EduFutura awarded active collaborators with “Act of the year 2024” awards

The EduFutura ‘Cultural Well-being’ invitation-only event was held at the Finnish Music Campus on December 10, 2024. During the event, current projects of the network were presented, after which Jarkko Pirkkalainen from the University of Jyväskylä guided the guests into themed discussions. The event featured catering from the Finnish Music Campus restaurant and networking around the themed discussions. The event culminated in the awarding of the EduFutura Act of the Year awards.

With these awards, EduFutura wants to thank the promoters and developers of EduFutura cooperation. Suggestions were collected from EduFutura institutions, and both staff and students could propose the award recipients. The awards were presented by Vesa Saarikoski, Rector of Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Anssi Tuominen, Director of Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia, and Jari Ojala, Rector of the University of Jyväskylä.

EduFutura Act of the Year, Jamk: Suvi Salminen

Salminen has been developing and implementing EduFutura’s entrepreneurship studies. She guides students on the path of entrepreneurship and actively builds a community where entrepreneurial skills and cooperation are key. Her work’s impact is visible in students’ concrete learning: business ideas are created through teamwork, students network with the business world, and get acquainted with EduFutura’s entrepreneurship studies.

Salminen’s expertise and commitment have advanced EduFutura’s activities and strengthened its impact among students and partners, creating bridges to the business world. Salminen’s warm, open, and positive attitude makes her a well-liked and respected collaborator. She works as a lecturer and business coach at Jamk University of Applied Sciences.

EduFutura Act of the Year, JYU: Erkki Luoma-aho

Luoma-aho has been developing the IT line at Jyväskylä Lyseo Upper Secondary School, which uniquely combines upper secondary school studies and IT studies at the University of Jyväskylä. The IT line creates an opportunity for upper secondary school students to continue IT studies at the university’s Faculty of Information Technology. Luoma-aho has strengthened the cooperation between the upper secondary school and the university and encouraged young people to seize IT career opportunities.

Luoma-aho is an excellent example of the cooperation between EduFutura network institutions and the possibilities of utilizing the expertise of network actors. His work is valuable in developing the EduFutura operating model and community. Luoma-aho is a helpful, inspiring, and passionate developer of mathematics education.

EduFutura Act of the Year, Gradia: Jimi Heikkilä

Heikkilä is a determined and motivated student. He has utilized the opportunities offered by higher education pathway studies exceptionally efficiently and completes them significantly faster than usual. Heikkilä’s initiative, positive attitude, determination, and diligence are exemplary. He not only seizes opportunities but also creates them for others, significantly promoting the visibility and impact of EduFutura cooperation among students. Heikkilä is a second-year information and communication technology higher education pathway student at Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia.

The event photography was handled by Gradia media students Ella Niemi and Inka Muhonen.