Guannan – Master's student in Futures Studies

Meet Guannan Su, a current master's student at the University of Turku and an UTUambassador 2026-2027!

"Hi, I am Guannan from China, a first-year master’s student in Futures Studies at the University of Turku.

Before coming to UTU, I worked for many years in international education, primarily advising students on university applications and long-term educational planning. The most rewarding part of this work has always been building authentic and meaningful relationships with students and families. At the same time, one question kept coming up: what kind of future is actually the best one for a young person? As an educator, I tend to start with the person—their interests, values, and the kind of life they hope to build—before thinking about choices that may seem the most strategic or outcome-driven, though these are also important factors to consider. This can become especially complex in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where university admissions and educational choices can carry significant family expectations and long-term implications.

These experiences eventually led me to Futures Studies. I became increasingly interested in how people imagine different possible futures and how those ideas shape the choices they make in the present, especially in an age of uncertainty. I am also excited to learn research methods that I did not encounter in my previous studies. Participatory approaches interest me in particular, because I like the idea that people are not only being studied, but are also actively involved in imagining and shaping the futures that concern them.

Another thing I appreciate about UTU is the trust it gives students. There is a lot of freedom to shape your studies and move at a pace that works for you. I have also enjoyed meeting people from very different walks of life, both within my programme and through activities such as the Student Ambassador Programme, Language Circle, Coaching Workshop, and other university events. For me, UTU is definitely a place where you can encounter various perspectives, as long as you stay curious and open-minded!

Outside of my studies and work, I love music, nature, and dancing. One of my favourite ways to relax is simply wandering without a map and leaving some space for the unexpected!"

Guannan's study experience:

How is your study experience at UTU and what services/aspects have influenced that the most?

I’ve just spent my first month at UTU, and it has been a very positive experience. I think it’s the sense of freedom and openness that contributes most to this. I can really feel the faculty’s passion for their fields of research. The curriculum is structured in ways that really benefit me as a learner, through both lectures and discussion sessions. The modes of teaching are also quite flexible, making learning very accessible and giving us different ways to deepen our understanding. I’m also taking Finnish, and it’s not a language you can practice only in the classroom. UTU offers many different kinds of resources, including the International Friendship Programme, language circles, and the Language Tandem course. I feel that all you need is to be who you are, never be afraid to reach out, and take action to open up possibilities for futures you may not have imagined yet!

To whom would you recommend your programme to?

I’d recommend Futures Studies to anyone who wants to hear perspectives from people with different professions and backgrounds, and bring a more interdisciplinary lens to whatever you’re interested in. If you like testing assumptions and exploring different possible futures, whether in your own life or in the issues you want to dig into, I think you’ll find something here! How we imagine futures very much influences how we take action in the present, so for me, the more futures we are able to “see,” the more possibilities we have to work with!

What is your background and how did you end up choosing your programme?

Before coming to UTU, I worked for many years in international education, primarily advising students on university applications and long-term educational planning. This experience often made me wonder how people’s visions of the future shape the decisions they make in the present, and what values drive these decisions.

What have you found special in the study experience at UTU?

The courses are scheduled in a very flexible way, some lasting for several weeks while others taking place during an intensive week, and this makes my overall study schedule quite varied. And personally, I think this makes the learning process more interesting and enjoyable.

What are your future career plans?

Not entirely sure yet! I might continue advising students on their educational paths, bringing a newly acquired “forward-thinking” perspective from the program, or I might continue with research and pursue a career as a researcher if I find that path especially appealing over the next two years.

How do you balance your studies during your free time?

My way of balancing my studies is to make time for family, join school activities, go for a walk, having nice food, and even wander through the aisles of the supermarket!