1 JYVÄSKYLÄ VRT Finland: Below the surface Jyväskylä swimmers aim for the Olympics Jyväskylä Festival turns sixty SUMMER/AUTUMN 2015 On the Move Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system EARLY IDENTIFICATION MEANS EASIER TREATMENT Brain research:
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1
JYVÄSKYLÄVRT Finland:
Below thesurface
Jyväskylä swimmers aim
for the Olympics
Jyväskylä Festival
turns sixty
SUMMER/AUTUMN 2015On the Move
Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system
EARLY IDENTIFICATION MEANS EASIER TREATMENT
Brain research:
2 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
ISSN 1795-3146 (Print)ISSN 2342-1002 (Online)Editorial Office in this issueJyväskylä Educational Consortium
Viitaniementie 1 A, P.O.Box 472, FI-40101 Jyväskylä
Published twice yearly, Jyväskylä On the Move magazine showcases the expertise, culture and people to be found in the Jyväskylä Region.
4 TOP CLASS BY WORLD STANDARDS
6 WHAT DOES PISA MEASURE?
8 FINNISH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION GOES GLOBAL
9 EDUCLUSTER FINLAND EXPORTS KNOWHOW
10 EYES OPEN FAR FROM HOME
12 JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA: 60 YEARS AND NO LIMITS
14 LAND OF GREEN GOLD
16 INTERDISCIPLINARY BRAIN RESEARCH
18 BELOW THE SURFACE
20 JYVÄSKYLÄ SWIMMERS AIM FOR THE OLYMPICS
22 COST SAVINGS BEAR OUT CLAIMS
20
JYVÄSKYLÄSUMMER/AUTUMN 2015City On the Move
3
what kind of edu
cation and training
is arranged here in
Finland. In China
questions associat
ed with the promo
tion of entrepren
eurship have also
come to the fore as
the country’s eco
nomic growth has
shown signs of
weakening.
Where interna
tional education
ex port projects are
concerned a solutioncentred approach based on dialogue plays
a key role. We do not attempt to dictate any absolute truths,
rather we seek to develop education in the target country with
due regard for local realities.
FINLAND, TOO, IS FACED WITH major change. Multicul
turalism and urbanisation are having a strong shaping effect
on our society. In the latest PISA study Finland’s results fell
away slightly, which provides grounds for analysing carefully
the reas ons for this change and putting the necessary counter
measures in place.
Industry is also on the brink of a new era. In future we need
companies whose business is predicated on new innovations
and highlevel expertise. The major industrial players have al
ready acknowledged the extensive opportunities presented by
the bioeconomy. The rise of the bioeconomy is inevitable as fos
sil fuels gradually run out. n
Vesa Saarikoski
CEO
Jyväskylä Educational Consortium
FIRST WORDS
JUNE 2015
THE FINNISH EDUCATION SYSTEM enjoys a firstclass inter
national reputation. Our highcalibre system of education not
only generates equality and wellbeing but provides the busi
ness sphere with the foundation on which to build success in
the global competition.
Jyväskylä is known first and foremost as a city of education.
The level of interest in our expertise, for instance, is revealed
by the fact that virtually every week pedagogues and represent
atives of educational administrations from different countries
visit the city’s colleges and institutions of higher education.
These international visitors want to make their acquaintance
with a system whose 15 year olds have achieved top results in
all the PISA studies conducted since the beginning of the 2000s.
Teacher education has attracted particular attention. In Fin
land the work of a teacher is highly appreciated at all levels,
from early education right through to university level. In many
developing economies teachers are unfortunately in a weaker
position, which in vocational education, for example, may be an
obstacle to interactive cooperation with businesses.
JYVÄSKYLÄ’S SPECIAL STRENGTH when it comes to export
ing education and expertise is that the major providers of edu
cation, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the University of
Jyväskylä and Jyväskylä Educational Consortium, are engaged
in close cooperation. The knowhow possessed by these organ
isations is brought to the international market with the help of
a jointly owned expert company, EduCluster Finland Ltd. What
is more, Jyväskylä has a large number of small and medium
sized firms whose expertise is regularly made use of in interna
tional projects.
Experts from Jyväskylä Educational Consortium, for instance,
have been involved in an educational export project which cov
ered implementation of continuing education for vocational
teachers in Shanghai. China, which is conducting a major over
haul of its vocational education, wishes to boost the pedagogic
and vocational expertise of its vocational teachers as well as the
match between education and working life needs. Finland has
long traditions of giving education a working life orientation.
The needs of industry and commerce have a strong influence on
Education generates equality and wellbeing
MIKA JUHANI LUOMANSIVU
4 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
TOP CLASS
Almost three-quarters of Finns aged 25–64 have at least successfully completed
secondary education, in other words they have passed the matriculation
examination or obtained a vocational qualification, while a third have gone on to
higher education. The Finnish education system is considered one of the world’s
best. Finland’s success is largely down to a highly uniform system of comprehensive
education offered to the whole age cohort, well-trained teachers and a large degree
by world standards
Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system
4 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
5
TOP CLASS
by world standards
of independence for schools. The solid reputation of the comprehensive school
is based to no small extent on excellent PISA results. Secondary-level vocational
education, in turn, enjoys greater appeal in Finland than in the other Nordic countries
according to a recent study conducted by the University of Jyväskylä.
This is exceptional, since elsewhere in Europe vocational education often struggles
for appreciation.
Class 6A at Jyväskylä’s Tikka
primary school learn mathematics
and other school subjects chiefly from textbooks,
but apps and games are used
alongside them.
5
6 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
At school my favourite subject is textiles. It’s really
nice to work with different kinds of fabrics, for
example, right now we’re making a hoodie. My other
favourite subject is history. When I’m older I want to
become a writer or graphic designer. In my free time
I like to read and write stories as well as draw and
design my own things.”
Heta Parikka, 12
”
PROFESSOR JOUNI VÄLIJÄRVI from the University of Jyväsky
lä’s Finnish Institute for Educational Research considers that
the reason for Finland’s PISA success is the homogeneity of the
education on offer. Differences between schools and areas are
small, while differences within age groups are also minor.
“The good results are also explained by teacher education,
which is of high quality and distributed around different parts
of the country. In many western countries appreciation of the
work done by teachers has fallen in recent years, but in Finland
this trend has not been noticeable,” says Valijärvi, who coordin
ates the PISA study.
Välijärvi believes that the high regard in which a teacher’s
work is held can be traced to Finland’s history. The central
building block of Finnishlanguage culture and the identity of
the nation as a whole has always been egalitarian basic educa
tion.
Urbanization and population concentration can be observed
in the PISA results both in Finland and in other countries that
are rapidly becoming urbanized.
“Although in Finland the effect of one’s home background is
still one of the smallest among the countries studied, its impor
tance has grown from 2003 onwards. Differences between areas
are visible to the extent that especially the results of boys who
remain in declining rural areas are weaker than those of girls.”
WHAT DOES PISA MEASURE?Finland’s impressive success in the PISA study measuring the knowledge and skills of 15 year old pupils
has continued for over a decade, a phenomenon which has sparked international interest in the Finnish
education system. For the countries participating PISA generates valuable information that serves as a
basis for educational development.
Words by Timo Sillanpää Photo by Petteri Kivimäki
It is precisely on phenomena like these – brought about by
societal change – that PISA offers valuable information. When
a developmental trend has been identified, the curriculum can
be changed.
Mathematics, science and reading
PISA’s most important research question can be put like this:
what is the level of scholastic performance in different coun
tries and how evenly is this distributed between pupils, schools
and different parts of the school system?
“The study has three main domains, reading, mathematics
and science, which alternate at three year intervals. In addition
we focus on young people’s attitudes and beliefs concerning the
topics being studied,” Välijärvi explains.
PISA, which was introduced at the start of the 2000s, was
originally a testing tool intended solely for the use of OECD
countries. Today roughly 50 per cent of the countries participat
ing in the PISA study come from outside the OECD.
The reason why the OECD countries originally engaged in
the PISA study was the question of whether the education sys
tem produced suitably skilled people for the labour market and
competencies for a decent life as a citizen of the modern world.
“At the turn of the millennium it was thought that the coun
tries of the west were successful in the global competition only
Words by Pia Tervoja Photos by Petteri Kivimäki
GALLUP: PUPILS IN CLASS 6 A, TIKKA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system
6 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
7
I like physics and chemistry, because in those you
can carry out different experiments and test various
phenomena. Not too long ago we experimented with
series connection of lamps and making a lamp light
up with a battery. I’m also interested in history, at
least on those occasions when we deal with wars and
revolutions. I don’t yet have any dream profession, but
I like to do up old cars with my dad.”
Joni Flyktman, 13
”
because of the high level of education and expertise. At that
time the process of shifting production to countries with low la
bour costs had already begun. In Finland we take the view that
in addition education is a key tool in producing societal equali
ty,” Välijärvi continues.
The PISA studies have also shown that in Finland in the
same age cohort there may be a gap of 6–7 years in terms of ex
pertise between the strongest and weakest tenth of pupils. In
most other countries the gap is bigger still.
“What disturbs me most is if pupils who require special sup
port are seen as problem cases. In many countries the differ
ences between schools have become exacerbated precisely for
these reasons.”
Information technology a part of the 2015 study
Mathematics was the major domain of the studies conducted
in 2003 and 2012, reading in 2000 and 2009. In the study to be
carried out in 2015 science is the major domain for the second
time.
In 2015 PISA will be conducted with the help of information
technology. The point of departure is that expertise will be best
revealed in tasks that are as authentic as possible and mimic
real life situations.
“The use of information technology in teaching is increasing
all the time. Information technology permits tasks in PISA that
correspond to today’s knowhow demands and produce fresh
ele ments for the study. These, for example, include finding in
formation and navigation,” Välijärvi suggests.
The rapid development of technology has given rise to new
questions. In Finland too basic education has relied on school
like study. Abundant use of technology, however, seems to em
phasize skills of a different kind.
“There are grounds for asking whether PISA measures young
people’s new skills adequately enough, such as networking tak
ing place in the mobile world,” Välijärvi points out. n
PISA AND PIAAC
• PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is an OECD study of 15 year old pupils’ scholastic performance which is conducted every three years. PISA studies were carried out in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012. The results of the PISA study to be conducted in 2015 will be published towards the end of 2016.
• PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Compet-encies) is an international study of adult competencies launched by the OECD in which the basic skills of the adult population (16–65 year olds) are assessed as well as use of the same both in the workplace and everyday life. The average literacy and numeracy skills of Finnish adults are excellent by international standards, but the differences between age groups are large.
“In many western countries appreciation of the work done by teachers has fallen in recent years, but in Finland this trend has not been noticeable,” says Professor Jouni Välijärvi. Pictured here, teacher Sanna Paananen.
GALLUP: PUPILS IN CLASS 6 A, TIKKA PRIMARY SCHOOL
7
8 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
FINNISH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION has special characteris
tics which are also of interest in the international sphere. Work
life orientation is one of the most important cornerstones of
vocational education. Study content is formulated in close dia
logue with enterprises in the area and workplace learning is a
central feature of the educational process.
“Workplace learning lasts for at least half a year, but should
he or she so wish a student can learn to become a profession
al almost entirely in a genuine work environment”, states Kirsti
Kosonen, Principal of Jyväskylä College.
The aim of studying is to encourage the construction of indi
vidual career paths. The range of study options also boosts stu
dents’ motivation. According to Kosonen students can choose,
for example, parts of different vocational qualifications and also
take upper secondary school courses.
In Finland all vocational upper secondary qualifications are
broadranging and provide general eligibility for further stud
ies in higher education. More and more young people indeed
want to learn a practical trade before entering higher education.
In Jyväskylä a special local characteristic could also be list
ed among the strengths of vocational education. At Jyväskylä
College a strong effort has been made to develop entrepreneur
ship studies.
“Students have the opportunity to set up their own coop
erative businesses for the duration of their studies. There are
over a hundred of these socalled Young Entrepreneurship (in
Finnish Nuori Yrittäjyys, NY) businesses each year.”
Important opening in Shanghai
The developing countries have been quick to recognise the
strengths of Finnish vocational education. China, for instance,
wishes to improve the level of the country’s vocational educa
tion by making use of Finnish expertise.
Jyväskylä Educational Consortium, to which Jyväskylä Col
lege also belongs, is involved in a groundbreaking vocational
education export project which is of national significance. At
the end of 2014 the ChinaFinland Center of Excellence in Vo
cational Education was opened in Shanghai. Its purpose is to in
crease the quality and worklife orientation of vocational educa
tion in China.
“We have committed ourselves to longterm educational de
velopment in Shanghai. In 2014 we already arranged a pilot
training programme in vocational teacher training for almost 60
vocational teachers. In April 2015 a new programme began in
FINNISH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION GOES GLOBALKirsti Kosonen, Principal of Jyväskylä College, crystallizes the strengths of Finnish vocational education
into three things: worklife orientation, study options and flexibility.
Words and photo by Pia Tervoja
which local teachers are trained as trainers”, says Project Man
ager Kirsi Koivunen.
In addition to Jyväskylä Educational Consortium the Finnish
consortium includes EduCluster Finland Ltd, HaagaHelia Uni
versity of Applied Sciences and Omnia, the Joint Authority of
Education in the Espoo Region.
Kirsti Kosonen emphasizes that Finnish education cannot be
exported as it stands; rather the needs of the export country
take pride of place. Where educational exports are concerned
one also has to be prepared for the long haul.
“It is important to operate in different international forums,
since it is through these that new contacts are made. We are in
volved, for instance, in WorldSkills competitions. One of our
teachers is responsible among other things for arranging the
whole Print Media Technology competition as competition dir
ector and chief judge”, explains Kirsti Kosonen.
“Where the export of vocational education is concerned there
is less global competition than in university education, for ex
ample. Finnish educational expertise interests the developing
countries from a variety of perspectives”, Kosonen states. n
“FINNISH EDUCATIONAL EXPERTISE INTERESTS THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FROMA VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES.”KIRSTI KOSONEN
Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system
9
SEPTEMBER 2014 WITNESSED the startup in Doha, the Qatar
capital, of an international school whose establishment and op
erations are the responsibility of Finnish experts from EduClus
ter Finland. The school forms part of the Qatar Supreme Edu
cation Council’s Outstanding Schools Program, the purpose of
which is to boost the quality of education in the gulf state.
Two model schools in Abu Dhabi function on virtually the
same principle. In addition Finnish teachers and experts are in
volved in numerous other projects concerned with education
al development. In the Chinese metropolis Shanghai, in turn, a
major development assignment in vocational education extend
ing over a number of years is in progress.
Statelevel reform projects in which complete education sys
tems and largescale entities are overhauled constitute the core
expertise of Central Finlandbased EduCluster’s knowhow
driven business.
”For us these kinds of direct agreements are strategically im
portant, but we also implement development cooperation pro
jects, funding for which comes, for example, from Finland’s
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the European Union or develop
ment banks,” explains EduCluster Finland’s Managing Director
JanMarkus Holm.
In Central Finland the points of departure for business in
volving professional services are good. The University of Jy
väskylä is wellknown in particular for the expertise to be found
in the Faculty of Education.
EduCluster Finland
EduCluster Finland exports Central Finnish educational expertise to the developing countries. Extensive
educational development projects are currently under way in the Arabian Peninsula and China.
Words by Pia Tervoja Photo by Petteri Kivimäki
Vocational education, in turn, has been developed purpose
fully over many years and there is a clear demand for expertise
of this sort in the developing countries.
”Central Finland has been blessed with foresight in that edu
cation has always been regarded here as one of our spearheads.
Enterprisedriven professional services business, on the other
hand, is relatively new,” JanMarkus Holm points out.
Demand all over the world
EduCluster Finland Ltd – jointly owned by the University of
Jyväskylä, JAMK University of Applied Sciences and Jyväskylä
Educational Consortium – is responsible for the commercializa
tion of educational exports and matters of a contractual nature,
tailors the development project in partnership with the client
and hunts for the bestqualified experts.
At present its international clients are to be found chiefly in
the Arabian Peninsula, next comes Asia, with South America in
third position.
”We have a solid number of projects of varying scale under
negotiation. The expectation is that the company will record
growth of almost one hundred per cent this year.”
In the near future the company will have more feet on the
ground closer to its clients since it is in the process of estab
lishing a subsidiary in Doha, Qatar. Holm believes that before
too long the same need will arise in China’s most populous city,
Shanghai. n
“CENTRAL FINLAND HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH FORESIGHT IN THAT EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGARDED HERE AS ONE OF OUR SPEARHEADS. ENTERPRISE-DRIVEN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUSINESS, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS RELATIVELY NEW.”JAN-MARKUS HOLM
EXPORTS KNOWHOW
10 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
FINNISH MODELS OF NURSING higher education have been
disseminated in China, with that employed in Jyväskylä being
particularly sought after. Last autumn 81 Chinese bachelor’s
level students of nursing started a programme at Beihua Univer
sity, China, known as the Joint Nursing Programme of Beihua
and JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
A key element of this programme is for teaching in Beihua to
be conducted by teachers from JAMK University of Applied Sci
ences. In addition the educational cooperation agreement will
bring teachers of nursing from China to Jyväskylä for onthejob
training, in order to promote implementation of the joint pro
gramme and assure programme quality.
”My goal is to develop myself as a teacher by means of new
European methods. We can take novel forms of education back
to China and test how well they work there,” says Ling Gong,
who arrived in Jyväskylä at the beginning of March.
She arrived at JAMK University of Applied Sciences for a
threemonth training period with another Chinese teacher, Wei
Liu.
Ling Gong has worked in China as a teacher for ten years and
Wei Liu for five. The two women, who are from the city of Jilin
in northeast China, undergo training in Jyväskylä, follow lec
tures and conduct discussions with Finnish experts.
Finland makes use of new technology
Ling Gong hopes that the training period in Jyväskylä will open
her eyes still further from an educational point of view.
EYES OPEN FAR FROM HOMEChinese teachers of nursing plan to take the strengths of the Finnish training model from Jyväskylä back
to their home university.
Words by Tommi Salo Photo by Petteri Kivimäki
”In Finland students use a lot of new technology as part of
their studies and are highly motivated where online teaching,
for instance, is concerned. Finnish students may also already
possess working life experience, whereas in China students are
generally fairly young when they start university.”
”In China organising smallgroup discussions is frequently
difficult due to the large number of students. A lecture may well
be attended by over a hundred people,” Ling Gong continues.
She says that she has noticed that study in Finland is strong
ly expertisedriven and always focuses on particular areas of
knowhow.
Ling Gong explains that together with Wei Liu they made an
effort in advance to familiarize themselves with nursing cur
ricula at JAMK as well as pedagogical methods.
”It would be good for our own students to come to study and
work in Europe. Here the conditions for living and working are
firstclass,” Ling Gong says enthusiastically.
The threemonth period in Jyväskylä has provided an excel
lent opportunity to get to know not only nursing higher educa
tion but also local people, their culture and way of life. n
Focus on Finland’s top-flight education system
My favourite subject in school is PE, because during
the lessons you get to move and try out different
disciplines. The most recent thing we had was
apparatus gymnastics. In my spare time I go riding
and I could imagine becoming a riding teacher, for
instance. My other dream is linked to medicine. I
would like to become a vet or an ordinary doctor, who
helps other people.”
Elsa Parikka, 12
”
Words by Pia Tervoja Photos by Petteri Kivimäki
GALLUP: PUPILS IN CLASS 6 A, TIKKA PRIMARY SCHOOL
u In Jyväskylä Chinese teachers Ling Gong (2nd left) and Wei Liu (centre) have acquainted themselves with models of Finnish nursing higher educa-tion, including the practices employed by Meini Korpela (left), Emmi Jääske-läinen (right) and Tuuli Saarivaara (2nd right), students at JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
10 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
11
LEGACY OF UNO CYGNAEUS AND WOLMAR SCHILDT
• Clergyman Uno Cygnaeus (1810–1888) is considered the father of the Finnish element-ary school which provided the model for today’s comprehen-sive school system. In 1860 he published a proposal for the introduction of public education in Finland. Cygnaeus’ pro-posal included the creation of a Finnish-language training col-lege for primary school teachers in Jyväskylä, which became a reality in 1863.
• Jyväskylä district physician Wolmar Schildt (1810–1893) had a major influence on getting his student fraternity friend Uno Cygnaeus to set up the teacher training college in Jyväskylä rather than elsewhere. Thanks to Schildt’s activity the first Finnish-language grammar school, Jyväskylä Lyseo, was also established in Jyväskylä in 1858. He was also the first to put forward the idea of founding a Finnish-language university in Jyväskylä. The university envisioned by Schildt did not become a reality until significantly later, in 1966.
Sources: Wikipedia, Jyväskylä University Museum, www.finnica.fi
Of all my school subjects my favourite is technical
work, because we get to do different things in every
class. The latest thing we did was making a lamp
tester, which you can use to test whether a material
conducts electricity. In the future I would like to
do something connected with music. During piano
lessons I play classical music, but otherwise in my free
time I do beats for hiphop.”
Viljami Sillanpää, 12
”GALLUP: PUPILS IN CLASS 6 A, TIKKA PRIMARY SCHOOL
11
12 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA CELEBRATES its 60th anniversary in
2015. The Finnish classical music scene also has other reasons
to celebrate in 2015, because this year marks 150 years since
the birth of composer Jean Sibelius, and Aulis Sallinen – a com
poser known for his operas – celebrates his 80th year.
Jyväskylä Sinfonia was founded in 1955 and consists of 38
musicians. Known for its bold and versatile repertoire, the or
chestra is especially popular with audiences in Central Finland
but also has devoted fans outside its own region. Its Wednes
day concerts are usually held in Jyväskylä City Theatre, and the
550 seats are generally almost sold out. The average seat occu
pancy rate for the orchestra’s concerts at this venue, which was
designed by Alvar Aalto, is around 95 per cent.
“Combining different musical styles, performing film scores
and popular music, and blending different art forms have in
creased the orchestra’s popularity, especially during the 2000s.
JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA: 60 YEARS AND NO LIMITSFounded 60 years ago, Jyväskylä Sinfonia is an
adventurous city orchestra which crosses both
artistic and geographic boundaries. Its spirited
performances, which blend different art forms,
have brought international fame.
Words by Timo Sillanpää Photos by Petteri Kivimäki
The popularity resulting from this broadened repertoire shows
that Jyväskylä Sinfonia has to keep reinventing itself – like
other orchestras, it must find ways to positively surprise the
audi ence at every concert,” says Kristiina Itäranta, Jyväskylä
Sinfonia’s General Manager.
An example of the way the orchestra brings together various
art forms is the Action Painting concert held with artist Tiina
Osara in 2011. Osara painted a work at the same time as the or
chestra performed music by Edward Elgar, Domenico Cimarosa
and Richard Strauss. During the performance her brush strokes
were projected onto the wall of the concert hall.
“Events like these have helped to raise our profile both within
Finland and internationally. In particular, our critically ac
claimed recordings have brought the orchestra to the attention
of international audiences,” Itäranta states.
The orchestra crossed another artistic boundary in April
when Markku Andersson, who had recently retired from his
post as Mayor of Jyväskylä, took the speaking role in a perform
ance of “Yllätysjuhlat” (The Surprise Party).
Music knows no boundaries
There’s no doubt that Jyväskylä Sinfonia is the city’s most inter
national place of work.
“Music knows no boundaries. The musicians in our orchestra
are from more than eleven different countries: Ukraine, France,
13
JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA: 60 YEARS AND NO LIMITSJapan, Poland... Many originally came as visiting musicians but
then fell in love with the city and settled down permanently,”
Kristiina Itäranta says.
International collaboration also extends to Jyväskylä Sinfo
nia’s recordings, where it works with companies like Naxos,
which specialises in classical music.
The orchestra has ongoing cooperation with a worldwide net
work of agents, one purpose being to attract visiting musicians.
“Musicians from all over the world come to our auditions. Re
cruitment is always based on artistic merit, and the judges only
listen to the music – they don’t know who is playing. Our re
cruitment process supports the formation of an international
working community.”
Performances near and far
Jyväskylä Sinfonia rapidly grew much more international dur
ing the period 2003–2012, when Frenchman Patrick Gallois
was Chief Conductor. During his period at the helm, the orches
tra undertook concert tours to a number of countries includ
ing Spain, France, and Japan. The current Chief Conductor Ville
Matvejeff has maintained the international focus with concerts
featuring world renowned soloists.
At the same time as the orchestra looks for new internation
al dimensions, the musicians have to serve the audience in their
home city in ever more versatile ways.
“In addition to its regular concerts, nowadays the orches
tra has to go out and bring its music to places where the audi
ences are. Our smaller ensembles have brought the joy of music
to audi ences in places like shopping centres, mobile libraries,
schools and old people’s homes. We occasionally perform con
certs of light music with famous Finnish artists as soloists.”
A lot of background work has to be done to organise a con
cert featuring international soloists, and this work starts at least
half a year before the concert. This time is needed because top
soloists have full diaries and a few days have to be reserved for
rehearsals. Travel tickets and accommodation also have to be
booked in good time.
Jyväskylä Sinfonia’s Chief Conductor is contracted to lead
eight concerts in Jyväskylä each year, as well as recordings and
tours. Metvejeff was appointed Chief Conductor in 2014 and
his contract runs until the end of 2019. The orchestra’s Prin
cipal Guest Conductor, Moshe Atzmon, has a contract until at
least the end of 2016. n
Jyväskylä Sinfonia’s Easter Concert was Bach’s St John Passion performed in Taulumäki Church with top international soloists. The concert was led by Chief Conductor Ville Metvejeff and featured solos from Ida Falk Winland (soprano), Diana Haller (mezzo-soprano), Joshua Owen Mills (tenor), Leon Kosavic (bari-tone), Juha Kotilainen (Jesus) and Simo Mäkinen (Evangelist).
JYVÄSKYLÄ SINFONIA• In 2014 the orchestra performed at a total of 108 musical events, includ-
ing 62 concerts. The events were enjoyed by a total of 28 003 listeners during the year. The orchestra’s discography consists of almost 40 record-ings. Recording companies it has worked with include Naxos.
• www.jyvaskylasinfonia.fi
14 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
FINLAND HAS BEEN CALLED the land of green gold, and this
will continue to be an appropriate description in future, too.
The bioeconomy is regarded as one of Finland’s success factors,
and in this country it is strongly based on wood. There is no
shortage of wood in Finland, because more wood grows than is
used. Annual growth is slightly over 100 million cubic metres
while industrial utilisation is currently around 60 million cu
bic metres per year. Utilisation could be increased to 70–75 mil
lion cubic metres while remaining within the limits of sustain
able forestry.
Finland has the raw material, and it also has almost unlimit
ed scope for processing it. Wood biomass could be used to man
“Nowadays the technology exists to manufacture almost any
thing from biomass. The real questions concern what products
it would be economically viable to make, and what products
there would be viable markets for,” says Raimo Alén, Professor
of Applied Chemistry at the University of Jyväskylä.
Using wood in composites
Central Finland has knowhow and a long track record in wood
processing, so Alén sees cellulose derivatives as a possible addi
tional local success factor.
LAND OF GREEN GOLDEvery year more wood grows in Finland’s forests than is used. In terms of the bioeconomy this provides
a vast raw material resource for innovation of completely new types of products and services.
Words by Tommi Salo Photos by Petteri Kivimäki and Tommi Salo
“We used to make pulp and paper before. Now wood material
is being increasingly used to produce energy and chemicals, for
example. Someone could start manufacturing composites that
combine wood and plastic,” Alén states.
“In Central Finland we have a major competitive advantage
in the forest bioeconomy. We also understand agricultural food
chain models and we know how to manage the nutrient cycle
in nature,” says Pekka Äänismaa, Director, Institute of Bioeco
nomy at JAMK University of Applied Sciences.
Work at the Institute of Bioeconomy has included research
into new types of processing method for forest chips, and rais
ing competence levels in areas like wastewater and water man
agement, and in realtime monitoring of waterway emissions
on fields, in forests and at peat production sites.
Bioeconomy is such a broad concept that it cannot be de
fined in simple terms. As an example, bioeconomy covers pro
duction that utilises natural, renewable materials by adopting
and developing new innovations and technologies. Bio economy
means an economy that uses renewable natural resources to
produce food, energy, products and services.
Converting plans into action
Potential does not automatically mean a successful outcome.
As elsewhere, the bioeconomy in Finland needs more entre
For the bioeconomy to achieve its growth potential, people will need to be educated and trained. One of the University of Jyväskylä’s research strengths in applied chemistry has been renewable natural resources and the chemistry of the living environment. In all, students in applied chem-istry have graduated with over 200 Master’s and almost 70 higher degrees.
“This is a growth area and we need more new people. Wood chemistry is an example of a field where Finland does not have enough experts,” Profes-sor Raimo Alén states.
JAMK University of Applied Sciences has trained new bioeconomy ex-perts by offering targeted bioenergy courses to unemployed graduates. In 2016 the University of Applied Sciences will launch a new Master’s degree programme with a focus on bioeconomy.
EDUCATING NEW PROFESSIONALS
Professor Raimo Alén u
14 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
15
preneurial activity and people with the right skills.
The objective of Finland’s bioeconomy strategy is to increase
the nation’s bioeconomy output to 100 billion euros by 2025
and to create 100 000 new jobs.
It has been calculated that in Central Finland the bioeconomy
will produce more than 2 000 new jobs in the next few years,
after which the sector will account for almost 15 percent of all
employment in the region.
A new bioproduct plant is to be built in Äänekoski, north
of Jyväskylä, and it is predicted that when production starts
this plant will provide more than 2 500 jobs over the entire
value chain. The plant is the largest investment in the history of
Finland’s forest industry and will also require more than 6 000
manyears of work during the construction stage.
“In Central Finland the bioeconomy is being developed in a
companyoriented way. We don’t simply want to plan things,
we also want to pilot and test new solutions,” Äänismaa points
out.
“SMEs require a broad mix of skills, from bio economy
professionals to IT specialists,” Alén states. n
“WE DON’T SIMPLY WANT TO PLAN THINGS, WE ALSO WANT TO PILOT AND TEST NEW SOLUTIONS.”PEKKA ÄÄNISMAA
15
16 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
TIINA PARVIAINEN, DIRECTOR OF THE Jyväskylä Centre
for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, has a busy schedule. The
Centre , which was established around three years ago, is now
getting its MEG laboratory ready for use, and negotiations are
ongoing with representatives of both the scientific and health
care communities on how the facility will be utilised.
“The MEG instrument cost three million euros, so it’s rather
like an aircraft. We have to ensure its utilisation rate is as high
as possible,” Parviainen says.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a research method that
uses sensors around the subject’s head to measure weak mag
netic fields created by the electric currents involved in commu
nication between neurons. MEG is very accurate and enables
areas of brain activity to be located within a few millimetres.
“Clinical uses of MEG have included localising areas of epi
leptic activity. New hopes for the clinical application of MEG in
clude verifying road accident victims’ whiplash injuries. Even
though structural changes might not be visible in magnetic
ima ging, MEG could show abnormalities caused by accidents,”
Parviainen explains.
She goes on to say that the objectives for brain research at
the Jyväskylä Centre are high. It is intended that the laborat
ories will be equipped with worldclass technology. In addition
to MEG scans, researchers can also perform EEG or TMS studies
at the Centre. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) activ
ates neurons in the brain with a magnetic field near to the sub
ject’s skull. One of its uses is to determine which areas of the
brain are linked to body functions.
“In addition we are negotiating with Central Finland Central
Hospital about the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in
brain research,” Parviainen says.
Collaboration between scientific disciplines
The University of Jyväskylä can apply its strong expertise in hu
man sciences to the study of various processes of change. The
INTERDISCIPLINARY BRAIN RESEARCHStudying the human brain is like studying space,
as it constantly offers researchers opportunities for
new observations. With its interdisciplinary ap
proach and worldclass technology, the Univer
sity of Jyväskylä’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain
Research is aiming to be among the foremost in
stitutes in the field. Its latest acquisition is an in
strument for conducting MEG research, one of only
about two hundred units in the whole world.
Words by Timo Sillanpää Photos by Petteri Kivimäki and Mika Mäki
research is related to development and learning, or to treatment
of undesirable states using, for example, music therapy, exer
cise, or psychotherapy.
Parviainen stresses that in addition to having access to cut
tingedge equipment, it is important that researchers in differ
ent scientific disciplines such as psychology, sport science and
music, join forces to work together.
“Changes in the way the brain functions represent one impor
tant research area. These changes are related to learning, cogni
tive, linguistic and social development, and aging, for example.
Longitudinal studies have been carried out in Jyväskylä in psy
chological, pedagogical and other fields of research. The brain
In MEG research the subject is exposed to different stimuli such as images or sounds that activate different areas of the brain. In this photo the subject is researcher Jarno Mikkonen, and Tiina Parviainen, Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, is preparing the equip-ment to take a scan.
17
INTERDISCIPLINARY BRAIN RESEARCH
“BRAIN RESEARCH CAN
HELP US TO IDENTIFY THE
PROCESSES THAT LIE BEHIND
DEPRESSION AND COMPARE
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
DIFFERENT THERAPIES IN THE
TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION.” TIINA PARVIAINEN
EARLY IDENTIFICATION MEANS EASIER TREATMENT
research centre offers new possibilities for
these research areas,” says Parviainen, who is
presently conducting research into the effects
of exercise on children’s brains.
Once it is in full operation in autumn, 2015
the brain research centre will be able to pro
duce big data on the human brain, and its
data analysis work will be supported by ICT
and statistics resources within the University.
Parviainen believes it is important that brain
research brings together specialists in both
content and methodology. n
The development of Jyväskylä into a cen-tre for brain research is also furthered by the study module in cognitive neuro science, which was launched in autumn 2014 and incorporates study units from a number of faculties.
“We are educating a new generation who will be able to flexibly combine different dis-ciplines,” Parviainen says.
Parviainen’s visions for the next few years cover a broad range of subjects. Research topics include the effects of physical activity on the brain basis of attention and learning. Learning difficulties have long been one of the university’s areas of strength, particu-larly research into the neural basis of dys-lexia, which is now also being studied from the perspective of the internet in a project headed by Professor Paavo Leppänen. The neural basis for memory and learning is also at the forefront in the Department of Psychology’s brain research. Additionally, the list includes research projects linked to depression.
“Brain research can help us to identify the processes that lie behind depression and compare the effectiveness of different ther-apies in the treatment of depression.”
Treatment for many of the problems that originate in the brain is easier when they are identified at the earliest possible stage. For example, early identification of increasingly common memory disorders would enable treatment to be started at an early stage, even in advance. n
18 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
AROUND 71 PER CENT of the world’s surface is covered by wa
ter. There are vast numbers of structures below the water’s sur
face: the bases and foundations of bridges, dams and canals,
and quay walls, embankments, pipelines and power plant struc
tures. The value of this infrastructure is immense: a onekilo
metrelong harbour structure alone can cost hundreds of mil
lions of euros.
“With our methods customers can see precisely what condi
tion their structures are in. It’s estimated that around five per
cent of all underwater structures are defective due to erosion
caused by water and water traffic,” says Niko Tuominen, CEO
of VRT Finland.
The company’s potential customers include all organisations
which own or maintain structures that are partially or com
pletely underwater, including port and city authorities, indus
trial and utility companies.
“Disruptions caused by structural damage – for example in
power plants and ports – are expensive. So the organisations
responsible for the structures want to use the best possible in
spection technology,” Tuominen points out.
Video is simply not enough
VRT Finland was established by two construction engineers,
Kirsi Hänninen and Olli Auer, in 2010. They were faced with
the challenge of inspecting underwater structures of bridges.
VRT FINLAND
BELOW THE SURFACE Jyväskyläbased VRT Finland Oy has developed a method of providing accurate information about
the condition of underwater structures. There is huge worldwide market potential for its structural
inspections, which are based on sonar and 3Dmodelling.
Words by Timo Sillanpää Photos by VRT Finland and Timo Sillanpää
Because videos shot by divers in murky waters did not provide
sufficiently high quality data, they started to develop an inspec
tion method based on sonar.
“Multibeam and sonar technology have been used to survey
the seabed, but applying them in the inspection of underwater
structures is new,” Tuominen says.
For its first few years VRT Finland focused on refining its
business idea and developing the software needed for process
ing sonar survey data. To enable structures to be visualised ac
curately, the data has to be cleaned to remove interference that
arises during the measurement process.
Rapid international growth
The company has carried out a large number of projects in
different parts of Europe. In particular, the northern parts of
Sweden and Norway offer great potential due to major invest
ments in the oil and mining sectors.
“We’ve done surveys to assess the condition of several har
bours in north Norway. There’s also market potential in the
region’s offshore sector, which includes wind turbines and oil
fields.”
An important customer in Finland is the Finnish Transport
Agency, which utilises VRT Finland’s method to survey under
water structures for bridges and canals. VRT Finland also works
with Fugro, a publicly quoted company that is the world’s
19
u “Inspecting structures by sonar requires world-class technology. The multi-beam technology used by VRT sends and receives a fan-shaped burst of 256 sound pulses, producing accurate measurement points from the structure under investigation. The points are processed using the method developed by VRT to produce visualisation images or data models. VRT’s method is a unique combination of high technology and software, and the sonar unit alone costs around EUR 300 000,” explain CTO Kirsi Hänninen and CEO Niko Tuominen.
THE CHALLENGE OF RAPID GROWTHVRT Finland’s innovative technology has launched the company on a strong growth track. In 2014 its turnover was EUR 330 000, and the es-timate for 2015 is more than one million.
“During the year we’ve created our own sales organisation as well as extensive distributor and customer networks in Europe,” explains Niko Tuominen, CEO.
Tuominen believes that during the early stages of a growth venture it is important for the company to receive sparring from external ex-perts. The potential for VRT Finland’s business idea was recognised in 2013 at the Kasvu Open competition for growth companies, where it won the award for best company.
In 2014 the company set out to rapidly grow its business when it re-ceived venture financing for international growth and Niko Tuominen was appointed CEO. Now it is participating in the Young Innovative Companies programme run by Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, which is also a source of business development funding.
“Before you can establish business activities in a new country you have to do about half a year’s worth of ground work,” Tuominen says. n
19
largest provider of maritime surveying services. It is also work
ing with a port operator to establish a joint venture in Germany.
“There are prospects for strong business growth in Germany
during 2016,” Tuominen states.
So far the company’s own employees have also handled in
ternational projects. Now, however, there are plans to look for
partners to do the fieldwork.
“That would enable VRT Finland to focus on data analysis
and on work to further develop the analysis methods.” n
www.vrt.fi
20 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
Jyväskylä swimmers aim for the Olympics
RIO AHOY! Ari-Pekka Liukkonen and Mimosa Jallow are hoping to make a big
splash at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Totally committed to taking
their swimming careers as far as they can, they are also great role
models and a source of inspiration for young athletes.Words by Tommi Salo Photos by Jouni Kallio
TWO TOP SWIMMERS from Jyväskylä are planning to spend
August 2016 far away from their home city. AriPekka Liuk
konen and Mimosa Jallow want to compete at Rio de Janeiro’s
Olympic swimming stadium, the Estádio Olímpico de Desp.
Aquáticos.
Liukkonen (26) has already beaten the Olympic qualifying
time in the 50metre freestyle. Jallow, who is 20, has a more
than realistic chance of beating her qualifying time during 2015.
”And then the Olympics will show who’s best, when all the
swimmers will be there who’ve made a real effort to train for
the competition,” Jallow says.
”I want to be in great condition in Rio. For me, qualifying
doesn’t feel like such a big thing because I competed in the Lon
don Olympics,” says Liukkonen, who came 25th in the 50 metre
freestyle in London.
Before they could even dream about taking part in the Olym
pics the two swimmers from Jyväskylä spent a lot of time at the
city’s AaltoAlvari Aquatic Centre. Jallow currently trains 8–10
times a week, Liukkonen 7–9 times a week.
”We’ve got great training facilities at AaltoAlvari. We can use
both the 50 and 25metre pools. And there’s also a fitness room
and big gym. And of course there’s also the spa,” Jallow ex
plains, glancing towards the jacuzzi.
Liukkonen agrees that in Jyväskylä they have all the facili
ties they need to be successful. The pools are available for train
ing at reasonable times, so there is no need to train early in the
morning or late at night.
”There’s a lot of differences around the world in training
facilities. Some swimmers never get the chance to train in a
50 metre pool, others have exclusive use of a fullsized pool all
the time,” Liukkonen says.
Supported by scientific research
Jyväskylä offers top athletes more than just training facilities.
The University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sci
“YES, FOR ME JYVÄSKYLÄ IS A REAL SPORTS CITY.”MIMOSA JALLOW
20 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
21
Jyväskylä swimmers aim for the Olympics
ences is Finland’s only universitylevel institute of its kind.
In addition, a stone’s throw from the Aquatic Centre, are the
premises of KIHU – The Research Institute for Olympic Sports.
”KIHU and the University’s research projects have given ath
letes information about themselves that they might never get
anywhere else. Two examples of areas where KIHU has provid
ed help are in monitoring recovery and mental training,” Liuk
konen states.
He also points out that worldclass
coaching for swimmers is available in
Jyväskylä. Liukkonen and Jallow are
coached by Marko Malvela, who has
taken more than ten swimmers to top
level international competitions. Many
of the swimmers previously coached by
Malvela are now themselves helping
the stars of tomorrow to train.
Like Liukkonen, Jallow is a fulltime
swimmer, but she also coaches juniors.
Young swimmers born between 2002
and 2005 look to professional swim
mers for a role model and want to
achieve the same.
”Younger juniors ask a lot about
training. I can put them straight, tell
them what they’ll need to do to get to
the top,” Jallow reflects.
Liukkonen also knows a lot about
acting as a role model – he was named Sports Role Model of the
Year at the 2015 Finnish Sports Gala.
Relaxing with cycling and beach volley
The two swimmers say they are looking forward to the coming
year leading up to the Olympics. Liukkonen and Jallow train in
a closeknit sprint stable of about ten swimmers, of whom three
may go to Rio de Janeiro with coach Marko Malvela.
”The results speak for themselves, when you think about
what’s been achieved here,” Liukkonen says.
Swimmers aiming for the Olympics train and rest, and then
train some more. When Liukkonen gets a free moment he of
ten jumps onto his bike and rides around the lake in the cen
tre of Jyväskylä.
”On a sunny day cycling is more like mental relaxation than
training.”
Jallow says that she also likes the track around the shore of
Lake Jyväsjärvi. Playing beach volley on the shore of Lake Tuo
miojärvi is also a good way of relaxing from competitive swim
ming.
”Yes, for me Jyväskylä is a real sports city,” Jallow smiles. n
21
22 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
TALKING ABOUT THE WISE USE of re
sources is easy. But how can we demon
strate that good intentions have indeed
been implemented?
In Jyväskylä one concrete example of
resource wisdom being put into practice
is the environmental statement which
is drawn up each year. This details en
vironmental income and expenditure
together with investments in straight
forward euro terms.
The environmental statement pro
vides comparable data with respect to
the city’s own operations as well as of
ficial tasks.
”The environmental statement is a
management and decisionmaking tool.
Resource wisdom going strong in Jyväskylä
COST SAVINGS BEAR OUT CLAIMSIf the resources assigned to environmental education or waste management counselling are increased,
do we need to spend less money on keeping public areas clean? Each year Jyväskylä produces an
environmental statement which reveals how much time and money are devoted to the environment.
Words by Tommi Salo Photo by Merja Huovelin
It can be used to demonstrate whether
the measures we have taken support the
implementation of resource wisdom. At
the same time we can ponder how re
source wisdom should best be moved
forward,” says Mervi Saukko, the City of
Jyväskylä’s Environmental Expert.
Individual years can be compared
Saukko points out that the environ
mental statement puts opinions and
framework policies into concrete form.
If an issue has been defined by the city
as important, then the intention is also
there to commit money and resources.
”The statement provides an immedi
ate indication of the investments made
and the amount that has been spent on
environmental protection, for instance.”
In addition to providing hard numbers
the environmental statement encourages
interpretations. If more money has been
spent on counselling and education, is
this reflected in cost reductions, for ex
ample, in the amount of money needed
to keep public areas clean? Or can the de
cline in revenue from the waste tax be
considered a sign that recycling is work
ing well, since this tax has to be paid on
material that ends up in a landfill?
”In this manner environmental mat
ters can be brought to the table for polit
ical decisionmaking. The environmen
The green “Linkki” busses take care of the local transporta-tion in Jyväskylä. Ways have also been sought in Jyväskylä to boost the number of people using public transport
23
IN BRIEF
By Tommi Salo
The Finnish round of the 2015 World Rally Championship, Neste Oil Rally Finland, serves up some familiar and well-proven elements as well as something completely new.
The rally gets under way on the evening of Thursday 30.7. with the Harju special stage run right in the centre of Jyväskylä. The 2.27 kilometre long special stage on city streets – always a major crowd-puller – is given a reprise on rally Friday.
In addition to the classic Harju sprint one high point of this year’s route is the fabled Ounin-pohja special stage, which makes a welcome return to the rally itinerary at its full length. Fre-quently singled out as the world’s best special stage, Ouninpohja once again includes the famous “Yellow House Jump”.
Rally Finland 2015 also features a completely new special stage, Horkka, which is run twice in the course of Saturday. Friday is the longest day of the rally. Drivers will cover nine special stages to the south of Jyväskylä with a total length of 157.63 kilometres – and this year without breaks for servicing.
On rally Saturday eight special stages totalling 130.68 kilometres await the competitors. With the podium beckoning, the programme for Sunday takes in the legendary Myhinpää special stage, which is run twice as the day unfolds.
The Finnish round of the World Rally Championship this year gets its very own music festival. The three-day Rally Zone event provides the perfect complement to this tradition-rich rally spec-tacle. Rally Zone runs from 30.7.–1.8.
The festival area will be located right next to the Paviljonki service park. A variety of artists, Finnish and international, will appear at the Jyväskylä harbour venue on three rally evenings. n
www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi/en/
RALLY FINLAND AGAIN SET FOR BIG JUMPS
RESOURCE-WISE JYVÄSKYLÄ
• The aim of the joint project involving the City of Jyväskylä and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, is to promote the wiser use of resources and to reduce environmental impacts in cooperation with local residents, businesses and organisations.
• The depletion of natural resources, population growth and climate change are forcing societies around the world to become more efficient and cut emissions.
• According to one study by embracing measures to reduce both emissions and the use of natural resources an urban region the size of Jyväskylä could create employment for a thousand people and bring about positive economic impacts worth a hundred million euro each year.
• Trials have already been conducted in Jyväskylä on how the share of local food in public-sector kitchens could be increased and what form resource-wise living might take in the future as more strategies to reduce our material footprint are employed.
• Ways have also been sought in Jyväskylä to boost the number of people using public transport, cut carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption as well as create a scalable, resource-saving model for making journeys to and from work.
• The leftover food experiment which originated in Jyväskylä has now spread all over Finland.
tal statement for its part assists strategic
planning in Jyväskylä,” Saukko emphas
izes.
The City of Jyväskylä’s environmental
statement contains details of income and
expenditure related to waste manage
ment, actions that boost ecoefficiency,
environmental taxes, water protection
and waste water treatment, environ
mental administration, the sanitation of
public areas as well as nature and land
scape conservation among others.
In Jyväskylä the environmental state
ment has been presented as part of the
city’s annual financial report proper from
the2009 financial year onward. Informa
tion was gathered separately from the
city’s annual financial report as long ago
as in 2005.
”Compiling the data each year makes
it possible to compare individual years.
The information reveals in which direc
tion we are heading,” Saukko states. n
MIKA MÄKI/AKK SPORTS
•Thisyear’sNesteOilRallyFinland (30.7.–2.8.) will have a total length of 1 270.83 kilometres, including 319.38 kilometres of special stages.•20specialstagesintotal.•Asinpreviousyearstheevent revolves around Jyväskylä, with rally HQ and the service park located conveniently at Jyväskylä Paviljonki congress centre.
24 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
IN BRIEF ARCHITECTURE • ART • CULTURE • DESIGN • ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE • EVENTS • NEWS • SPORT • LIFE • EDUCATION
Inspiring ideas from TEDx JyväskyläEDBy Pia Tervoja
What’s the best way to present good ideas and practices to an international audience? The an-swer has to be the Internet. US non-profit or-ganisation TED has been arranging TEDx confer-ences since 2007, and the talks are streamed live on the Internet.
The talks can also be watched later on the organisation’s website. Each month as many as
By Tommi Salo
Timo Koivisto, Jyväskylä’s recently appointed Mayor, promises new initiatives in the city’s busi-ness policy. He says that new growth can be cre-ated by getting the main forces behind business in the Jyväskylä urban region – such as compan-ies, business associations, educational institu-tions and state regional administrative bodies – working together more effectively.
”We need challenging targets that we’ve agreed on together, and we need concrete pro-jects. The city’s new business development unit brings together the main business policy pro-jects and employment-related issues,” Koivisto says.
”The city promises more business meet-ups, smooth permit processes, attractive urban development platforms for company partner-ships, commercial areas and networks, as well as company location services and active marketing. Business policy will be a central aspect of my work as Mayor,” he adds.
Timo Koivisto was appointed Mayor of Jy-väskylä in November, 2014. He took up the post on 1st May, 2015. Koivisto was previously Jy-väskylä’s Deputy Mayor.
His predecessor, Markku Andersson, was Mayor of Jyväskylä for more than ten years be-fore he retired. n
17 million people around the world watch the videos. The first TEDx event in Jyväskylä was held in March, 2015. The theme was “Navigating the Horizon through Flexible Learning Paths”.
“We wanted a theme that would spotlight Central Finland’s educational expertise, ideas and thoughts about learning, education and learning paths. The Finnish education system emphasises flexibility, which enables individual career paths to be realised,” says Project Man-
ager Kirsi Koivunen of Jyväskylä Educational Consortium.
The idea of TEDx events is that the talks are compressed into just 18 minutes. The Jyväskylä event featured ten talks, of which some were personal recollections and some described the results of recent research in education. n
Videos of the Jyväskylä event can be watched at www.tedxjyvaskylaed.com
NEW MAYOR AIMS TO BOOST CITY’S BUSINESS POLICY
Timo Koivisto previously served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Jyväskylä for ten years.
PETTERI KIVIMÄKI
25
CITY OF LIGHT EVENT 1.–3.10. 2015 has been officially proclaimed by the UN as the International Year of Light, to be coordinated by the UN’s specialised agency for education, science and culture Unesco. The aim of the theme year is to bring out the importance of light and light technologies in people’s everyday lives and for mankind as a whole.
By Timo Sillanpää
The University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Mathematical Information Technology has re-ceived European Commission funding for its par-ticipation in an extensive project aimed at devel-oping innovative, fast-response protection and rescue practices for deployment after attacks and major disasters involving materials that cause mass destruction.
With eight countries and 19 partners taking part, the research project will particularly focus on the destructive effects of CBRNE materials. These include toxic industrial chemicals, chem-ical and biological weapons, and radioactive materials and explosives.
The project will begin in mid-2015 and last four years. The budget is approximately EUR 12 million. In addition to the University of Jy-väskylä, three other organisations in the protec-tion, rescue and safety fields are involved from Finland.
“Our task is to develop a method using hyper-spectral technology to analyse dangerous ma-terials and determine their area of distribution,
UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ INVOLVED IN EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S CBRNE RESEARCH
particularly in incidents caused by toxic chem-icals. When a disaster occurs, it is essential that the material in question is detected and identi-fied in order to enable rescue work to be carried out in the appropriate way. In many cases these incidents involve chemicals that are explosive or otherwise pose a danger to rescuers and other people nearby. It’s safer to study these chem-icals with a hyperspectral camera than by other methods,” states Project Manager Jaana Kuula of the University of Jyväskylä.
She says that there was tough competition for the project’s funding, with defence research establishments and other organisations taking part from around Europe.
“We were previously involved in a Finnish security-related project with support from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, and to secure a follow-on international project is an important recognition of our security-related research and hyperspectral expertise,” Kuula explains.
The project is being coordinated from the UK, and most other participants are based in central and southern Europe. n
By Pia Tervoja
Seventeen year old Hanna Lehmonen, a pupil at Jyväskylän Lyseo Upper Secondary School, has won the European Commission’s Juvenes Translatores translation competition. Over 3 000 young people of upper secondary school age from a total of 740 schools took part in the competition. One winner was chosen from each European Union country.
The aim of the translation competition is to encourage young people’s interest in languages and give them an opportunity to try their hand at translating. On this occasion the texts used in the competition dealt with the European identity.
Upper secondary school students from Jyväskylä were also victorious in the Ambas-sador’s Entrepreneurial Challenge business
UPPER SECONDARY STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL IN TRANSLATION AND BUSINESS IDEA COMPETITIONS
idea competition arranged by the United States embassy. The winning team was made up of Matias Mäkitalo, Marikka Goyal, Sandra Telinen and Ilari Miettunen, all of whom at-tend Schildt Upper Secondary School.
Their business idea is an online service called Nuoriosaa.fi, the aim of which is to give every young person their first contact with working life. Nuoriosaa.fi maintains regional Facebook groups, where employers and young workers meet.
As a result of the competition the US Am-bassador to Finland Bruce Oreck was given an invitation to Jyväskylä.
At the meeting between Ambassador Oreck and the students concerned the discussion ranged over a variety of issues including entrepreneurship and future chal-lenges. n
By Tommi Salo
Jyväskylä and its most important urban de-velopment platforms were in the spotlight at the MIPIM exhibition, which was held in March 2015 in Cannes, France. The Kangas and Hippos areas , Sairaalanmäki (Hospital hill) and the de-velopment of the city centre were on display to around 20 000 real-estate and investment pro-fessionals.
“The MIPIM exhibition in Cannes was an important opportunity to meet real-estate pro-fessionals. We got great new contacts from our pre-booked meetings and people we met at the exhibition. They have already led to some sur-prisingly good follow-up discussions,” says Anne Sandelin, Director of Business Development and Urban Planning Projects, City of Jyväskylä.
This was Jyväskylä’s first time at the Cannes exhibition. Jyväskylä participated with other large Finnish cities on a stand organised by the City of Helsinki.
Cyber security partnerships from BarcelonaJyväskylä based companies and local cyber secu-rity expertise were on show in March at the Mo-bile World Congress in Barcelona. The companies were looking for contacts and new customers at the world’s largest congress in the mobile sec-tor. At the same time the Jyväskylä Region’s high level of cyber security expertise was on display.
“Feedback from the companies confirms that they got real contacts from the congress. And on the cyber security front we found new operating practices and collaboration models,” says Taija Lappeteläinen, Marketing Manager, Jyväskylä Regional Development Company, Jykes Ltd. n
EXPERTISE FROM JYVÄSKYLÄ ON SHOW AT MAJOR EXHIBITIONS
The Kangas project is the main urban develop-ment project in Jyväskylä for the next several decades.
PHOTO: TOUHO HÄKKINEN
26 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
By Pia Tervoja
Jyväskylä Festival is the oldest festival in the Nor-dic countries with an unbroken history. The six-tieth staging of the festival in sunny July again offers a rich palette of non-verbal theatre, world music, special happenings for kids as well as a number of free events.
Of the festival’s international guests perhaps the best known is England’s Chris Lynam, a vet-eran of non-verbal theatre, whose EricTheFred performance is a synopsis of the artist’s long career.
”The story told by the charismatic Chris Lynam is fable-like and in places bordering on the fantastic. The performance contains impress-
Jyväskylä Festival
A FESTIVAL WITH LONG TRADITIONS
• The first Jyväskylä Festival, with a focus on music culture, was staged in 1956.
• Over the years the festival’s emphases have changed. Nowadays the festival is known for its offering of high-quality non-verbal theatre and world music.
• The festival comprises almost a hundred dif-ferent events, half of which are free.
• Jyväskylä Festival extends beyond the city’s boundaries, for instance, the opening concert has regularly been held in neighbouring municipalities.
• In 2009 the festival attracted a record audi-ence, almost 40 000 visitors.
ive shifts from darkness back into the light,” says Festival Manager Tanja Rasi.
Another larger than life character is New Zealander Trygve Wakenshaw, who in turn rep-resents the new generation of mime artists. Also guaranteed to cause a stir is Finding Joy by the UK’s Vamos Theatre, in which the stories of three generations intertwine in a piece of masked theatre.
World music at the festival is provided by Malta’s Tribali and the Tuvan throat singing en-semble Huun-Huur-Tu. Also at Jyväskylä Festival there is a chance to see The New Rope String Band – currently on their farewell tour – who combine music with their own brand of side-splitting comedy. n
TURNS SIXTY
MIKKO VÄHÄNIITTY
MATTI SALMI
MIKKO VÄHÄNIITTY
IN BRIEF ARCHITECTURE • ART • CULTURE • DESIGN • ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE • EVENTS • NEWS • SPORT • LIFE • EDUCATION
60th Jyväskylä Festival 7.–12.7.2015, www.jyvaskylankesa.fi
26 J Y VÄ S K Y L Ä O N T H E M O V E
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KIHVELI SOIKOON SKIFFLE FESTIVAL 17.–19.7. Hankasalmi railway station in Central Finland is the venue for the world’s only regular international skiffle music festival. “Skiffle music has its origins in jazz, blues and coun-try,” says the festival’s artistic director Jari Tuukkanen.
EVENTS1.–5.6. Neutrinos and Dark Matter in Nuclear Physics – NDM’15 congressVenue: University of Jyväskylä, Department of Physicswww.jyu.fi/en/congress/ndm15
5.–7.6. The Good, the One, and the Many – The 1st Conference of the Nordic Network for the History of PhilosophyVenue: University of Jyväskylä, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy philevents.org/event/show/16266
8.–11.6. Meeting of the Nordic Microscopy Society – SCANDEM 2015University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and the Nanoscience Centerwww.jyu.fi/en/congress/scandem2015
10.–12.6. XIII Kustaw Wasa seminarium: Nobility Reconsidered: New Perspectives on the European AristocracyUniversity of Jyväskylä, Department of History and Ethnologynobility2015.blogspot.fi
7.–12.7. Jyväskylä FestivalVenue: Jyväskylä and surroundingswww.jyvaskylankesa.fi
30.7.–2.8. Neste Oil Rally Finland 2015Venue: Jyväskylä and surroundings www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi
7.–9.8. Alvar Aalto SymposiumVenue: Alvar Aalto Academy, Jyväskylä City Theatrewww.alvaraaltosymposium.fi
9.–14.8. Meeting of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement – PIRLSVenue: University of Jyväskylä, Finnish Institute for Educational Research
19.–21.8. 14th NORDCODE Seminar and WorkshopVenue: University of Jyväskylä, Department of Computer Science and Information Systemswww.nordcode.net/?page_id=1083
2.–4.9. Bioenergy 2015Venue: Jyväskylä Paviljonki – International Congress and Trade Fair Centrewww.bioenergiamessut.fi
7.–12.9. Athenis Finlandiae 2015www.athenisfinlandiae.com
23.–25.9. 16th International Symposium ”Combined Endurance and Strength Training for Physical Fitness and Sports Performance: From Science to Practice”Venue: University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biology of Physical Activitywww.jyu.fi/sport/laitokset/liikuntabiologia/en/congresses/intl_symposium_2015
23.–25.9. FinnGraf 2015Venue: Jyväskylä Paviljonki – International Congress and Trade Fair Centrefinngrafmessut.fi
23.–25.9. Cybersecurity & ICT 2015Venue: Jyväskylä Paviljonki – International Congress and Trade Fair Centrewww.kyberturvallisuusmessut.fi
1.–2.10. Nordic Business ForumLive Stream 2015Venue: Jyväskylä Paviljonki – International Congress and Trade Fair Centrewww.nbforum.com
1.–3.10. City of Light eventvalonkaupunki.jyvaskyla.fi
15.–16.10. Svenskan i Finland 16Venue: University of Jyväskylä, Department of Languageswww.jyu.fi/hum/laitokset/kielet/oppiaineet_kls/ruotsi/tutkimus/sif16/svenskan-i-finland
10.–12.11. Systech Conference – Systematic Learning Solutions Conference & ExpoVenue: University of Jyväskylä
24.–26.11. European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) CongressVenue: University of Jyväskyläwww.elgpn.eu
ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE LEADERS WORKS AT TIIMIAKATEMIA
By Tommi Salo
Tiimiakatemia’s Head Coach Ulla Luukas has been named as one of the world’s 50 most in-novative leaders. The award was made by World CSR Day, an organisation that operates world-wide and specialises in themes related to corpor-ate social responsibility.
The judges making the selection based their choice on the following criteria: the solution of social, economic and environment related problems, the introduction of new approaches into organisational thinking, and the creation, development and adoption of new concepts. At Tiimiakatemia, the entrepreneurship centre of excellence at JAMK University of Applied Sci-ences, the judges were particularly impressed by the level of adaptability and the ability to ‘live the vision’.
A thousand people visit Tiimiakatemia every year. Unknown to Luukas, representatives of World CSR Day had been among the visitors. They were impressed by the innovative team entrepreneurship learning methods, as a result of which Luukas was able to receive her prize in February 2015 at the World CSR Day conference in Mumbai, India.
”It was a great experience to receive the prize at an event attended by delegates from more than 80 countries. People are interested in the Tiimi akatemia story and the way we operate, and this trip will have helped to make Tiimi-akatemia a little more well-known around the world,” Luukas says. n