Weisell Foundation donates 70 000 euros to Aalto University Junior

The Weisell Foundation, a long-time supporter of Aalto University, is donating €70 000 to Aalto University Junior to be used for scaling up workshops in robotics.

‘Robotics-related workshops are among the most popular workshops at Junior, and they are always fully booked quickly,’ says Veli-Matti Ikävalko, Head of Aalto University Junior.

Robotics workshops aim to inspire children in the world of robotics, programming, electronics, and automation at an age group appropriate level.

‘We will continue to organise robotics workshops at the Junior Lab on the Otaniemi campus, but space and time there are limited. Thanks to the donation from the Weisell Foundation, we can now also go into schools and reach even more children and young people,’ says Ikävalko.

‘We tested the technology workshops in schools last semester, and they were received with great enthusiasm,’ says Riikka Keto-Tokoi, Technology Coordinator at Aalto University Junior.

‘This donation will help us to offer a glimpse into the world of robotics to school groups that do not have the opportunity to visit the Junior Lab in Otaniemi.’

Robotics lessons in schools will start already this autumn semester.

‘We will hire a coordinator who will plan the workshops and visit the schools with Aalto University students who act as instructors in the workshops. The target area is mainly Uusimaa, but if resources allow, we are willing to travel further afield,’ says Ikävalko.

The donation will also be used to buy new robots for the workshops.

Weisell Foundation is a longtime supporter of Aalto University

The Weisell Foundation supports projects related to the sea, environment, research, and education. With donations from the foundation, Aalto University has, for example, educated sales experts by donating to the Professor-of-Practice position in Sales, and supported and equipped the Metsähovi radio station.

This current donation is motivated by the Foundation's desire to strengthen future technology skills. 

‘In an evolving world, the need for people with technology skills and understanding is only growing. We believe that this kind of education will help to increase interest in understanding technology,’ says Mikko Voipio, Chairman of the Weisell Foundation. 

‘We are grateful to the Weisell Foundation for this new donation! It will help us to bring the joy of learning to more and more children and young people. With robotics, we can concretise the interaction between technology and humans in a versatile and thought-provoking way," says Petri Suomala, Vice President for Education at Aalto University.

Text: Helena Salminen / Aalto University

Photos: Aalto University Junior