TAMK’s new Vice President is Sanna Wesanko: ”A lot is going on at TAMK. It is nice to join the workings”
Master of Arts, Master of Education and Psychotherapist Sanna Wesanko was appointed as Tampere University of Applied Sciences’ new Vice President for education. Wesanko will start her orientation on 7 February and in her actual position on 1 July 2022, when the present-day Vice President Päivi Karttunen retires.
“This is a unique and great job opportunity. I find TAMK as a very attractive work community and workplace. I am motivated and look forward to starting at TAMK,” Sanna Wesanko says.
Wesanko transfers to the position from Laurea University of Applied Sciences where she worked as a development manager. She earlier worked as the head of social services field and senior lecturer at Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak).
“It is a pleasure that I can observe Päivi in her work and learn from her. I intend to meet many people, talk with them and above all listen to what is going on at TAMK,” Wesanko continues.
Wesanko is a Master of Education from the University of Eastern Finland and Master of Arts from the University of Helsinki where she is also completing her doctoral studies. Her doctoral thesis deals with English-language degree programmes and international students’ studies at universities of applied sciences. Wesanko is also a qualified psychotherapist and student counsellor.
26 candidates
The vice president position was open for application on 15-30 November 2021. The public vacancy announcement was complemented with head hunting. A total of 19 candidates sent their application during the period. Head hunting identified 50 profiles and contacted 27. Seven of them became candidates. Three candidates were from TAMK and one of them was interviewed. Nine of the candidates were men.
The selection panel was formed by TAMK’s President Tapio Kujala, Vice President Päivi Karttunen, Director Jouko Lähteenmäki as well as Staff Representative Jussi Savolainen and Student Representative Kia Kauppinen from the Board of Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
The selection panel chose seven candidates for interviews and decided unanimously on the top two candidates who were sent to aptitude tests. The Board’s final proposal was based on the selection panel’s unanimous proposal.
“In the end, we had two excellent candidates. It was easy to submit the proposal to the Board and the Board agreed with our proposal. It is great that Wesanko can start alongside Päivi. Now we will build a good orientation programme for the new vice president for education,” says President Tapio Kujala.
The selection panel considered that Wesanko’s strengths were knowledge of the university of applied sciences sector and pedagogy and managerial skills demonstrated in different roles at Laurea and Diak. Her strengths also included competence in formulation of strategical objectives and engagement in turning objectives into successful operation.
“I have a long career in universities of applied sciences, which supports me in my new position. It is now great to continue in a new, multidisciplinary and popular university of applied sciences. A lot is going on at TAMK and it is nice to join the workings,” Wesanko says.
Appointment of Wesanko was also supported by her strong interaction skills, English language skills and entrepreneurship experience. As a student counsellor, Wesanko has strong experience in student cooperation and support of student wellbeing.
