Elli Aaltonen appointed Professor of Practice at Tampere University

Docent Elli Aaltonen has worked as Director General of the National Insurance Institution and as Director General and Counsellor of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland. She has extensive experience in leading social and health affairs in municipalities and joint municipal boards. Aaltonen has also held various positions of trust in NGOs, including the Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older People and international organisations in social policy and social insurance.

“I earned my first academic degree at Tampere University. I now want to share my know-how and experience in social and health affairs and the entire social security reform in the higher education community. I attach great importance to the theme of sustainable welfare policy and the multidisciplinary development of this field,” says Professor of Practice Aaltonen.

According to Juho Saari, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, who has been active in establishing the professorship, Aaltonen brings with her extensive social and health policy knowledge and exceptionally wide social networks both nationally and internationally.

“Aaltonen participates in the development of social and health policy research at Tampere University as part of the profiling of the University. Her key role is to build collaboration and new innovative openings in the interfaces of the university’s strategic spearheads,” Saari says. 

Aaltonen also teaches students and doctoral researchers. Her work contribution can also be used in the preparation of the current social and health policy reforms and in the development of the university’s policies.

“The aim of appointing professors of practice and industry professors is to strengthen the University's interaction with various actors in society, both in Finland and internationally. The positions are not professor’s duties under the Universities Act, and instead of academic merits, the selection focuses on significant merits in both the private and public sectors. At Tampere University, we are very pleased to welcome Elli Aaltonen as Professor of Practice,” says President Mari Walls.

 

Inquiries:

Dean Juho Saari, Faculty of Social Sciences, juho.saari [at] tuni.fi, tel. +358 40 828 1027

Professor of Practice Elli Aaltonen, Faculty of Social Sciences, elli.aaltonen@tuni,fi, tel. +358 50 435 0374