A delegation from the Republic of Finland has visited the University

13:25, December 16, 2015

Severi Keinala pointed out the importance of close collaboration in the spheres of education, science and business

On December 15, UrFU was visited by a delegation from the Republic of Finland headed by Severi Keinälä, the Advisor of the Enterprise and Innovation Department of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy of Finland. Representatives of the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce Mirja Tiri and Lyudmila Safina, as well as the Senior Advisor of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy Virpi Suoninen were also included in the delegation.

In the course of the meeting with UrFU Rector Victor Koksharov and Vice-Rector for International Affairs Maksim Khomyakov the Finnish delegation expressed their interest in cooperation with the leading university of the Ural region, which can be realized in various spheres of action. Thus, the parts discussed issues concerning high quality training of specialists to meet the needs of certain enterprises and search of partners in the sphere of innovations. Mr. Keinälä highlighted the importance of interaction in educational and scientific areas, which may become a solid foundation for building full-scale economic cooperation.

 “When looking at the Sverdlovsk Region and Finland, we can see some serious potential for collaboration which is greater than in any other region of Russia outside Moscow and St. Petersburg”, said Mr. Severi Keinälä, “and this potential is being successfully realized. We are actively developing the collaboration between universities, research institutes and businesses, and also trying to bring those areas together. The work that enterprises conduct in cooperation with universities has lots of advantages, such as sharing of experience, knowledge, and new perspectives on many things. Moreover, it is a great environment for development and implementation of innovations in actual production processes. In other words, it is a win-win relationship”.

Ural Federal University has a long history of cooperation with universities of Finland. At the moment a series of contracts are held with HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Lappeenranta University of Technology, University of Turku, Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, University of Tampere, Laurea University of Applied Sciences and others. Of particular importance has been the cooperation between UrFU and the Aalto University, which allowed UrFU to take part in the development of corporate educational programs for business and gain some significant experience which helps in the University’s promotion in the frame of “Project 5-100”.