NORDTEK

🚀 What’s next for doctoral education in the Nordics? A couple of months ago NORDTEK hosted a roundtable with representatives from leading technical universities to explore how PhD programmes must evolve in a changing landscape. 🎯 Key insights from the discussion: 1️⃣ PhD graduates are increasingly needed in industry, not just academia. 2️⃣ Separate “academic vs. industry” PhD tracks risk diluting quality. 3️⃣ Lack of harmonization across countries hinders collaboration. 4️⃣ Focus should be on quality over quantity of doctoral programmes. 5️⃣ Supervision must be reimagined—seeing supervisors as teachers, not just managers. A huge thanks to our panelists Tea Vellamo, Jari Hämäläinen, Anda Gromova, Heli Ruotsalainen, Pourya Pourhejazy and Maarja Kruusmaa 🇺🇦 🎧 Listen to the full discussion here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dYncv_rU

🎓 Supervision as a shared institutional responsibility As the demands of doctoral education grow more complex, institutions can no longer afford to treat supervision as an informal skill. In her recent column—featured in the NORDTEK Newsletter Summer 2025 edition—Trine Fossland, Professor of Higher Education at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, describes and analyses the development of UiT’s mandatory supervisory training programme. 🔑 Key insights from UiT’s case study (2018–2021): 🔸 Supervision is not just a personal task but an institutional responsibility. 🔸 Professional development must focus on transformative learning, not just technical skills. 🔸 Supervisors need a broader repertoire to navigate diversity, mental health challenges, and career preparation. 🔸 Building communities of practice across faculties and disciplines strengthens supervisory cultures. 🔸 Institutional leadership and incentives are vital to signal the importance of high-quality supervision. UiT’s eight-month program, combining mandatory and voluntary elements, has shown how supervisors benefit from collegial learning, reflection, and shared responsibility. While challenges such as time constraints and resistance from experienced supervisors remain, the program demonstrates how thoughtful design and leadership engagement can drive a culture of excellence in supervision. 📖 Read the full column here: https://shorturl.at/eeky9 📰 Explore the full NORDTEK Newsletter Summer 2025 edition:https://shorturl.at/7ldj4 #DoctoralEducation #HigherEducation #Supervision #Nordtek

🎓 PhD supervision isn’t “just something you know how to do.” It’s one of the most complex roles in academia—requiring far more than research expertise. Supervisors must navigate diverse student needs, manage projects, create inclusive research environments, and foster trust, motivation, and critical thinking, all while being aware of power dynamics, mental health, and evolving career landscapes. In this opinion piece, featured in the NORDTEK Summer 2025 Newsletter, Professor Trine Fossland (UiT- The Arctic University of Norway / NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences) challenges the outdated idea that supervision is an inherited craft learned by trial-and-error. She calls on universities to: ✅ Recognise supervision as a professional practice ✅ Provide structured, research-informed, ongoing supervisor development ✅ Build supervisory teams that share responsibility for shaping the next generation of researchers Professional supervisors are not born—they are intentionally cultivated. 📖 Read the full opinion: https://lnkd.in/dhx5idz5 📰 Explore the NORDTEK Summer 2025 Newsletter:https://shorturl.at/K1M1H #NORDTEK #HigherEducation #PhD #DoctoralEducation #Supervision #AcademicDevelopment

We’re back from the holidays! 🌿☀️ Before the academic year kicks off and we bring you fresh updates from across the NORDTEK network, we’d like to take a moment to revisit our Summer 2025 newsletter — dedicated entirely to PhD education. One of the highlights was an in-depth piece by Prof. Jari Hämäläinen (LUT University), exploring Finland’s bold reform of doctoral education. Backed by €255 million, a four-year pilot programme will create 1,000 fully funded doctoral researcher positions — the most significant shake-up of Finland’s third-cycle education in decades. The initiative aims to accelerate research output and strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem, while experimenting with new models for PhD training. However, as Prof. Hämäläinen points out, it also raises important questions: 🔸 How to maintain quality in doctoral education? 🔸 How to ensure equity and broad access? 🔸 What will the reform mean for future research careers? 📖 You can read the full article here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dpCce55k 📰 And explore the full Summer 2025 NORDTEK newsletter here:https://shorturl.at/ODvWR Here’s to an exciting year ahead — and to the conversations that shape the future of higher education and research! ✨

☀️ NORDTEK is on summer holiday! 🌿 As summer settles in, the NORDTEK team is taking a short break to rest, recharge, and gather fresh energy for the exciting months ahead. We’ll be back in August – ready to continue building strong partnerships, supporting engineering education, and driving innovation across the Nordics and Baltics. Wishing you a relaxing and joyful summer – filled with sunshine, slow moments, and maybe a little bit of science! 🌊🌸 See you soon! #NORDTEK #SummerBreak #EngineeringEducation #NordicCollaboration

🌍 Sustainability in engineering education isn't optional anymore—it's essential. That's why we're thrilled to introduce the NORDTEK Sustainability Guidebook — a dynamic, collaborative resource created by experts from across the Nordic and Baltic regions. 👇 📖 Explore the guidebook here: https://lnkd.in/dVB-Xe8W This handbook is more than just a collection of ideas—it's a testament to the shared vision, values, and efforts of a dedicated working group committed to integrating sustainability into the core of engineering education. It's practical, it's forward-looking, and it's designed to inspire real change in classrooms and curricula across our universities. 🎓 From Aalto to Uppsala, from students to senior faculty—this guide brings together a rich diversity of voices: Elina Kähkönen, Helen Sooväli-Sepping, Helena Håkansson, Skirmante Mozuriunaite, Johan Berg Pettersen, Staffan Schedin, Melissa Georgiou, Jan Andersson, Johannes Kaira, Meeri Karvinen, Liliāna Pravarne-Statkus, Marianna Malkamäki, Alise Miļūna, Caroline Aggestam, and Eveliina Asikainen—your work is deeply appreciated. 🙌 This is just the beginning. The guidebook is evolving, and we’re inviting students and educators alike to shape its future. Sustainability is not a solitary pursuit—it’s a shared responsibility. Let’s keep building this, together. #NORDTEK #Sustainability #EngineeringEducation #Collaboration #HigherEducation #NordicBaltic #SDGs #FutureEngineers #GreenTransition

Highlights from #NORDTEK2025 in Vilnius! On 11–13 June 2025, VILNIUS TECH - Vilnius Gediminas Technical University proudly hosted the NORDTEK2025 conference focused on ‘Green and Digital University Transformation’. This year, NORDTEK rectors, board, students, all working groups (i.e. Mobility Coordinators, Engineering Education and PhD Education) members, as well as business and social partners, NGOs joined the conference and explored together HEIs’ efforts not only to adapt to the rapidly changing world, but also to initiate and accelerate the transformation. A few takeaways from the rich conference discussions: 🔸 Green and digital are not just goals, they are Europe’s advantage 🔸 Sustainability and digital transformation are changing universities – they’re becoming a catalyst for change 🔸 Universities are called to be lighthouses, not only mirrors of sustainability action 🔸 Storytelling for impact – the future of sustainability depends on how we tell our stories, share our skills, and learn together 🔸 Every one of us is invited to consider green travel opportunities 🔸 NORDTEK Guide to Sustainability in University Education is ready for use. You can find the Guide book here: https://lnkd.in/dV5uYwJn 🔸 Success comes when all parties work together – universities, the public sector and businesses. 🔸 Let’s empower universities with AI (from personalised learning to accelerating research and discovery) 🔸 Digital solutions should not be created by IT for IT, but by the university for the university 🔸 More communication and smooth mobility opportunities for NORDTEK students are needed A huge thank you to all the speakers, contributors, and attendees who made NOTDTEK2025 a success! #VILNIUSTECH #NOTDTEK2025 #GreenTransformation #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement #EngineeringEducation #GreenCapital2025

🌍 Leaders from Nordic and Baltic technical universities gathered in Vilnius! On June 13, Rectors and Deans from NORDTEK member universities met at Vilnius Tech for the 2025 Annual General Meeting — a day of connection, decision-making, and future planning. 🔹 New Board Members elected: • Jyrki Vuorinen (Tampere University) • Johan Ölvander (Linköping University) • Adas Meškėnas (VILNIUS TECH - Vilnius Gediminas Technical University) • Louise Møller Haase (Aarhus University) Thank you to Mika Hannula, Mikael Elofsson, Eugenijus Valatka, and Finn Borchsenius for their service. 🔹 Secretariat update: Peter Göranson steps down after many years of outstanding work. From August 1, the NORDTEK Secretariat will be hosted by Linköping University, with Mathias Henningsson appointed as the new Secretary General. 🔹 New President of NORDTEK: Olafur Petur Palsson of University of Iceland (Háskóli Íslands) takes over from Maarja Kruusmaa 🇺🇦 Kruusmaa (TalTech). Huge thanks to Maarja for her inspiring leadership. 🔹 Upcoming Conferences: 📅 June 2–4, 2026: Mälardalen University, Västerås – "Digital Humanism and Engineering" 📅 June 8–10, 2027: The Arctic University of Norway, Narvik 💬 The meeting also included open reflections on the European University Alliances. While challenges were noted, NORDTEK was widely praised for offering a flexible and dynamic framework for collaboration. 📖 Read more: 👉 https://lnkd.in/ddBis_KM #NORDTEK #EngineeringEducation #HigherEducation #UniversityLeadership #NordicBaltic #DigitalHumanism #EuropeanUniversities #UniversityAlliances

🚀 A major leap forward for AI research in Norway! Six new national AI research centers have been launched, focusing on responsible technology, creativity, sustainability, robotics, and hybrid intelligence — where humans and machines learn from each other. NORDTEK congratulates the teams involved and looks forward to seeing these centers lead the way in innovation and societal impact across the Nordic region. 👏 🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Zq6TPI #AI #NordicResearch #NORDTEK #Innovation #Sustainability #HybridIntelligence

The NORDTEK Summer 2025 Newsletter is out – and it’s all about PhD education across the Nordic and Baltic region. This edition dives deep into quality, supervision, and industry relevance – with reflections from across the network. Featuring insights from: 🔹 Prof. Jari Hämäläinen – LUT University 🔹 Prof. Trine Fossland – UiT- The Arctic University of Norway 🔹 Prof. Johan Ölvander – Linköping University 🔹 Sara-Lena Brännström – Umeå University 🔹 Tea Vellamo – Tampere University 🔹 Anda Gromova – Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte (Riga Technical University) 🔹 Heli Ruotsalainen – University of Oulu 🔹 Pourya Pourhejazy – UiT- The Arctic University of Norway 🔹 Prof. Maarja Kruusmaa 🇺🇦 – TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology 💬 Their contributions offer valuable perspectives on how we shape PhD education to meet tomorrow’s challenges. 👉 Read the full newsletter here: https://shorturl.at/FfWi7 #NORDTEK #PhDEducation #HigherEducation #DoctoralStudies #ResearchExcellence #NordicBalticCollaboration