Marja Sutela and Jarmo Takala appointed as Vice Presidents of Tampere University
Marja Sutela has served as Tampere University’s Vice President for Education since 2019, overseeing the University’s education and life-long learning. She has previously worked as Vice President for Education and RDI, and Director of Degree Education at Tampere University of Applied Sciences. She has also worked as professor of public law, associate professor and researcher at the universities of Joensuu, Tampere and Lapland. She holds docentships in the University of Vaasa and the University of Eastern Finland.
Sutela was a member of the National Study Grant Advisory Board for the Finnish Government in 2015–2021 and serves as a member of the Higher Education Students’ Student Health Care Advisory Board in 2021–2024. Her international positions of trust include, among others, memberships of the Learning & Teaching Steering Committee of the European University Association (EUA) and of the Vice Presidents for Education Group of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). Sutela has served as member or chair of several panels in connection with universities’ quality audits.
Jarmo Takala has served as Tampere University’s Provost since 2019. Prior to that he served as Vice President for Research, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Electrical Engineering, and Head of the Department of Computer Systems at Tampere University of Technology (TUT), and headed TUT’s international master’s programme in information technology. He has also held research positions at Nokia Research Center and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Takala has led numerous national and international research projects over the course of more than two decades. In his role as Provost, he has been involved in the coordination of the activities of the Pori and Seinäjoki University Consortia.
Takala is an active member of international scientific associations dedicated to the advancement of information technology, takes part in the work of programme committees of scientific conferences and papers, and has participated in launching international collaboration with many universities. He has experience in working as scientific advisor for universities abroad and for international companies.
Tampere University’s third Vice President oversees research activities. Doctor of Medical Science and Doctor of Philosophy Tapio Visakorpi continues to serve as Vice President for Research for the term which began on 1 January 2022.
According to President of Tampere University Keijo Hämäläinen, it is important that the University’s top management has the capability to renew operations while taking care of continuity.
“These appointments ensure that we now are in such excellent position. In addition, the University’s spearhead fields – technology, health and society – are well represented by the Vice Presidents”, Hämäläinen says.
Hämäläinen appreciates the high number and excellent competence of applicants. A total of 26 persons applied for the Vice President positions.
“I’m pleased to see that these top management positions at Tampere University generated wide interest both within the University community and beyond”, Hämäläinen continues.
The position of Vice President for Stakeholder Relations and Partnerships is new at Tampere University. With the introduction of the new Vice President position, the position of Provost will be discontinued and the duties that have been carried out by the Provost will be distributed between the President and Vice Presidents. The Provost has served as the academic president of research and education, and as the supervisor of deans.
According to Marja Sutela, managing and improving the quality of education at the international Tampere University, and supporting the pedagogic competence of teaching staff and the wellbeing of students require active dialogue with the University community.
“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to continue my work as Vice President for Education at Tampere University. Collaboration with working life ensures that students will possess knowledge, skills and competences required in the society. It is great to get to advance this together with Tampere University’s competent staff and students”, Sutela says.
Jarmo Takala points out that societal interaction has always played a significant role in the activities of universities in Tampere.
“The new Vice President position further emphasises the importance of networks and partnerships. I look forward to joining in the inclusive work to develop this strategic area”, Takala concludes.
Enquiries
President Keijo Hämäläinen
tel. +358 294 532 107
keijo.hamalainen [at] tuni.fi
