Dare to care! Eye on TAMK emphasised the importance of higher education institutions in making a better tomorrow
"Ask questions, participate in discussions and challenge views. Seize the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and cultures. Your personal dedication makes Eye on TAMK a success,” urged TAMK's President Mika Hannula in his opening speech.
The theme of the biennial international week this year was Dare to Care! The Different Aspects of Wellbeing in the World of Applied Sciences. There was a programme from all fields of study at TAMK for both teaching staff and other staff.
During the International Week, we share expertise, teach, get to know TAMK's fields of study and the Finnish education system, participate in workshops and network. Eye on TAMK provides an excellent framework for creating contacts with other professionals, exploring funding opportunities together and launching new projects.
"The broader phenomena that the ‘Dare to Care’ theme deals with are the problems of students' coping, which have been discussed a lot lately, as well as the themes of coping in working life in general – of course, also those of the staff," says Senior Lecturer Marianna Leikomaa, who organised the event.
As an first-time participant at TAMK, Professor of Health Sciences Vasiliki Kolovou from Hannover University of Applied Sciences came to Finland with an open mind.
"The International Affairs Office advertised this event, and I found it very interesting for my own discipline. Everything in the program is interesting. If you keep your mind open, you can grab something from everything. I don't stay in my own field of science but I dare to listen to everything!”
Associate Professor Muhammed Yusuf Kandur from Antalya Belek University was also at TAMK for the first time. On Wednesday, he was particularly excited about an AI-themed program that focused on the ethical use of AI.
"I think it's very important to remember that artificial intelligence is just a tool, not a savior.”
For TAMK's Uninovis partners, the event offered a great opportunity to meet and plan the alliance's activities going forward. The Uninovis Alliance is a consortium of seven European higher education institutions that brings data expertise into higher education. Eye on TAMK's programme included separate Uninovis track and workshops. Representatives from Paris Sorbonne Nord, the University of Tirana, the Technical University of Wurzburg-Schweinfurt and Kauno Kolegija from Lithuania came to Tampere. In addition, The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, which work closely with the Uninovis alliance, were represented.
Fears must not prevent caring and seeking solutions
Tuesday's seminar programme included a keynote speech on mediation journalism by Mikko Hautakangas, a researcher of journalism and media culture. The recording of the seminar can also be watched afterwards on Yle Areena until 10 April.
Mediation journalism aims to reduce the polarisation of the media, i.e. the emphasis on the voices of the extremes, while the silent majority receives less attention. Polarisation can lead to anxiety, sadness and frightening when following the media. As one example, Hautakangas highlighted the political situation in the United States, which is portrayed in the media in a very polarised way.
"However, the information we get from the media should encourage us to act and do something about the problems we see. Fears must not prevent us from caring," Hautakangas says.
Hautakangas himself works as a volunteer conflict mediator.
"It feels good. Mediation reinforces the idea that most people are not idiots and do not wish each other harm. Sometimes you can be surprised at how well others are able to deal with their problems and look for solutions.”
The business logic of the media encourages more and more provocative expression and feeds fears, anxiety and threats. Journalists would still like to do their work according to their ethical principles and not at the mercy of business logic. Journalists could also create hope and peace through their work. Mediation journalism can be used to try to create listening and solutions between the parties to the conflict.
The three basic principles of mediation journalism can be applied to all conflict resolution. The principles are: resolving tensions, encouraging listening and strengthening trust. Of these, Hautakangas particularly emphasised radical listening.
"Listening is not easy. Cynicism is. Listening is radical, usually learning about others and oneself at the same time. At the very least, you can learn that in this case, dialogue is not possible. Only when you take the other person seriously and listen carefully can the other person listen to your differing opinions. By investing in radical listening, the needs of both parties can be clarified in order to achieve the best possible solution.”
"Listening requires courage. Listening and dialogue can be seen as a risk or an ineffective strategy. Sometimes they can be. That's why you should choose your fight and think about what you can influence.
Hautakangas reminded the audience of the importance of science and research in forming a worldview. You can't understand the world just by following the news.
"Let's maintain hope for a better future"
Social work lecturers Ilona Venckiene and Ausra Kavaliauskiene have been at Eye on TAMK seven years ago. They both collaborate a lot with TAMK's Social Services and Health Care Unit. They also participated in the online implementation of the event during the coronavirus pandemic, which they think was a huge success. At this year's event, these lecturers from Kaunas Kolegija held a workshop on the topic: "Strengths Perspective in Social Work".
According to Kavaliauskiene, TAMK is a pioneer in many ways.
“TAMK is always a few steps in the future. We always look up to TAMK and imagine the future.”
Venckiene hopes that Eye on TAMK will encourage the participants to create a better future for everyone through their own work.
"By working together and creating something new, we can make the world a better place to live. Despite the fact that in this global political situation we do not always know what we are working towards, I hope that we will maintain faith in the future. We will survive this, and we will find the strength to create something good within ourselves.”
Eye on TAMK seminar in Yle Areena.
TAMK Rector Mika Hannula and Educational Counsellor Kaisu Piiroinen from the Ministry of Education and Culture opened the seminar. The theme Dare to care! will be opened by Keynote speaker Mikko Hautakangas, a panel of experts and TAMK project actors.
Author: Emmi Rämö
