UTU Excellence Oy coordinates most of the fee-based continuing education and global educational services of the University of Turku.
The University of Turku enhances its position in continuing education and global educational services markets. The multidisciplinary and high-quality expertise of the University of Turku is being packaged and offered to domestic and international customers through a new company, UTU Excellence Oy.
The company was established in early 2026 to coordinate most of the University's fee-based education, such as global educational services and continuing education.
The goal is to strengthen the University's visibility and impact in the national and international education markets.
“The University of Turku has a good reputation both in Finland and abroad. We have been providing fee-based continuing education and leadership training for over 40 years. Our training programmes and services are known for their impact, so this is a strong foundation on which to build together. UTU Excellence facilitates the export of Finnish educational expertise to international markets while further broadening the range of training programmes and services available,” says PhD Ulla Heinonen, who was appointed as the company’s Chief Executive Officer in May.
Heinonen has extensive experience in management and business development in academia, the corporate sector, and consultancy. She has been the director of the Executive Education and Leadership Development Unit in Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, since 2015.
“Faculties have expressed strong interest in the new types of forums and networking opportunities that the company offers to researchers and experts. The company’s operations may give rise to new research ideas, as the University’s instructors work closely with companies and organisations in various sectors. The collaboration enriches the multidisciplinary community of the University of Turku in many ways,” continues Heinonen.
According to Heinonen, approximately twenty experts will be working at the company by the end of the year. The proceeds are used for the development of both the participating units and the University as a whole.
The entire share capital of the company is owned by UTU Holding Oy, which manages the University's shareholdings. Dean of Turku School of Economics Markus Granlund is the chair of the company's board. The members of the board are Vice Rectors Maija S. Peltola and Tapio Salakoski and Professors of Practice Patrik Anckar and Riku Santala from Turku School of Economics.
For more information, please contact:
Chief Executive Officer Ulla Heinonen
tel. +358 50 591 7199
ulla.heinonen@utuexce.fi
