News

A virtue of the Nordic system

The free Nordic educational system guarantees that students’ study paths are guided by personal interests rather than “safe vocational choices”. This is good for creativity, says Henri Weijo.
Henri Weijo Aalto
Henri Weijo

I teach creativity for marketing students, and my own research also focuses on creativity. Thinking about what creativity is and how it can benefit both individuals and society as a whole, is a central concern for me, on a nearly daily basis.

As Aalto resides on the terrain of an egalitarian Nordic country, it already gives some unique advantages. Egalitarianism, as opposed to hierarchical organising, provides a fertile ground for creative collaboration.

I have found teaching creativity incredibly rewarding—probably more rewarding than any other topic I have taught at the business school."

Henri Weijo, Assistant Professor

As a multidisciplinary university where all the disciplines are (finally) located next to each other, there is hope for creative encounters. The free Nordic educational system also guarantees that students’ study paths are guided by personal interests rather than “safe vocational choices”. This is good for creativity.

We need to manage the flip side of Nordic egalitarianism: conformity. Radical creativity rocks the boat, and this can lead to calls for pulling back creativity by virtue of maintaining consensus.

Henri Weijo
Assistant Professor
Marketing
School of Business

Unfolded

Aalto University UNFOLDED magazine focuses on contemporary issues dealing with creativity, experimentation, and transdisciplinary co-creation.

Read more
Unfolded_logo

Radical creativity

We build an outstanding creative community for new thinking.

Read more
Radical creativity illustration: Anna Muchenikova
  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

Professori Junhe Lian
Research & Art Published:

ERC funding to Assistant Professor Junhe Lian to explore new materials via advanced manufacturing

Assistant professor Junhe Lian's goal is to develop an efficient, digital, and ecologically sustainable method for developing new materials and advanced manufacturing technologies with the help of the ERC Starting Grant.
Opening event Qual+_School of Business
Research & Art Published:

A New International Center for Qualitative Management Research, Qual+, has been opened

One of the center's main objectives is advancing methodological connections across researchers
Man (Otto Scharmer) talks from screen to a member of the audience with back to camera.
Campus Published:

The knowing-doing gap and how not to sink in it

What we need is a shift in focus from knowing to not knowing, claims action researcher and MIT senior university lecturer Otto Scharmer.
Liikuteltavan magneettikuvauslaitteen prototyyppi.
Research & Art Published:

Accessible MRI could revolutionise the diagnosis of brain disorders

A research team at Aalto is developing an accessible magnetic resonance imaging machine