Shaking up Tech inspires young people to explore technology

Shaking up Tech offers young people considering their future careers an opportunity to explore studies and career paths in technology, and to meet students, researchers and industry professionals. The event will feature presentations and workshops, and the participants will get hands-on experience of what the work is like.

First held in 2018, the event was created to lower the threshold for entering a field that not everyone feels is for them. Although young women in Finland perform well in mathematics and science, their interest in studying technology is often low.

A positive bubble 

Sara Ikonen, who holds a Master of Science (Technology) degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, was involved in building the concept from the very beginning. ‘We wanted to create an event where the field of technology appears approachable and diverse,’ she says. ‘It was great to see how positively companies responded to supporting the event. Many of the partners and speakers were experienced women in technology, and their stories made a strong impression.’

Karola Salminen, who holds a Master of Science (Technology) degree in Civil Engineering, has taken part in the event as many as five times in different roles. According to Salminen, it was especially important to meet people she could relate to and to try out practical work: ‘One of the most memorable things for me as a participant was a workshop where we built a mobile application. Even though it wasn’t directly related to my own field, it was a fun and educational experience. The workshops really are the highlight of the event.’

The event is organised in collaboration with several universities in the field of technology and reaches hundreds of young people across Finland on the same day. On the Aalto University campus alone, there are 300–400 participants each year. ‘The event creates a positive bubble where young people can explore opportunities and gain the confidence to apply to technical fields,’ says Karola Salminen.

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