former rector of the Aalto University School of Business (formerly the Helsinki School of Economics). “Through our strategic partnership, each school can benefit from the other’s strengths. ESADE is very strong in management education and Aalto is making great strides in design thinking and multidisciplinary platforms.”

The schools’ first joint project was to create the Internship Innovation Project (I2P), a course on strategic innovation that runs from 1st February to 10th May 2013. “This exciting new partnership will give ESADE students experience in two leading institutions,” said Alfons Sauquet, dean of ESADE. “It will also give both Aalto and ESADE students the chance to make new contacts that will serve them well in their careers.”

“We’re proud to be working in close cooperation with one of the world’s top business schools,” said Ingmar Björkman, dean of Aalto. “We complement each other’s expertise extremely well.”

First joint course

The I2P is a fundamental part of ESADE’s MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIE) programme. “Running this project in collaboration with Aalto will help us to position the MIE as the benchmark programme in Europe,” said Jordi Vinaixa, academic director of the ESADE Entrepreneurship Institute and director of the MIE.

In the I2P, teams of students work on real challenges posed by companies such as AbbVie, Veritas, TV3, Santa & Cole, Hewlett-Packard, Comsa Emte and Repsol.

Each school is home to ten teams. Five of the teams are ‘mixed’, with students from both Aalto and ESADE, who will travel to visit each other three times during the project, explained lecturer Lotta Hassi, who is involved in the course at both ends.

Also a joint executive education programme

ESADE and Aalto are also joining forces in executive education. The schools plan to produce a joint International Design Business Management (IDBM) programme that targets Europe, Latin America and Asia. Aalto University Executive Education (Aalto EE) will bring a multidisciplinary approach and new, innovative learning methods to the IDBM programme, while ESADE’s core competencies include executive education in business models and innovations. This initiative will allow the schools to pool their executive education experience in various geographical markets. Aalto EE has been operating in Asia for 18 years, and ESADE is a strong executive education provider in Latin America.

The programme will target sectors that stand to benefit from it directly, including the traditional forestry and chemistry industries and select service sectors such as healthcare. The IDBM programme will be imparted in Barcelona and Helsinki.

****

More information:

ESADE and Aalto EE set sights on Latin America and Asia, with design-sector executive education

ABOUT AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

The Aalto University School of Business (formerly the Helsinki School of Economics) was established in 1911. Today, it is the leading business school in Finland and one of the top schools in Europe. The School belongs to the 1% of business schools that have earned the top international quality accreditations in the field: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. A lively, innovative community of about 4,000 students and 600 faculty and staff, the School has its main campus in Helsinki and another in Mikkeli, Finland. The School is part of Aalto University, a new multidisciplinary community in the fields of science, business, art and design. Founded on Finnish strengths, the University aims to become one of the world's top universities.

ABOUT ESADE

Founded in 1958, ESADE now has campuses in Barcelona, Madrid and Buenos Aires and centres in São Paulo and Munich. It also has collaboration agreements with over 200 universities and business schools worldwide. Each year, more than 12,000 students participate in courses at ESADE (MBA and Executive Education, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in business and law). The School’s business park, ESADECREAPOLIS, is a pioneering innovation centre that brings together academia and the world of business. With a clear international outlook, ESADE ranks near the top of the main business-school rankings (Financial Times and Businessweek). ESADE currently has a network of over 45,000 alumni occupying positions of responsibility in enterprises around the globe. Since celebrating its 50^th anniversary, ESADE has adopted ‘Inspiring Futures’ as its institutional motto to illustrate the goal of fostering a spirit of renewal in the fields of business and law.

Of the respondents, 23% were very satisfied with their qualification, and a combined 94% were satisfied to some extent (satisfied, quite satisfied or very satisfied). The M.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Admin.) qualification was generally considered to be a good and respected foundation, opening doors to different kinds of work.

Respondents believed that studying at the university helped them to develop good communication skills in English, a familiarity with business principles, skills in analytical and structured thinking, group work and social skills, data collection skills and a good theoretical background in their own fields. A few critical comments came from the open response fields and focused mainly on requests for studies to be of an even more practical nature.

’For us, the graduate career report is an instrument for the development of our teaching. Based on the previous survey of two years ago, we have focused on the systematic development of skills such as team work, communication and project work,’ says Vice Dean Seppo Ikäheimo, who is responsible for teaching and learning in the School of Business.

’With the results of the latest survey, we plan to give greater emphasis to argumentation skills for negotiation in our teaching of practical skills. We highlight practicality in our teaching and learning in many ways, such as closer collaboration with the business world.’

New bachelor's and master's programmes starting in autumn

The School of Business will be the first of the Aalto University schools to offer the reformed bachelor's and master's degrees. The new degree programmes will begin in autumn 2013. Thanks to the new programmes, students will be offered more opportunities to take courses in other Aalto schools and to develop interdisciplinary skills, which are in increasing demand in working life. The programmes will also include practical career skills, the development of which will be monitored regularly.

The teaching method of analysing and solving real-life business challenges is increasingly being adopted. New bachelor's degree students starting at the School of Business in Helsinki in autumn will learn about Rovio's business operations from the very start of their studies. Students will also get to align theory with practice in several business case studies throughout their degrees and with several different organisations.

’The key thing is that the students learn. The most important is what the students do, not what the teacher does,’ concludes Ikäheimo.

Further information

Degree programmes starting 1 August 2013

Degree structures starting 1 August 2013

Career Development Report

Education and degree reform: Vice Dean Seppo Ikäheimo, Aalto University School of Business, tel. +358 (0)50 505 4990, seppo.ikaheimo@aalto.fi

Career Development Report: Jonna Söderholm, Head of Corporate Relations and Career Services, Aalto University School of Business, tel. +358 (0)40 353 8417, jonna.soderholm@aalto.fi

Participating in the course were students from five Aalto schools. The topic was of most interest to architects, in addition there were also chemists, mathematitions, physicists, as well as students of electrical engineering, industrial design and information networks. The students were also in very different phases of their studies. '

This diversity caused a certain amount of confusion at first, because the groups were composed of very different kinds of people. Respect for the fields of the others became deeper and possibilities for cooperation started to emerge, when the same themes were examined from different angles', observes Kirsi Peltonen, who taught the course, and who also came up with the idea.

Mathematical foundations of music

A good example of the content of the course is the essay by Jukka Eerikäinen and Julian Ilinca on the mathematical foundations of mainstream pop and rock music. Taking centre stage in the essay is the use of mathematical methods in the analysis of the forms of melody, harmony, and rhythm.

Eerikäinen and Ilinca primarily examined what kinds of mathematical phenomena were to be found in the background of pop music, such as symmetries and other mathematical variations.

Experts from different fields

Taking part in the implementation of the course was a multidisciplinary group of experts in different fields from places such as Heureka and Aalto ARTS. Also taking part in the teaching were international stars such as Jeff Weeks and George Hart. Their presentations can be found from Youtube (youtube.com):

Jeff Weeks: Shape of Space

George Hart: From Mathematics to Sculpture

The Crystal Flowers in Halls of Mirrors course was arranged for the first time. 'For its implementation got financing for an Aalto course granted by Vice President Martti Raevaara, financial support from the Department of Mathematics, the premises of Design Factory, and the possibility of using the equipment and expertise of the Architecture Workshop in Otaniemi', Kirsi Peltonen says. She is a mathematician herself, and the subjects that she teaches include differential geometry.

Aalto University again got excellent results in the annual Taloustutkimus survey on the prevailing images that people have of Finnish institutions of higher education. Responding to the survey were young people in continental Finland under the age of 30. The study examined the images of the various institutions based on different factors. A total o f 17 universities were examined.

The young respondents ranked Aalto University in first place in several areas. The respondents saw Aalto University as the best-known university in Finland.

The respondents also felt that academic degrees from Aalto University are the most highly valued in working life. Top marks also came for being a pioneer, for the university's positive media visibility, for standing out from other institutions of higher education, and for being visible in the social media.

Respondents ranked Aalto University in second place among all of the institutions of higher education included in the survey in terms of reputation as a place to study, the quality of teaching and availability of international contacts.

The Taloustutkimus survey had about 2 000 respondents.

Helsinki School of Economics offered its first Open University courses in May 1993.  The same year also saw the beginning of Open University instruction at the Helsinki University of Technology. The first open courses at the University of Art and Design Helsinki were held already in 1989.

'The open teaching at Aalto University focuses on economics. last year 81 per cent of credit units that were earned came from studies in economics, 11 per cent from technical studies, and 8 per cent from art and design. A total of 7570 registrations were received for all courses', explains Leena Ylä-Anttila, senior planning officer at the Open University.

Additional skills for work, a path to a degree

Ylä-Anttila says that many students study a secondary subject at the Open University as part of some other degree, or they study to gain more competence for working life.

The Open University is also a channel for work on a degree.  Each year between 15 and 30 students, whose course grades are high enough, are admitted to studies aimed at achieving a degree. The courses of the Open University correspond to teaching at the university aimed at getting a degree, and the quality is constantly monitored.

'A study is currently under way comparing examination scores of the degree side and those of the open courses. There should not be very much variation there.'

According to Ylä-Anttila, more than 30 per cent of students at the Open University have completed an academic degree, but there are also those with just a comprehensive school background. This lack of prior university studies can be a challenge for teachers, but many teachers nevertheless find teaching at the Open University to be meaningful.

'Those who study at the Open University often have work experience. They want to talk to their teachers and to bring their own examples into the teaching.'

Queueing and filling forms

Leena Ylä-Anttila, who is now on part-time retirement, started her work as the head of training at the Open University of the Helsinki School of Economics in 1993 when the first courses were starting.

 'The Open University at the Helsinki School of Economics was founded as the result of negotiations between the Ministry of Education and institutions of higher education. Education was one of the key remedies for the recession of the early 1990s and state funding became available for various training programmes', she explains.

The first courses at the Open University were summer courses which were advertised in the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. Those wanting to sign up for teaching had to queue up at the office of the Open University, fill out a form and pay 200 markka in cash into the cash box. 

'The queue from the office, which was located at Hieteniemenkatu 7 at the time, extended all the way to Hietaniemi Cemetery', Ylä-Anttila recalls.

Toward the end of the 1990s telephone registration was introduced, but even then the fee had to be paid in person. In the past two years registration has been electronic, and payment of the fees has been possible via on-line banking.

Text: Tea Kalska

Further information about Aalto University's Open University (avoin.aalto.fi)

Open University will celebrate it's twenty years of teaching with coffee and cake on 21 May between 15 and 16.30 at the Main lobby of the School of Business' Main Building. Welcome!

The PdP course began in the autumn. During the long winter, students searched for information, conducted background research for their projects and carried out practical experiments that contributed to the successful functionality of the designed products.

Sponsor companies described the needs for the products developed on the course and the prototypes were then designed in student groups of approximately 10 people. The course spawned a total of 19 prototypes.

There was a colourful array of products on display, including a new generation concept for composting, a smart rifle which helps reduce hunting accidents, safety flooring designed for the elderly and a plan for improved city cycling.

Hygiene for the touch screen

Some of the products developed on the PdP course were available to try out in practice at the Design Factory. The Team Arcticum group sponsored by Nordic Hug developed a product which anyone who needs to constantly wipe a sticky touch screen with their sleeve will appreciate.

It is a device for public spaces – such as offices or hotel lobbies – for dispensing a cleaning agent designed for touch screens. Instead of using chemicals or alcohol, which may damage the screen, the cleaning agent is made from arctic cloudberries.

The cleaning agent is a Nordic Hug invented product, but the students developed a device that dispenses it. Paper saturated with the cleaning agent comes out of the device when you wave your hand in front of it. The prototype was produced using an ADDLAB 3D printer.

’There is demand for this sort of product because touch screens have 16 times as much bacteria as you find on a toilet seat. Touch screens are also increasing all the time,’ explains mechanical engineering student Tik Ho Lee. 

Lee is one of the ten Team Arcticum members. The team consists of of seven students from Aalto University and three from the Stockholm Royal Institute of Technology. 

PdP courses have been organised since 1997, and so far there have been a total of 189 projects. The course is organised by the School of Engineering.

For further information please see: pdp.fi

Text: Tea Kalska
Photos: Design Factory staff

The list of accepted students can be found from Admission results section: aalto.fi/en/studies/admission_results/

Please note that the list contains only the names of those applicants who have given the permission to publish their admission decision on the web site.

The applicants can also check their own admission results in the online application system apply.aalto.fi.

A formal letter of acceptance will be sent to the admitted students by mail.

More information:
Aalto University Admission Services
admissions@aalto.fi

During the service break out of service are:

• external networked services and web sites: school and department web sites and other sites executed with university’s systems.
  
  We're aiming at keeping the main site aalto.fi up despite the service break.    

• internal web services and sites: Inside, Into, WebOodi, Noppa, wikis and blogs)
• computer classrooms and Aalto desktop workstations
• system interfaces (personal disc spaces, integrations, databases)
• network storage drives
• home directories, Unix-servers
• VPN (virtual private network)

During the service break, contact information for the university personnel will be available at the Aalto People -site (people.aalto.fi). University's social media channels for ex. Facebook and Twitter, and other channels will not be affected by the service break.

Most services are expected to function normally by Monday morning on 22 April. Some services may still have services breaks after this.

For further information, please contact:

Project manager Hannu-Pekka Poikonen
IT Services
tel. +358 50 310 4808
hannu-pekka.poikonen@aalto.fi

Aalto EE was again the Nordic countries' best provider of Executive MBA programs, according to the Financial Times international ranking in 2012. This ranking evaluates the world's 100 best Executive MBA programs – once again, Aalto EE was the only Finnish player that made the cut.

On the domestic scene, Aalto EE rose to a clear first position among providers of management education – based on the Education 2012 survey by Finnish business publication, Talouselämä.  In a corporate image survey conducted by Taloustutkimus Oy, Aalto EE received the best overall score out of 26 education providers in the Greater Helsinki catchment area.

‘As an indicator of our own, we refer to our education services' economic footprint and our overall impact within the Aalto University community. Last year, this accounted for over EUR 1.5 million. It's great to see that professors and experts from Aalto University contributed around 34 per cent of our teaching’, describes Visiting Professor Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director.

‘We have implemented our growth strategy on a consistent basis. Last year was a year of several investments in system and process development. We are aiming for EUR 20 million in turnover by the end of 2016. This will take us into the international major league’, Mattila explains.

Aalto EE functions as a management expertise bridge between East and West. In addition to its main locations in Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE operates in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia. As part of the Aalto-University, Aalto EE has all three internationally respected business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. This places the school among the top 0.4% in the world.

‘We will continue to grow and aspire to be the preferred partner for major international companies in Northern Europe and Asia’, Mattila adds. 

Key figures

For further information, please contact:
Pekka Mattila D.Soc.Sc., Group Managing Director, Visiting Professor
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel.: +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

Aalto University Executive Education offers high-quality executive development services, drawing on the many strengths of its extensive international network and the competencies of Aalto University. Its mission is to build a better world through better leadership and educate a new generation of leaders. Aalto EE’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers programs in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia. Aalto EE holds three respected business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS certificates. In this respect, it is representative of the top 0.4% institutions in the world. 

A total of 11 500 applicants to bachelor's degree programmes

The application process for bachelor's degree programmes offered by Aalto University brought 11 574 applications before the early April deadline. The number of applicants increased in the field of art and design and remained almost unchanged in the field of science and technology, while in the field of business the number of applicants declined slightly compared with 2012. The main reason for this was the decline in the number of foreign applicants, because the university’s Helsinki unit no longer has a bachelor's degree programme taught in English. English language bachelor's training in business is to be concentrated in Mikkeli.

There were a total of 4 451 applicants for bachelor's degree programmes in the field of business in the Helsinki and Mikkeli units. There were 4 327 applicants for science and technology programmes and 2 796 for applied art and design.

Applications for master's degree programmes returned to 2011 level

The deadline for applications for the master's degree programmes ended in mid-February with 3 340 people applying directly for master's degree studies.  The number of applicants went down by 14.6 percent from 2012, returning to nearly the same level as in 2011. The sharp decline in applicants in the field of business was a key factor in the reduction in applications for the whole university.

The number of applications in the fields of science and technology and art and design grew from last year. There was a 9 percent growth for art and design and 8.3 percent growth for science and technology. In the field of science and technology the number of applicants grew especially among those with a Finnish university level degree. In the field of business the number of master's level applications declined sharply compared with the record number in the previous year - by 62.5 percent. The decline in the number of applications is primarily attributable to changes in the selection criteria: in the 2013 application round, all applicants were expected to have passed a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or a Graduate Records Examination (GRE).

The greatest number of applications for master's level studies came from applicants who had completed their earlier degrees at a Finnish institution of higher education. The countries most frequently represented among applicants with degrees from outside of Finland were China, Pakistan, India, Iran, and the United Kingdom. Applications came from a total of 95 different countries.

The most popular programmes applied for included the Master's Programme in Communications Engineering, the Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering, the Master's Degree Programme in Applied Art and Design, the Master's Degree Programme in New Media, the Master's Programme in Machine Learning and Data Mining, the Master’s Programme in Mobile Computing, the Degree Programme in Architecture, the Master's Degree Programme in Graphic Design and the Master’s Programme in Mechanical Engineering.

Also declining in the application round for 2013 was the number of applicants in degree programmes included in the tuition fee trial. At about 640 applicants it was approximately at the same level as in 2011.  The decline in the number of applicants was greatest in the field of business. The exception was the Master's Degree Programme in Marketing, where the number of applicants grew considerably.  Applications for programmes in art and design increased from last year. Applications for programmes with mandatory fees declined slightly less among applicants from outside the EU and EEA countries than among the European applicants. In all fields, the greatest number of applications from non-EU and EEA applicants came from China.  

The names of applicants accepted into bachelor's degree programmes in the field of art and design will be announced on June 20 2013.  Those in the field of science and technology will be announced on July 2 2013, and in the field of business the date is July 5 2013. The names of students accepted into master's degree programmes will be announced on April 26 2013 at the earliest.
 
Additional information:

Head of Admissions Milla Vaisto-Oinonen
Aalto University Admission Services
Tel. +358 50 362 8880
milla.vaisto-oinonen@aalto.fi

Anneli Lappalainen
Head of Student Services
Tel. +358 50 301 3880
anneli.lappalainen@aalto.fi
 

The exhibition contains a representative selection of student work in furniture design, ceramics and glass art, industrial design, textile art, fashion and clothing design. A total of 26 students with different levels of training showcase their work in Milan, some of which have already gained attention at international design events.

- The works selected for the exhibition are the best of our degree programmes. They reflect the philosophy of our teaching, which combines an original artistically strong vision with insightful technical implementation, says Professor Jouko Järvisalo from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

- We are going to Milan with an eye catching, versatile collection which we believe will stand out favourably from the crowd. Our education in design is of a very high standard internationally and domestically. Our graduates are amongst the best designers in the world with strong practical design skills, says the Head of the Department of Design Pirjo Hirvonen.

The exhibition is being curated by Professor Jouko Järvisalo and Lecturer Martin Relander.

Aalto University's Norther exhibition runs from 9 till 14 April at Via Privata Oslavia 7 in the Ventura Lambrate area. 

 
Students attending:

Mirella Abe, Hanna Anonen, Natalia Baczynska Kimberley, Aiwei Foo, Laura Juslin, Saija Hiltunen, Vesa Kattelus, Pekka Kuivamäki, Nina Kosonen, Miyu Kuno, Mikko Lehtola, Noora Liesimaa, Matias Liimatainen, Kristos Mavrostomos, Matti Mikkilä, Yu Nan, Khanittha Nualtaranee, Ai Ono, Vilma Pellinen, Goeun Shin, Tiina Taskinen, Laura Timosaari, Maria Tuovinen, Anna Vander Lei and Man Yau

Further information:

Krista Kinnunen
krista.kinnunen@aalto.fi
tel. +358 (0)50 341 2256
Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture

arts.aalto.fi/milan2013

Masters of Aalto offers the visitor a lively presentation of studies at Aalto University and introduces the societal role the university has. Masters of Aalto showcases the works of 80 graduates from the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, the School of Business and the schools of technology.

The venue is a former granary, a 121-year-old brick building at the corner of Hämeentie and Lautatarhankatu, which for a long time functioned as a warehouse. The premises managed by the City of Helsinki will now be opened to the public for the first time.

The students and alumni of Aalto University are strongly involved in the planning and design of Masters of Aalto. They are responsible for the event's visual identity, the web design, and the exhibition's architecture, to mention a few.

The theme for this year’s show is Dreams Made Real.  The thematic concept of the exhibition is planned by Designer Arni Aromaa. Aromaa is the founder and creative director of Pentagon Design and is an Aalto University's alumnus.

’Finns are very good in realism based on facts, but to create something new requires also dreaming and visioning. The exhibition provides a concrete view on dreams made real by students at Aalto University. This is the main message for example to young people planning their future studies,’ Aromaa describes.

In addition to the exhibition, Masters of Aalto invites its visitors to attend public events, seminars, and workshops in May. During the event, there are products on sale by the young designers and a café by students.

Masters of Aalto on 8–26 May 2013, Kruununmakasiini, Hämeentie 39, Helsinki. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 12 pm to 8 pm and during the weekends from 12 pm to 6 pm. Free entrance.

Follow the progress of Masters of Aalto at moa.aalto.fi.

Environmental awareness plays a significant role in the production of Masters of Aalto. The event utilises the EcoCompass system of the Helsinki Environment Centre.

Additional information:
Producer Katri Winqvist
katri.winqvist@aalto.fi
tel. +358 50 591 4314

It is aimed at the reform of structures, operating models, job descriptions and titles, as well as the clarification of roles and responsibilities in order to better correspond to the current needs and future outlook of the business. The process, which will affect personnel in Finland, will not involve redundancies.

Since 2011, Aalto EE has consistently executed its growth strategy, achieving annual growth in revenue of some 20%. Its operations have been successfully expanded to various countries: in addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers education programs in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia. Aalto EE aims to double its revenue by the end of 2016.

'We have a record year behind us – we achieved revenue of around 12 million euros and made a profit of around a million euros. Although we are in a strong position, competition in the market is increasingly global. This is forcing us to counter the operating models of the world's leading education institutions, without abandoning agility and cost-efficiency, our traditional strengths,' says Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director of Aalto Executive Education and Visiting Professor at Aalto University.

'In Finland, the cooperation negotiations traditionally carry a negative connotation, despite offering plenty of opportunities to develop business operations. We wish to set an example and highlight these positive opportunities,' Mattila continues.

As part of the reform, Aalto EE is working on the launch of an international trainee program. The aim is to educate new experts for Aalto EE, to work in key positions where global competition over skilled experts is tough.

'We will act as a kind of incubator. Aalto EE is an international expert organization that offers excellent opportunities to build a versatile career. Our trainee program provides students with a great opportunity to familiarize themselves with an international, growing field of business. We have a constantly expanding group of top experts, who will work closely with the trainees,' says Mattila.

For further information, please contact:

Pekka Mattila (Dr. Pol. Sc.), Managing Director, Visiting Professor
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel. +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

Aalto EE

Aalto University Executive Education offers high-quality executive development services, drawing on the many strengths of its extensive international network and the competencies of Aalto University. Its mission is to build a better world through better leadership and educate a new generation of leaders. Aalto EE’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers education programs in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia. Aalto EE holds three respected business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS certificates. In this respect, it is representative of the top 0.4% institutions in the world.

The two-year project launched in August 2012 and will continue until August 2014. In addition to Aalto University School of Science, other Finnish partners include University of Lapland and Laurea University of Applied Sciences. UFISA's African partners include Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University from South Africa, as well as University of Botswana and Polytechnic of Namibia.

Vikki du Preez (on the left in the picture), teacher at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), taught strategic user-centered design for eight weeks at Aalto University's Department of Computer Science and Engineering in January and February. She also lectured at Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

– The exchange has been a phenomenal experience. After working in one place for years you can become ingrained in processes. It has been great to get an outsider's view of teaching and programs. Aalto and CPUT are really not that different. At Aalto, teaching is organized in shorter courses, whereas at CPUT most courses run through the entire academic year. But the content of the studies is similar, said Vikki du Preez.

Enkosi Xalisa is a student of information technology at CPUT. He is currently studying at Aalto University School of Science. During his five-month exchange, he also attends classes at Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

– The exchange has exceeded my expectations. I have gotten so much help with finding accommodation as well as other practical arrangements that I was able to settle here fast, although the climate and culture are different from South Africa. Studying at Aalto University is a bit more intensive than studying at CPUT, and I was surprised to find that students from different fields attend the same lectures here, said Enkosi Xalisa (on the right in the picture).

– I find it very advantageous that students with different majors interact. The diversity brings richness to projects and debate. And I must say that the framework for international students and lecturers at Aalto University works incredibly well. That allows us to focus on what's important: studying and teaching, said du Preez.

In addition to student and teacher exchange, UFISA includes an intensive course that will be organized in South Africa in May 2013. The lecturers of the course include Vikki du Preez as well as teachers from Finland, and students and teachers from Botswana and Namibia will also be participating. The UFISA funding will enable the exchange of altogether four students and teachers from Finland to Africa and from Africa to Finland.

– The School of Science has not had student or teacher exchange with Africa until now. This project allows us to familiarize ourselves with African educational systems, new universities as well as the studying and academic culture of our partners. Our students now have a unique opportunity to study in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia for one semester, said Eija Kujanpää, UFISA Coordinator and Manager of International Relations at the School of Science.

UFISA's goal is to bring students to work together on user-centered design in projects that include members of local communities. The projects aim at developing information and communication services that help the local people. They may for example be websites or mobile applications that support disadvantaged young people or that bring healthcare services to the community.

– CPUT works closely with the local people. There is an actual space at CPUT, which belongs to the so called living lab activities, where members of local communities can come together with students and teachers and engage in the development of new services, which suit that particular community and environment, said professor Marko Nieminen, who works at Aalto University School of Science and is the academic coordinator of UFISA.

– International cooperation is part of Aalto University's strategy but it should always be linked to our teaching and research. User-centered design and cooperation with developing countries is an important research area. UFISA also carries social importance, which must not be overlooked. The joint projects of African and Finnish students can actually make a difference in people's lives, said Nieminen.

Vikki du Preez and Enkosi Xalisa will bring home many new ideas and experiences.

– It is important to be exposed to different approaches when it comes to teaching and research. It is also good to meet new colleagues and build networks for future research opportunities. We both feel enormous gratitude to the staff and students of Aalto University for this experience, said du Preez.

– The exchange has given me an opportunity for personal development. I have made new friends, been exposed to more things than I thought was possible and gotten ideas for new projects. I am also studying basic Finnish, said Xalisa.

Text and photo: Anu Jussila

Information on UFISA exchange (ufisa.aalto.fi/en/)

Contact person:

Eija Kujanpää
Manager of International Relations
Aalto University, School of Science
tel: +358 50 537 3355
eija.kujanpaa@aalto.fi

UFISA – User Centered Design for Innovative Services and Applications

UFISA is a two-year project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs through The North-South-South Higher Education Institution Network Programme. It promotes student and teacher mobility and supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as well as Finland's Development Policy. It also supports Aalto University's strategy of international cooperation and global sustainability by building the know-how of developing countries.

- Indonesia's middle class is expected to grow from its current 50 million to 130 million by 2030. There is enormous potential for commercial education provision. Finland is recognized in Indonesia as a model country for education. Aalto EE's program is a good example of Indonesian demand and Finnish expertise coming together, says Kai Sauer, Finland's Ambassador to Indonesia.

- The cooperation between educational institutions in Indonesia and Finland is really something important that needs to be continuously promoted in order to provide Indonesians with more quality education. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia gives its full support for the enhancement of the cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries. I myself am very confident that the collaboration between the Institute Technology of Bandung (ITB) and Aalto EE on this Executive MBA Program will prosper and bring a lot of positive outcomes in Indonesia as well as in Finland, states Elias Ginting, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Finland.

The Aalto Executive MBA program is tailored for experienced leaders. Its focus is on developing strategic insight and thinking, and on the challenges involved in applying new leadership practices in a global operating environment.  Participants complete half of their two-year studies in Jakarta and half in Singapore. They also have the opportunity of flexible participation in study modules in other Aalto Executive MBA programs in Helsinki, Seoul, Taipei and Poznan.

The Financial Times has ranked the Aalto Executive MBA as the best in the Nordic Countries. Each year, the Financial Times evaluates no more than 100 of the world's best Executive MBA programs.

Year after year, Finland has been at the top of the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which gages students’ key skills required in the future.  Finnish executive education programs are also among the best in the world.  Aalto University Executive Education (Aalto EE), which offers an international Executive MBA Program, is is the best provider of management education services in Finland, and with its respected accreditations also represents the top 0.4% in the world.

For further information, please contact:

Kati Illikainen, Executive Director, Asia Pacific
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel: +65 6339 7338, GSM +65 9459 8073
kati.illikainen@aaltoee.sg

Pekka Mattila (Dr. Pol. Sc.), Managing Director, Visiting Professor
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel: +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

Anneli Lappalainen, head of student services, explains that there is no one single reason for the increase in the number of degrees. According to Lappalainen, the act limiting the duration of studies has speeded up the completion of degrees but studies are also being monitored more closely, for example the accumulation of completed courses is now checked more regularly.

Another reason for the growing number of completed master's degrees could be that there are now more international two-year master's degree programmes.

'International students usually receive their degrees within the allocated time periods. Unlike Finnish students, they might not be entitled to student financial aid, making accommodation and life as a student in Finland expensive for them. They are also used to completing their studies at a fast pace, because international universities often have tuition fees.'

Applicants for Master's degree studies should apply via our online application system. In the field of economics and art and design the target programmes are degree programmes and in the field of technology the target programmes are master's programmes instructed in English and major subjects of degree programmes. The application deadline is 15 February 2013.

Aalto University offers altogether approximately 150 target programmes in Finnish, Swedish or English during the application period 2013. There are also two cross disciplinary programmes: Creative Sustainability and International Design Business Management.

• Link to the online application system (apply.aalto.fi)
• Study options (aalto.fi/en/studies/education)
• More information about the application process (aalto.fi/en/studies/admissions)

The ranking lists the top 80 business schools in Europe. Last year, the School of Business was placed 22nd in a league table of 75 business schools.

The Aalto University School of Business remains the only Finnish business school on the list. The Stockholm School of Economics, which was placed 20th, was the only Nordic business school ranked higher than the Aalto University School of Business.

The ranking criteria used include the career and salary development of the graduates and overall international dimension of the teaching.

‘We are very pleased that the School of Business was able to improve its position in this year’s ranking. We will continue to focus on ensuring that we will remain in the top group of European and international business schools,’ says Ingmar Björkman, Dean of the Aalto University School of Business, commenting on the results.

The IE Business School in Spain took the top spot, with HEC Paris in France coming second.

Earlier this autumn, Financial Times published its ‘Masters in Management ranking 2012’, which lists the top 70 master’s degree programmes of the world. The Aalto University School of Business was placed 39th on this list. The international CEMS Master’s Degree programme, which is provided by the CEMS Alliance, a network of 28 universities and 75 corporate partners, came third. The Aalto University School of Business is a partner to this programme.

European Business School Rankings 2012


Ingmar Björkman
Dean Professor
ingmar.bjorkman@aalto.fi
p. +35840 7040291
Aalto University Scool of Business

− The DBA is an international doctoral program offered by high-quality educational institutions. We provide an internationally competitive DBA program for companies and executives who are interested in developing themselves further. The program has attracted interest, especially in Asia, where Aalto EE has thousands of Executive MBA alumni, says the Academic Director of the Aalto Executive DBA Program, Professor Henrikki Tikkanen, Aalto University School of Business.

Year after year, Finland has been at the top of the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which gauges students’ key skills required in the future. Finnish executive education programs are also among the best in the world. As part of Aalto University, Aalto EE holds all three of the respected international business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, - widely called the “Triple Crown”, and represents the top 0.4% in the world. The Aalto Executive MBA Program is ranked number one in the Nordic countries, and number 83 in the world.

− Aalto EE serves as a bridge between East and West in terms of leadership expertise. Achieving top quality lies at the core of our operations. We want to be the preferred partner of international companies in Northern Europe and Asia, says Dr. Minna Hiillos, Business Area Director, MBA and EMBA Programs, Aalto EE.

The Aalto Executive DBA Program can be completed, alongside work, in three to six years. The program has a rolling intake, and a personal progress plan is tailored for each participant.

- Aalto Executive DBA serves both the student and the employer. Students can write their DBA dissertations for their employers; theory and practice become linked and create new knowledge that can immediately be applied to the company’s development activities, Hiillos continues. 

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Minna Hiillos, Associate Dean
Business Area Director, MBA and EMBA Programs
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel: +358 50 583 9521
Email: minna.hiillos@aaltoee.fi

Dr. Henrikki Tikkanen
Professor, Aalto University
Tel: +358 50 573 4174
Email: henrikki.tikkanen@aalto.fi

Aalto EE

Aalto University Executive Education, Finland offers high-quality executive development services, drawing on the many strengths of its extensive international network and the competencies of Aalto University. Its mission is to build a better world through better leadership and educate a new generation of leaders. Aalto EE’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers education programs in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia.  As part of Aalto University, Aalto EE holds three respected business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS certificates. In this respect, it is representative of the top 0.4% institutions in the world.

− Competition is intensifying in the executive education markets. This year, the evaluation included 14 new business schools, five of which are based in China. Only two Nordic programs ranked among the best 100 this year. The Aalto Executive MBA was clearly the better of the two, says Dr. Minna Hiillos, Business Area Director responsible for Aalto University Executive Education's MBA programs.

The comparison covers various sub-areas, such as the students' career progress and the educational level of the professors. The Aalto EMBA Program was ranked best for the diversity of its program contents, participants and professors. Another strength of the Aalto EMBA Program is the participants' salary increase. In European comparisons, the Aalto EMBA was ranked 26rd, and 83rd in a global comparison.

− Nordic gender equality is clearly an asset for us. Both in Europe and Asia, our EMBA programs encourage women to embark on international executive careers. A considerable number of female executives are on our programs, which have an above-average share of female professors. In addition, our multidisciplinary approach and international presence are indisputable assets, adds Dr. Hiillos.

− We currently offer the Aalto EMBA Program in as many as eight countries, with Russia as our latest conquest. Our success in the globally recognised Financial Times ranking provides an excellent basis for implementing our growth strategy. We want to be the preferred partner for international companies in Northern Europe and Asia, says Dr. Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director, Aalto EE.

For the fourth consecutive year, the joint EMBA run by the Kellogg School in Illinois, US, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, took first place.

Aalto Executive MBA participated in the ranking under the name Aalto University EMBA.

For further information, please contact:

Minna Hiillos, Associate Dean
Business Area Director, Degree Programs
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel. +358 50 583 9521
minna.hiillos@aaltoee.fi

Pekka Mattila D.Soc.Sc., Group Managing Director, Visiting Professor
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel. +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

Aalto University Executive Education offers high-quality executive development services, drawing on the many strengths of its extensive international network and the competencies of Aalto University. Its mission is to build a better world through better leadership and educate a new generation of leaders. Aalto EE’s strengths lie in its global model of operation and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto EE offers education programs in Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, and Russia.

In practice, each organisation employed one student for the summer, and they worked on both the joint project and on their employer's own projects.

"In exchange for the salary of one student, the organisations got the ideas of six students. Additionally, the organisations were given the opportunity to build a cooperation network amongst themselves", explains Jaakko Paloheimo, the project's coordinator at Aalto University.

For the participating students the project provided the opportunity to make contacts not only with working life, but with each other.

"When engineers, designers and economists get acquainted with the manner in which each group thinks and speaks during studies, it will make their future working life easier", reminds Mr Paloheimo.

Broad development project on the horizon

The project's aim and purpose was to come up with ideas for wood buildings specifically in Espoo's Otaniemi, Tapiola and Keilaniemi areas, i.e. the so-called T3 area, because this has been envisioned as a showcase for timber construction. The students also came up with such ideas as the Living Lab timber construction test area and the movable project container, the latter of which could be used as a cooperation and communication space for construction projects.

In addition to their construction proposals, the students drew up suggestions on what types of new cooperation projects could be included in the construction of these buildings. Another aim of the project was to come up with tools and operation models that could be used to increase wood industry's refining value.

The project is based on the new Dirikka 2012+ operating model, the purpose and aim of which is to bring multidisciplinary students from Aalto University and different organisations together in implementation of projects that promote sustainable development and responsible business operations.

Project participants included the City of Espoo, Vanhanen Yhtiöt, Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, SRV Group Plc., Metsä Wood and Aalto University Properties Ltd. The Aalto University students who took part were Joakim Eriksson, Antti Hellgren, Kristiina Laine, Maija Parviainen, Heikki Soininen and Mikko Virta.

The work of the students will be utilised in drafting an expansive and long-term cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Aalto University and the City of Espoo. The objective of this agreement will be to develop the timber construction industry and wood industry. A letter of intent was submitted on the topic in February, and the cooperation agreement is due to be signed at the Puupäivä 2012 event, which will be held at Wanha Satama in Helsinki on 29 November.

Text: Nina Erho

In the picture from left to right: Heikki Soininen, Joakim Eriksson, Kristiina Laine, Mikko Virta, Maija Parviainen and Antti Hellgren.

Further information:
Project coordinator Jaakko Paloheimo
jaakko.paloheimo@aalto.fi
tel. +358 50 344 2386/ +358 400 460 144

− Finland desperately needs new growth companies. This means that we also need highly competent and widely experienced managers that are also trained in the unique challenges that face entrepreneurial initiatives in various environments, says William Cardwell, head of the Aalto University Center for Entrepreneurship (ACE), who will lecture on his area of specialty in the program.

− Entrepreneurship is not only about private enterprise, but also about each employee's inner entrepreneurship: a creative approach, enthusiasm and inspiration. It is a topical key issue in the global economy, and we want to offer students an opportunity to familiarize themselves profoundly with all aspects of entrepreneurship, says Associate Dean Minna Hiillos.

The Aalto Part-Time MBA is an internationally recognized two-year program in business management, pursued alongside work. It offers elective modules in entrepreneurship, applied finance and accounting as well as managing innovation and renewal.

The students represent a diversity of fields and typically have 7–10 years of work experience. About 1,000 people have completed the program since 1983. It is constantly developed in response to changes in the operating environment, feedback from students and insights from top international lecturers. The next Aalto Part-Time MBA program will begin in January 2013.

Aalto EE holds the three most prestigious business university accreditations, placing it among the global top 0.4 percent of business schools.

More information:
Minna Hiillos, Associate Dean, MBA and Executive MBA Degrees,
Business Area Director, Degree Programs
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel. + 358 50 583 9521
minna.hiillos@aaltoee.fi

Anu Sirkiä, Head of Growth
Aalto University Executive Education
Tel. + 358 50 568 8638
anu.sirkia@aaltoee.fi

Aalto University Executive Education (Aalto EE) offers high-quality executive development services, drawing on its extensive international network and the competencies of Aalto University. Its mission is to build a better world through better leadership and educate a new generation of leaders. Aalto EE's strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering of programs. Aalto EE currently operates in Finland, Singapore, Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Russia. It is among the global top 0.4 percent of business schools, as it holds the three most prestigious business university accreditations: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.