The University of Turku and the Student Union organised the traditional Opening Carnival for the new academic year on 3 September 2024. The Opening Carnival was held at the square between Educarium and Publicum.
The whole University community is invited to the Opening Ceremony to open the new academic year together. Rector Marjo Kaartinen warmly welcomed the community to the Opening Carnival.
“There are about 25,000 of us in our University community. Once again, a special welcome to our new students, many of whom I have already had the pleasure of meeting during orientation. I hope that each of you will find your passion for your studies and your place in the community: get involved in student life, enjoy the campus and our true student city, Turku. The same message applies to all of us. Let's do what we do, well and with passion.
In her greeting, Kaartinen emphasised the importance of openness and a strong community, and went on to describe how the University of Turku is performing according to various indicators.
“The University of Turku is academically very successful and its prospects are very good: the number of graduates is great and the number of applicants is positive. Our brilliant researchers have achieved great international and domestic funding, with more on the way. So let's start the new academic year in a positive spirit and meet on campus!”
Teacher, Counsellor, Language Deed, and Stakeholder Collaboration Action of the Year announced at the Carnival
Teacher, Counsellor, Language Deed, and Stakeholder Collaboration Action of the Year announced at the Carnival.
Teacher of the Year creates a culture of learning that fosters collaboration
Teacher of the Year is University Lecturer Teemu Hynninen from the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Suggestions for the Teacher of the Year were requested from the University community. In giving their suggestions, students were requested to consider everyday teaching, innovative and creative approaches, development of teaching, and combining research and teaching. In the selection of the Teacher of the Year, particular attention was paid to teaching that had inspired and created a sense of community.
The justifications for nominating Hynninen as the Teacher of the Year stated that, among other things, the variety of his coursework holds the students’ interest and he puts emphasis on thinking and understanding the topics together. The justifications state that, on Hynninen's courses, the physics students get to know each other and succeed in creating a study culture where they come to the campus to study together even after the first year.
Counsellor of the Year supports and helps in difficult situations
University Lecturer Anu Ikonen-Kullberg from the Pori unit of Turku School of Economics is the Counsellor of the Year. Suggestions were requested with an emphasis on respectful and appreciative encounters, support for choices and study planning, and strengthening self-esteem and recognition of potential. In the selection process, special attention was paid to counselling that supports the student's or doctoral researcher's well-being and has supported and promoted the motivation to study and the progress or continuation of studies after a break.
In the justifications, Ikonen-Kullberg was praised for her systematic efforts to ease students' difficult situations and to come up with and apply different methods to make learning and studying more successful for them. Ikonen-Kullberg is specialised in challenges related to concentration and anxiety and has participated in mental health training courses organised by the University and Mieli ry. Students also appreciate that Ikonen-Kullberg does not only use her expertise as a teacher tutor or dissertation supervisor, but that these qualities are present on all her courses.
The University’s Teaching and Learning Council selects the teacher and counsellor of the year on the proposal of the Student Union.
Language Deed of the Year affects the lives of hundreds of children and early childhood education professionals
This year’s winner of the Language Deed of the Year is the KieliVertailu tool for early childhood education The KieliVertailu tool is a new initiative in Finland which supports multilingual children's Finnish language learning and makes multilingualism visible. According to the justifications, the tool is a shining example of a multidisciplinary, multi-professional and multi-artistic project that has had a direct impact on the lives of hundreds of children and early childhood education professionals. The KieliVertailu tool helps teachers to understand the challenges that the Finnish phonemes pose for children with different first languages, and it provides play-based exercises suitable for the context of early childhood education.
The tool was developed in a multi-professional and multidisciplinary collaboration in the University of Turku project focused on language comparison as a support for language-aware pedagogy in early childhood education. The prize was accepted by the research group leader Juli-Anna Aerila and Professor Maija S. Peltola.
The University’s Language Deed of the Year is awarded to a person, group, unit or other entity that adapted and significantly advanced the implementation of the Language Policy of the University of Turku.
University's Stakeholder Collaboration Action Award was presented for the first time
The first Stakeholder Collaboration Action was awarded to Vau, mikä vaikutus! podcast. The award-winning podcast series explores the impact of research from different disciplines from a variety of perspectives. In the podcast, experts share their experiences and knowledge on stakeholder collaboration and its effectiveness. The team behind the series, Development Specialists Laura Niemi and Outi Nurmela, also contribute to the discussion on higher education and research policy concerning universities’ impact.
The award gives recognition and visibility to the staff of the University of Turku for their outstanding stakeholder collaboration. The award is also a reminder of the importance of recognising and highlighting the significance of research and education in society.
