Minna Martikainen appointed as Rector of the University of Vaasa

D. Sc. (Econ.) Martikainen is currently working as the vice-rector responsible for research at the University of Vaasa. Before this, she worked as a professor of financial accounting and dean for education at Hanken School of Economics (Finland). Martikainen has also worked as a professor at Aalto University School of Business, vice-rector for international affairs and professor of business finance and accounting at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), researcher at the University of Vaasa, and visiting researcher at Louisiana State University, USA. In addition, Martikainen has extensive experience in the business sector through board memberships and expert assignments.

A visionary academic leader was sought as the new rector of the University of Vaasa to promote the competitiveness and impact of the university.

– We were looking for an inspiring leader who, together with staff, students and stakeholders, will strengthen the national and international profile of the university. Minna Martikainen knows the University of Vaasa well, and based on her skills and experience, she has excellent capabilities to perform the task successfully, says Mari Kiviniemi, the chair of the board of the University of Vaasa.

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The rector leads the university operations and personnel and is responsible for the economical, efficient and effective management of the university following its strategic guidelines. The requirements for the rector’s position included a doctoral degree and academic experience, experience in developing employee well-being and operating culture, proof of national and international cooperation, and cost-effective management skills demonstrated in practice.

Both open recruitment and headhunters were used in the recruitment of the new rector. The board unanimously decided on the new rector during its meeting on 29 August 2023.

– I am excited and humbled to take on the role of rector. As an alumna of the university, I am familiar with its history and development paths. By developing the areas where the university is strong, I believe we can become an internationally known and visible player in the academic field. I am grateful to be part of the process where in the coming years we will be able to develop the university into a strong regional, national and international actor together with the university community and regional agents. I see exceptional international level strengths within Vaasa and in the Ostrobothnia region. By emphasising these strengths, the university and regional actors can develop to become larger than their current size, says Minna Martikainen.

The University of Vaasa was founded in 1968, and Minna Martikainen is the eighth rector. The term of the current rector, Jari Kuusisto, is about to end at the end of this year.