Petri Suomala appointed as Vice President for Education

The Board of Aalto University has appointed Vice President for Education at Tampere University of Technology, Professor Petri Suomala, as Aalto University’s new Vice President for Education. The position will start on 1 September 2018, with a period of office of five years. Petri Suomala follows Eero Eloranta, who is retiring on 18 September 2018.

Dr. Tech. Petri Suomala (b. 1974) has worked at Tampere University of Technology as Professor of Profitability Management and Management Accounting since 2009. Professor Suomala was appointed Head of Department of Industrial Management in 2011, Dean of Faculty of Business and Built Environment in 2014 and Vice President for Education in 2016.

Petri Suomala has also worked at Tampere University of Technology as Head of Cost Management Center (CMC) Research team, and at Lappeenranta University of Technology as Adjunct Professor, Industrial Engineering and Management, focusing especially in business economics.

'We found an excellent new Vice President for Education to follow Eero Eloranta. Petri Suomala has a successful career in demanding academic leadership positions, a convincing academic track record and excellent leadership experience and skills. His competence and vision in learning, teaching and pedagogy is outstanding and his student focused mindset suits Aalto University perfectly. His deep understanding of our fields, especially business and technology, is accompanied by a strong interest in arts and design. We wish him warmly welcome,' says Ilkka Niemelä, President of Aalto Unviersity.

'Aalto University has shown that it has a great potential to be a forerunner in higher education. The combination of science,art, business and technology at the level of curriculum provides a solid foundation for impact both nationally and globally. I feel privileged and delighted to join Aalto's team, which has clearly demonstrated its passion for education and wellbeing. I am looking forward to working together and meeting the emerging challenges that universities are about to face in the coming years,' Petri Suomala states.

Petri Suomala reports to Provost Kristiina Mäkelä.

More information
Riitta Silvennoinen, Chief Human Resources Officer, phone +358 40 525 9257, riitta.silvennoinen@aalto.fi