Experience Exchange

09:00, January 21, 2014

UrFU top management participated in the opening seminar of the program called “UrFU: Strategic Leadership”

On January 15-16, the program “UrFU: Strategic Leadership” took place at Ural Federal University, during which UrFU top management team was trained. The event was held as part of the competitiveness enhancement program "5-100-2020".

Almost the entire administration of the university took part in the seminar: Rector Viktor Koksharov, Vice-rectors, and Directors of institutes. The seminar program was very intense and included a series of events. The seminar was led by professors of the partner university -
Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland). The first module of the program was led by Dr. Eero Kasanen and Dr. Rebecca Piekkari. Aalto University was also represented by the Director of Russia and Talent Management Department, Riitta Lumme-Tuomala.

Aalto University is considered to be one of the examples of benchmarketing of UrFU Competitiveness Enhancement. Currently Aalto University holds 222 place in QS ranking.

Aalto University was created in 2010 through the merging of three universities: the former Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and Helsinki University of Art and Design. The participants of the seminar were interested in the Finnish colleagues’ experience of such a merging, and in the problems, which occurred during the process, and how they were solved. Finnish experts told in detail about the history of their university and modern directions of its development. Each of the participants had the opportunity to express his/her opinion in debates and group discussions.

The participant and one of the main initiators of the event, UrFU Vice-Rector for Economics and Strategic Development, Daniil Sandler noted the urgency of the seminar, which helped to find answers to many questions about the development of the university.

"Such programs allow to learn from international experience of those who have successfully done what remains to be done at Ural Federal University. Taking into consideration the international experience, we can avoid many mistakes along the way, - said Daniel Sandler. - The peculiarity of this seminar is that the mission of Aalto University is close to our mission in many ways. It is about modernizing the economy, re-industrialization. Aalto University has successfully solved and continue to solve many problems, connected the new industrialization of Finland. Their experience can be useful for us".

Dr. Eero Kasanen praised the potential of Ural Federal University in enhancing global competitiveness. "The University has excellent opportunities for development in terms of networking with other universities. We believe that leadership is a skill that can be improved. It’s crucial to have access to the international arena, because now university world has become international. I would also like to note that the development of Ural Federal University will depend on the economic development of the city and  region, because it's all very interconnected", - said Eero Kasanen.

According to the plan, the second module of the program "UrFU: Strategic Leadership" will be held on February 20-21, 2014. It will focus on the process of implementation of the strategy of enhancement  of global competitiveness of Ural Federal University. Finnish colleagues present the most interesting and effective techniques. The final, third seminar will be held in April and will help to understand how the environment influences the abilities of the institution and how it will help Ural Federal University to become a world-class player.