Finnish universities join forces to train 5G experts

The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted € 1.05 million for a FITech 5G training project involving free university courses linked with the subject matter for at least a thousand Finns. FITech is a university network in the field of technology coordinated by Aalto University. The funding is part of a nearly €20 million package earmarked by the ministry to promote continuous learning and developing skills among people of working age.

Taking part in the project are all eight FITech universities and the University of Helsinki. Aalto University is coordinating the project, and its academic director will be Heikki Hämmäinen, Professor of Networking technology. In addition to the universities, several leading companies in the field are involved. They have had a central role in defining the needs for skills, knowledge, and training.

The Finnish Institute of Technology (FITech) aims to announce the courses available on its website by the summer (www.fitech.io). The number of available courses is to be expanded in the autumn of 2021. Topics of course to be made available include, for example, the internet of things, embedded internet, system vulnerabilities, and wireless technologies. Applications for the course take place through the Studyinfo service, and learning is free of charge throughout the project period, until the end of 2023. Anyone may complete the available courses; students do not need to be registered at the university.

The funding granted will be used for the implementation of teaching related to 5G technology, organising support and services that adult students need, and for marketing the training and coordinating the project. At the same time, the aim is to develop the quality of the studies, while promoting cooperation among universities, as well as between universities and companies.

Finland needs 5G skills to keep its leading position

The need for experts in 5G technology is rapidly growing in Finland and around the world.

Fast and high-capacity mobile connections are made possible by 5G network technology. The coronavirus pandemic has spurred the move to 5G network technology by increasing the need for remote work, remote guidance of production, and other new services.

An exceptionally strong position has opened for Finland in developing 5G network technology, and the industrial products and services that utilise it. Finland holds a leading global position in the field, and keeping that position depends on how capable we are at training skilled labour for the needs of a growing market.

‘FITech 5G is an important remedy for the shortage of domestic skills and knowledge in data networks. Both professional development of corporate personnel, and encouraging final-year university students to study 5G courses, are providing rapid help for the needs of industry. Meanwhile, this is part of the long-term goal to raise Finland to an international leading position in ICT know-how’, Professor Heikki Hämmäinen says.

Further information:
Heikki Hämmäinen
Professor, Aalto University
+358 50 384 1696
heikki.hammainen@aalto.fi

The Finnish Institute of Technology (FITech) offers selected studies from all of Finland's universities of technology. The courses are open to all and free of charge. Founding members of FITech are the universities, as well as Technology Industries of Finland, and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK).

Photo: Aalto University / Aki-Pekka Sinikoski