Aalto in Shanghai project brings the message of Aalto University to Shanghai World Expo
14.05.2010
The Aalto in Shanghai project brings the Finnish Aalto University to Shanghai World Expo. The project consists of 15 different projects realized by the three schools of Aalto University: The School of Art and Design, School of Technology and School of Economics. The theme of Shanghai World Expo, “Better City – Better Life” has been a starting point for all the projects.
The opening of Aalto-Tongji Design Factory (ATDF), a creative operational environment of 1000 m2 will bring another Finnish pavilion to the Expo in addition to the Finnish pavilion Kirnu. ATDF is the first step in building Sino-Finnish Centre that will provide the basis for long-term cooperation between Chinese and Finnish universities with the energy of Shanghai World Expo.
Aalto University and Tongji University will sign the agreement to found the center at the opening ceremony of ATDF, May 25th. The formation of the centre is a sign of the importance of China in the internationalization strategy of Aalto University.
Born as a result of a long-term cooperation between Aalto University and one of the best Chinese universities, Tongji University, Aalto-Tongji Design Factory will continue the tradition of Otaniemi-based Design Factory in the context of Shanghai by providing possibilities for unbiased, practical and applied cooperation between universities and companies. ATDF will spur students, professors, researchers, the industry and the business on dialogue, foray, prototyping and interaction between theory and practice.
The best universities and companies in both Finland and China as well as the leading international universities will participate in the functions of the Sino-Finnish Centre and the ATDF. This way the Sino-Finnish Centre will develop into an internationally significant center for education, research and innovation.
Other ventures related to Aalto in Shanghai are, among others, Aalto LAB workshop that will concentrate on societal challenges, Helsinki Higher Education Days that has its emphasis on the cooperation between universities and showcasing the higher education in the capital region, Aalto on Tracks that will take 100 Aalto people to Shanghai with a train. The students of Aalto University School of Art and Design have participated in realizing the world’s biggest textile wall located in the showroom floor of Kirnu as well as in designing the work clothing for the guides at Kirnu.
The Aalto in Shanghai- website has been opened recently at www. shanghai.aalto.fi . It is possible to subscribe to a weekly newsletter, to follow the news and the blos related to the project as well as to get more in-depth knowledge on the vast and ambitious project as a whole!
More info:
Aalto in Shanghai / Tuuli Sotamaa, tuuli.sotamaa [at] aaltouniversity [dot] fi, 050 3316727
Aalto-Tongji Design Factory / Viljami Lyytikäinen, viljami.lyytikainen [at] tkk [dot] fi, 044 5724467
Sino-Finnish Center / Yrjö Sotamaa, yrjo.sotamaa [at] taik [dot] fi, 0500 503 868
