Decorations awarded to members of Turku UAS staff

Knight of the order of the white rose of Finland (SVR R) 

Juhani Soini

Vice Rector of Turku University of Applied Sciences and Docent of the University of Turku, PhD Juhani Soini is a significant developer of Finnish higher education and especially its research, development and innovation systems (RDI). He has played an important role in strengthening the national RDI procedures of universities of applied sciences and in building international higher education networks. Juhani Soini has published dozens of highly regarded scientific articles. In addition to the higher education world, he has worked successfully in expert positions in business life.

Juhani Soini has been exceptionally active in various positions of trust, through which he has been able to promote the development of Finland's international competitiveness and science. Key measures have included, in particular, building close links between Finnish and higher education institutions in several other European countries, as well as commercialising solutions developed in RDI projects. Through its extensive network, Juhani Soini has been able to combine actors from different fields and create new kinds of innovative solutions. Soini's commitment to social development is also evidenced by his elevation to military rank as a reserve major. He is still active in the reserve.

Outside of working life, Juhani Soini has been active for years in developing recreational and competitive sailing both in the Turku Yacht Club (Turun pursiseura ry.) and the Finnish Sailing and Boating Association (Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily). He has served as Commodore of the Turku Yacht Club and as an active sailing judge as well as the head of the sailing competitions in the Swan European Regatta, among others.

Knight of the order of the lion of Finland (SL R)

Marjo Kumpula

PhD (Economics and Business Administration) Marjo Kumpula has had a significant impact on the development of education and UAS pedagogy. 

Kumpula has been among the first to launch sales education in Finland. She has led engineering education in industrial engineering and launched a pioneering education in sales engineering at Turku UAS. Under her leadership, an extensive European cooperation network has been built into the industrial engineering.

Her role in the development of automotive and transportation engineering and logistics education has been important. Under Kumpula's leadership, Finland's first study module on customs issues was launched in cooperation between Customs and Turku UAS in 2022. 

Kumpula has played a significant role in the creation and development of a degree programme in financial management, finance and insurance services. She has also built a natural and functional connection with the financial sector in the region. 

In pedagogical development, Kumpula has been a key player in the creation of the so-called Project Workshop entity (more than 100 small projects, more than 1000 students, a multidisciplinary learning environment). Kumpula has been a pioneer in education carried out in cooperation with working life, such as the Engineering on-the-job learning concept. 

Kumpula has served as a member of the Transport and Logistics working group of the Finnish National Agency for Education’s Skills Foresight Forum, representing the The Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene. On an international level, she has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Excellence in Sales and on the Sales Education Foundation and Association of Sales Engineering.

Kumpula's distinguished career in the education sector is described by her many previous positions as a lecturer, Study Counsellor and Evidence examination officer. Prior to education, she held various positions in the banking sector.

Ari Putkonen

PhD Ari Putkonen has made a significant contribution to the development of RDI, pedagogy and mechanical engineering education at Turku University of Applied Sciences. 

At Turku UAS, he has pioneered the initiation and organisation of research and development activities, serving as RDI Director. Under his leadership, UAS' RDI activities grew significantly to the very top of Finnish universities of applied sciences. In the development of RDI activities throughout the polytechnic field, his activities have also been a significant part of the national network of RDI leaders.

In addition to RDI activities, Putkonen has played an important role in the development of pedagogy. His and colleagues' work has become an internationally recognised innovation pedagogy, which is still pedagogically relevant in Turku UAS.

Putkonen has also been responsible for the management of mechanical engineering education. Under his leadership, mechanical engineering education was significantly reformed and increased. He has also played a significant role in the internationalisation of operations, e.g. in the construction of double degrees. Under Putkonen's leadership, mechanical engineering developed into an important element for the industry's success in the region. 

Today, Putkonen carries out regionally significant industrial cooperation in the area of battery and electric vehicles.

Before joining Turku UAS, Putkonen had a successful career in industrial product development positions at Loglift Oy and Tunturi Oy.

Tiina Nurmela

Tiina Nurmela, Principal Lecturer, has been in charge of education in the field of nursing at Turku University of Applied Sciences since its beginning. Her special expertise is extensive knowledge of the operations of the University of Applied Sciences, especially in terms of curricula and networks of universities of applied sciences. She has long served as an internal expert of the University of Applied Sciences, e.g. related to the entrance examination process and special questions related to the degree, serving as the chair of the degree committee of Turku University of Applied Sciences for a long time. In addition to this, She is a quality expert in the Health and Wellbeing sector.

Nurmela has been active in the internationalisation of nursing education in her career. She has been at the forefront of developing education exports to China, for example. She has a broad understanding of internationalisation and working on nursing curricula for a variety of target groups, such as various continuing educations (e.g. refresher trainings for returning or immigrant nurses).

Nurmela has been active for a very long time before the reform of universities of applied sciences at the Turku School of Health Care and thus has a broad tacit knowledge and understanding of the development of nursing education nationally and internationally. She is also active internationally in the development of Nursing education. Nurmela's interest in the development of nursing is also reflected in her work and her responsibility in the development of care classes. Nurmela is active in RDI project work, especially in the near future the use of digitalisation and XR technology in nursing education. In addition, Nurmela actively writes and publishes both peer-reviewed and professional journal articles about her work at university of applied sciences together with project actors.

Cross of merit of the order of the white rose of Finland (SVR Ar)

Johanna Ailio

Lecturer Johanna Ailio has made a long career as a developer of media education at Turku University of Applied Sciences and Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. She is the director and responsible editor of the Tutka learning environment for journalism education at Turku University of Applied Sciences. Tutka is a journalistic online media, member of Council for Mass Media, which was an exceptionally advanced way of educating journalists in a simulation of working life. Tutka anticipated the change in media production methods from print to audio-visual media and the development of technologies, and its interactive way of working has been used in many other journalism education in Finland and internationally. 

Ailio has been a pioneer in the recognition of forms of video and mobile journalism. She has produced educational materials and publications for internal and public use at the educational institution. The use of mobile video in trainings in various fields enables new ways of pedagogy and illustration. Ailio is an active player in the development of digital and online pedagogy at the entire University of Applied Sciences. In her research and development projects, she has also taken her expertise to international arenas and has been an educator in communication and citizen journalism not only in Europe, but also in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Ailio's uncompromising view of the independence and objectivity of journalism encourages students to develop and supports the formation of their professional identity.

Cross of merit of the order of the lion of Finland (SL Ar)

Mervi Kuittinen

Wardrobe Master Mervi Kuittinen is a long-time invisible employee of Turku University of Applied Sciences Academy of the Arts performing arts, whose handprint is visible in hundreds of performances each year and makes the characters of the performances come to life. The University of Applied Science’s Wardrobe Master's job includes not only designing, servicing and maintaining the costume warehouse, but also meeting, guiding and supporting students in their professional development towards their own artistry. Costumes are an essential part of the illusion of performing arts, but the costume is also a tool for its wearer, which must serve its purpose safely and sustainably. 

Kuittinen specialises in demanding costumes for dance and circus, where costumes require solutions that take into account the special characteristics of the art forms. As a Wardrobe Master, she educates students to recognize the importance and possibilities of visualization of performances and guides students hand in hand to learn the right materials and work techniques for making their own presentation costumes.

Performance costumes are also required to be economical and ecological. Kuittinen has been able to create high-quality cost-effective solutions through his own active activities, finding the opportunity to reuse costumes modified and recycle materials. She has created an extensive network to support his work and to achieve top results in it.