International alum reunion was a joyful gathering and a celebration of 30 years of friendship
Tampere left its mark – a shared start to adult life
The international alum reunion from 10 to 13 September brought together around 25 participants from all over the world in Tampere. Alums travelled from countries such as Japan, Mexico and the United States, along with several European countries.
During the 1996–1997 academic year, something magical happened among the international students at the then University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology: degree and exchange students studying different subjects bonded to form an exceptionally close-knit group.
Much of the autumn 2026 reunion was organised by Gabriel Rosell, born and raised in Cuba. He says that for many, their independent adult life began back then in Tampere. He also believes that the Student Union’s international department played its part in bringing the group closer together.
“The Student Union’s international activities three decades ago were a lot of fun and abundant, and we could see that even before we had arrived in the country. We received information and, once we were here, some practical items too – I still use a pan and a Fiskars knife I got back then,” Gabriel says.
The group members spent a lot of their free time together on Finnish language courses, cooking, social evenings, sauna sessions and nature trips in Kintulammi. Many also took part in excursions to Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Ylläs, Stockholm, Tallinn, Riga and St Petersburg.
“The group has stayed together throughout these thirty years. We keep in touch via instant messaging and social media, and many have visited each other over the years. Some stayed on to live in Finland, some have visited Finland from time to time, and some were now in Finland for the first time since 1997,” Gabriel says.
Materials engineering, information technology, sociology, civil engineering…
The alum group members studied a wide range of subjects in Tampere, across different faculties and, at that time, even different institutions – the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology. They have also gone on to pursue a variety of careers.
Kerry, from the UK, studied Materials Engineering in Tampere and now lives in Bermuda. She works as a data engineer, transforming financial data into meaningful insights and reports. Looking back three decades, she particularly remembers how cold it was in Finland. At the reunion in September 2026, however, the cold did not feel quite so intense.
Alessandro, an Italian, returned to his home country after studying in Tampere and now lives in Bergamo, northern Italy. He studied Mechanical Engineering in Tampere and now works as an engineer in the maintenance department of a textile company. What he remembers most vividly about Finland are the colours – and, conversely, the whiteness of winter.
Masako, originally from Japan, studied sociology and the Finnish language in Tampere. She now lives in Sweden, where she works as a speech language pathologist. She says she has many sweet memories of Tampere and made many friends from different countries. She feels she has carried Finland in her heart for the past 30 years.
Henning, from Germany, studied Civil Engineering at Tampere University of Technology. He now works on environmental projects at a civil engineering office in Germany. In addition to many friendships and wonderful travel memories, he says he took something very special back home from Tampere.
“I met my current wife at a Bommari party 30 years ago; we now live in Germany and have two children. My year in Tampere was fantastic and, in many ways, life-changing,” he says.
Gabriel, one of the organisers of the alum gathering and of Cuban origin, has lived in Finland for the past thirty years. He holds a Master of Science degree in Information Technology and works for a Tampere-based company that develops patient information systems for clinical laboratories.
“Finland left a lasting impression on me – there’s something special about this place. I was an intern at the university in the late 1990s, and I was immediately struck by the Finnish laid-back attitude and sense of equality. For example, a distinguished professor emeritus went with me to look for warmer shoes for the Finnish winter – we walked to Laukontori and back with him. Right from the start, I got the feeling that life here is relaxed and that even in professional contexts, not everything is about work.”
Campus visits, evening get-togethers, sauna sessions, music and black sausage – ‘the full Finnish experience’
The programme of the September alum gathering was highly varied. The four days included visits to the Hervanta and city centre campuses, lunches and dinners, sauna sessions, a concert at Tampere Hall and a salsa event. In addition, those who wished could take part in walking tours around the former student accommodation areas, Pispala and Pyynikki, Finlayson and Tallipiha, as well as the banks of the Tammerkoski rapids.
In addition to the organised programme, many participants had also arranged shared accommodation, cottage stays and visits to each other’s homes to coincide with the alum gathering.
“It was a proper Finnish get-together. It was incredibly nice that people came from all over the world to spend this time together. Everyone shared their amazing stories and memories from over the years,” Gabriel sums up with a broad smile.
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If you have studied or worked at a university in Tampere, you are part of the alumni community of Tampere University. Our alumni belong to a vast, influential network that also serves as a powerful resource.
Author: Tiina Leivo
