Tanja Risikko appointed as vice-rector of education and stakeholder relations at the University of Vaasa

Risikko joins the University of Vaasa from the Universities Finland UNIFI, where she has served as the Executive Director since 2020. In her current position, Risikko has been leading UNIFI’s activities in its advocacy work in higher education and science policy and in promoting cooperation between universities.

Previously, Risikko has served as the Director of the Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius. She has a long career in higher education and research institutions. During her career, Risikko has particularly emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and universities' close relationship with the surrounding society.

– I am truly delighted that Tanja Risikko, who has a broad understanding of higher education and is a strong network management professional, will join us as the vice-rector. We want to strengthen our visibility in scientific and educational policy discussion and decision-making processes nationally and at the EU level. In international competition, quality education that meets the needs of future talents is increasingly important, and I feel that Risikko has the right competence to develop our teaching together with our skilled staff, says Rector Minna Martikainen.

Risikko was due to start as the director of stakeholder and EU affairs at the University of Vaasa on 1 September. Strengthening societal interaction and developing stakeholder and advocacy work will be part of the vice-rector's responsibilities in the future. Jyrki Vuorinen, the current vice-rector of education, will move by mutual agreement to the role of senior advisor within the university.

(Photo by: Karolina Isaksson)