Keijo Hämäläinen appointed as President of Tampere University
Hämäläinen is currently working as Rector of the University of Jyväskylä. Prior to that he served as Vice Rector, Dean and Professor of Physics at the University of Helsinki. His positions of trust include, among others, chair of the board of the Universities Finland UNIFI in 2020–2021 and memberships in the boards of the Finnish Innovation Fund SITRA and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Hämäläinen received his PhD in the field of physics from the University of Helsinki in 1990.
The President leads the operations of the foundation-based Tampere University and serves as the CEO in accordance with the Foundations Act. The President is responsible for the development of the University as well as the economic, efficient and productive performance of the University’s tasks. The term of Mari Walls, the first President of the new Tampere University which was established through the merger of Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere, will come to an end when the new President takes over the tasks.
The Board of Tampere University Foundation, which operates as Tampere University, began the planning of the recruitment of President in spring 2022, and decided on the selection criteria in November 2022. The person to be appointed as President was expected to hold a doctoral degree, possess strong expertise related to science and research, demonstrate extensive experience of managing a significant organisation that maintains active liaisons with international partners, and possess an in-depth understanding of the higher education landscape and excellent communication skills.
A total of 21 persons applied for the position. 11 of them were invited to the be interviewed based on the experience and expertise detailed in the job announcement. Five applicants were invited for the next phase. Two top candidates entered the final phase and presented themselves to the University community at a hearing.
“I am delighted to become a member of the Tampere Universities community and offer my expertise and experience for its use. The key point is to create an operating environment where the members of the community can advance scientific research and high-quality teaching, and transfer their competence for the benefit of the academic community and the society as a whole. As producers of competent people and expertise, Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences play an increasingly important role in the development of the Tampere region. Systematic investment in shared ecosystems with both business life and public sector stakeholders is needed to boost societal impact,” notes the future President Keijo Hämäläinen.
“We have today completed a long process and made the Board’s most important single decision by appointing Professor Keijo Hämäläinen as President of Tampere University and CEO of the Tampere University Foundation group,” says Jorma Eloranta, Chair of the Board of Tampere University Foundation. “The Board is confident that in cooperation with the Tampere Universities community and under the leadership of Keijo Hämäläinen, we possess all prerequisites to become a stronger University and University of Applied Sciences and seize future opportunities. I am pleased that the Board has been unanimous in all decisions related to the recruitment of President.”
”I wish to thank current President Mari Walls for good cooperation with the Board and her work for the benefit of the university foundation,” Eloranta says.
Further information:
Board Chair of Tampere University Foundation Jorma Eloranta
Keijo Hämäläinen
Call requests: Director of Communications Anna-Maria Maunu, tel. +358 50 590 0614, anna-maria.maunu [at] tuni.fi (anna-maria[dot]maunu[at]tuni[dot]fi)
