Aalto University

Overview

Aalto University is a multidisciplinary higher education institution with a main campus in the district of Otaniemi in Espoo, Finland, and campuses in Mikkeli and Helsinki. Currently, it is composed of six schools that offer over 90 programs in the fields of arts, architecture, design, business, engineering, science, and technology. Offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, the university’s combination of disciplines brings a new dimension to academics. Additionally, it also opens opportunities for students to customize their study experience based on their passions and career goals.

Founded in 2010, Aalto University’s establishment is all thanks to the conclusion drawn by a workgroup led by Anne Brunila of Finland’s Ministry of Finance. The workgroup thought that the country had too many higher education institutions and that consolidating some of them into one university will be beneficial to the country. Following this recommendation, Yrjö Sotamaa, then president of the University of Art and Design Helsinki, backed the merger of the schools that will become Aalto University’s founding schools.

The Finnish Ministry of Education appointed the Ministry of Finance official Raimo Sailas to study the merger. His group deduced that the merger will be beneficial to the Finnish economy and education sector. On November 11, 2007, the government launched the merger project. On May 29, 2008, it was announced that the merger’s resulting university will be named after the renowned Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, in recognition of his contributions and achievement in art, technology, and economics.

On January 1, 2010, Aalto University started operating as the product of the merger of the Helsinki School of Economics, the Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design of Helsinki. Ultimately, the university has a goal to identify and solve grand challenges in society and build an innovative future through the study and application of science and technology, design and art, and business and economics.

As a foundation-based university, the institution was formed, thanks to donations from government organizations and departments, as well as other financiers from different Finnish industries. The university is known for engaging its students in multidisciplinary projects that encourage learning in practice. Because of this, the institution enables students to have practical knowledge and experience when they graduate. Aalto University also provides its students with life and professional skills that are valued in the real world, which is why over 80% of its graduates are immediately employed after graduation.