Year 2022 marked a return to a new normal after two years of COVID-19. The lifting of pandemic restrictions was reflected, among other things, in the return of degree and exchange students and the revival of many joint events. UCPori hosted a record number of exchange students: 34 in the spring semester and 22 in autumn.
The year marked a return to normal after two years of COVID-19. UCPori hosted a record number of exchange students.
Social interaction and business cooperation
After a two-year gap, the University Consortium organised the joint Science Arena again as a physical event on the Pori Day on 23 September. The programme included the traditional children’s university, a public lecture, researchers’ presentations at the Puuvilla shopping centre, a Pori-rock-themed discussion at a bar and the traditional evening party with a procession of doctors. The core idea of the Science Arena – to increase interaction between researchers and society – is an important continual goal in the activities of the University Consortium. Important role is played by the business cooperation network FORE, which consolidated itself at the interface between the University Consortium and businesses last year. FORE organised challenger forums and workshops to jointly develop research ideas. Thanks to FORE, several research initiatives and projects have emerged in a short period of time.
Increasing interaction between researchers and society is an important goal in the operations of the University Consortium.
Impact from international and domestic networking
UCPori s a partner in the Robocoast Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) consortium, which was selected as a European Digital Innovation Hub, together with three other Finnish DIHs in 2022. The network consists of 13 partners across Finland and has numerous partners in Europe. Through participation in the European DIH network, UCPori has already been involved in the preparation of several EU projects. In addition, the research groups of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences in Pori have intensified cooperation with Satakunta University of Applied Sciences in the joint RoboAI Research and Development Centre. Together, researchers brainstorm projects and organise, among other things, the events in the RoboAI week. Cooperation between higher education institutions, related to social workers’ education paths and RDI in the field of health and social services, for example, has also been developed more extensively in various working group.
Through participation in the European DIH network, UCPori has already been involved in the preparation of several EU projects.
New professors and a pilot study programme
The Satakunta Higher Education Foundation decided to co-fund two professorships of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences in Pori. Professor of Practice Hannu Tenhunen started in Pori in September and Professor Pekka Abrahamsson at the beginning of 2023. The new professors have actively established contacts with companies in the Satakunta region and set up research activities in the field of information technology. The main theme of research is AI-assisted software development and the more efficient use of artificial intelligence by businesses. In the autumn of 2023, a pilot study programme for upper secondary school graduates will begin in Pori, the contents of which will be produced in a collaboration that involves both Tampere University and the University of Turku. The Ministry of Education and Culture granted funding for the education pilot at the end of 2021, and its planning started at the beginning of 2022.
An example of the numerous projects that have begun on the Pori campus is the Academy of Finland-funded research project of Riikka Korkiamäki, professor of social work, which is researching the significance of solidarity for young people.
Tarmo Lipping
Director
Visit our website to learn more about UCPori.
To learn more about Tampere University’s Pori Unit, visit our website.
Highlights from 2022
Learn more about Robocoast eDIH consortium.
Read more about RoboAI Research and Development Centre.