JYU and Jamk establish a new steering group to supports cooperation in digitalisation – Clarification work is progressing as planned

Clarification of the digitalisation cooperation between the University of Jyväskylä and Jamk University of Applied Science is progressing as planned. A steering group has been established to support this work, focusing on operational steering. During the autumn, the focus will be on planning IT platforms to enable cooperation and create synergies.
Published
14.10.2025

The new steering group supports practical operations

A new IT steering model was created at the June steering group meeting. The former steering group was renamed as a management team that meets every three months to focus on the broad outlines of cooperation development and strategy.

The members of the management team are as follows:

  • Vesa Saarikoski, Chair of the management team, Rector, Jamk
  • Jari Ojala, Rector, JYU
  • Mika Karjalainen, Vice Rector for research, Jamk
  • Jari Virtanen, ICT Manager, Jamk
  • Ari Hirvonen, Digital Director, JYU
  • Ari Hovila, Chief Enterprise Architect, JYU
  • Päivi Seppä, Finance and Service Director, JYU
  • Mikko R. Salminen, Director of Administration, Jamk
  • Heli Toivola, Director of Communications, Jamk
  • Anna-Kaisa Säkkinen, Director of Communications, JYU
  • Pekka Jokela, Digital Service Manager, Gradia
  • Anssi Tuominen, Director, Gradia

A new steering group was established to meet once a month under the supervision of the management team. The steering group’s focus is on providing operational guidance and practical support to the management of the project. The group also prepares and presents the management team meetings.

The members of the steering group are as follows:

  • Ari Hovila, Chief Enterprise Architect, JYU
  • Juha-Matti Sulander, IT Solutions Architect, JYU
  • Jari Virtanen, ICT Manager, Jamk
  • Ari Hirvonen, Digital Director, JYU
  • Jyri Helakangas, System Specialist, Jamk
  • Markku Närhi, Head of Development Services, JYU

Clarification has progressed as planned

The clarification on digitalisation has progressed as expected. Development work in the spring has continued and expanded in terms of data centre services, Microsoft services, and service management. At the beginning of September, the teams visited Tampere to learn about the user management solutions at TUNI. New and ongoing analyses of the current state are being carried out in relation to AV services, learning environments, endpoint management, integrations, and information security. Work on the next version of the project plan has also begun.

The focus this autumn is on designing joint solutions

In this autumn, the digital teams of both higher education institutions will primarily concentrate on planning cooperation models and joint solutions, which will divert resources away from traditional development. Jamk and JYU already cooperate extensively, so one aim is to identify and share best practices. Jamk has been involved in JYU’s DUO planning, with the aim of creating a model that will ensure Jamk’s continued involvement in the future planning.

The clarification aims to strengthen cooperation between JYU and Jamk in order to meet the growing need for resources, identify the current state of the organisations, and find ways to develop and improve operational efficiency.