Together towards the future: JYU alumni and interest groups gather to create ideas for the strategy refreshment process
JYU strategy Wisdom and wellbeing for us all was created as a result of the community’s cooperation in 2019. Now, as the strategy period is approaching its halfway, it is good time to stop and see what has been achieved and where JYU should focus on in the years to come. The representatives of JYU alumni and interest groups were invited to Ruusupuisto to hear about the strategy refreshment and provide ideas for the University’s future on Friday, 31 March.
Vice Rector Marja-Leena Laakso opened the event by providing an overview of progress during the strategy period. “When the strategy was originally created, we were not able to predict the future,” she said. “However, we were right in that we started to invest in competence and wellbeing and develop leadership. The wellbeing of our community and quality leadership help us to achieve strategic goals. The importance of competence renewal becomes more important in changing society”.
The wellbeing of our community and quality leadership help us to achieve strategic goals.
After the opening words, the programme included a panel discussion on the University’s possibilities to offer solutions to the shortage of experts and provide ideas for product development and innovation activities as well as regional impact. Chair of the Board of the wellbeing services county of Central Finland Maria-Kaisa Aula, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Technology Industries of Finland Minna Helle, Mayor of Jyväskylä Timo Koivisto and Regional Mayor of Central Finland Pekka Hokkanen participated in the discussion.
Past success stories and future challenges
In workshops in the afternoon, the alumni and the representatives of interest groups were able to take a look at the past and the future. The most important success stories in the strategy period so far were, for example, technology education, the University’s increased openness for cooperation and an active role in society, the attractiveness of Open University, and a consistent brand. After that, the participants started to create ideas for the future, addressing both possible challenges and key development targets at JYU. Recognised future challenges included, for example, the acquisition of funding, the University’s attractiveness to quality students, considering the tightening competition as a result of the demographic trend, and ability to retain quality staff. The most important development areas were considered to be improving JYU’s visibility with the help of alumni, brand development, investing in product development and innovation activities, responding to the needs of business and industry, and cooperation inside the University as well as with other educational institutions and the City of Jyväskylä.
The participants applauded the strategy refreshment event for alumni and interest groups. Minna Helle, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Technology Industries of Finland, found the event beneficial. “It is great that interest groups are involved in the strategy development work,” she said. “The discussions produced good ideas and the participation also makes interest groups effectively committed to JYU’s operation.” JYU alumni Joona Koivisto also found the discussive workshop functional. “The interactive approach of the strategy event was good and we got plenty of ideas in the discussions,” he said and continued: “In general, it is good to take a bold approach to strategy refreshment. The past is not reflected too much but, instead, goals are set boldly high and there also is courage to step out of the comfort zone.”
