TUAS’ Rector and President Vesa Taatila appointed in the Board of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene
Rector and President of Turku University of Applied Sciences, Vesa Taatila, has been appointed as a member of the Board of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene for the term 2020–21.
“It is great to get to discuss the development of the entire system of universities of applied sciences from a new role. The new board will face interesting questions on the national guidelines of our operations. The Board responsibility is also nicely linked to my previous post as a member of the Research and Innovation Council”, says Vesa Taatila.
Vesa Taatila has worked as the Rector and President of TUAS since the autumn of 2014. Before that, he has spent half of his career in universities of applied sciences and half in the corporate world. Taatila has a PhD in cognitive science and a M.Sc. in physics. He also has a docentship at the Faculty of Education at the University of Turku, where he specializes in innovation pedagogy.
The focus areas of Arene’s operations in 2020 are sustainability and responsibility, the attractiveness of universities of applied sciences and promoting digitalization.
The Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene is a cooperation and interest organization of universities of applied sciences. All Finnish universities of applied sciences and their rectors are members of Arene. The member institutions of Arene host about 145 000 students.
Mervi Vidgrén from Savonia University of Applied Sciences was appointed as the Chair of the Board of Arene for the term 2020–21.
In addition, the following rectors were appointed as members of the Board:
Turo Kilpeläinen from LAB University of Applied Sciences
Jouni Koski from Laurea University of Applied Sciences
Kari Ristimäki from Centria University of Applied Sciences.
Rector Matti Sarén from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences will continue as a Board member.
