As we have started officially in our European Alliance called “PIONEER” in January 2025, we organized our annual Laurea week this time together with our PIONEER alliance partners TH Köln and Avans. The planning started almost a year earlier, and the event took place 2-6 June 2025 on Laurea Leppävaara campus. Simultaneously in Leppävaara there was PIONEER WP3 meeting at Laurea, Laurea students’ graduation parties and a guest from University Johannesburg on campus, so a lot was going on!
The international week had over 40 participants from PIONEER universities and the WP3 had almost 20 persons attending. It was great to have some Laurea staff members attending as well, for example senior lecturers Kirsi Maste and Marika Nikkinen joined almost all the week and planned future cooperation with the partners.
This professional development programme was mainly for PIONEER Alliance members only. It brought together university staff members – both academic and non-academic experts – from across the PIONEER Alliance that consists of ten European universities focusing on the sustainable development of future cities. The programme provided a forum to discuss concepts and methods, share personal and professional experiences, showcase best practices and learn from the other participating experts. (Laurea 2025.)
Online event 6.5.2025
The professional programme was organized as a staff blended intensive programme, meaning that there had to be three universities organizing and we had to have an online session (6.5.2025) before the onsite event. The online event consisted of welcome, defining the aim of our event, practicalities, introduction to Finland, presentation about leadership in higher education seen from a European perspective by Mika Launikari and “The three levels of leadership – Individual, group and society/culture & EDI” by Franz Krönig from TH Köln and Lies Parmentier from Avans. The participants received instructions for the individual assignments which had to be completed for the onsite event.
ONSITE DAYS on Monday-Friday 2-6 June 2025
DAY 1 – Monday 2 June 2025
The day started with registrations and welcome words by Katri Ojasalo, Laurea Vice President of Education. Laurea international team and the organizing team of Laurea, TH Köln and Avans were presented. That was followed by fun and informative facts of Finland by Mika Launikari from Laurea. After enjoying a coffee break, we had our keynote speech “Building Blocks for Future-Oriented Leadership” by Laurea Senior Lecturers Kirsi Maste and Marika Nikkinen.
Group discussions. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
After lunch we had the presentation of Taru Maamies; “Linking leadership in higher education into the UN Agenda2030 and PIONEER Alliance’s work package 3 on transformative leadership – Changing paradigms, new phenomena and trends”. Franz Krönig from TH Köln presented: “Transformative Leadership – Can we escape the pendulum?”.
After afternoon coffee we were reflecting on the individual assignments completed by participants to connect the online and onsite events, including ‘five pre-eminent leaders’ which was facilitated by Lies Parmentier from Avans.
“Five pre-eminent leaders” workshop, which was facilitated by Lies Parmentier. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
DAY 2 – Tuesday 3 June 2025
The second day started with a group photo and opening of the day – reflecting on the first day and getting oriented for the second day. We had the honor to receive our keynote speech “Resilience and leadership at times of global turbulence” by Commander Roy Sillen from Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA) and his colleague Maarten vd Ven.
Commander Roy Sillen (right) from Netherlands Defence Academy (NLDA) and his colleague Major Maarten vd Ven (left). Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
After the coffee break the Dutch guests held a workshop about how we can apply the ideas and experiences presented to our own work at the university. There were discussions in groups based on the keynote speech.
After lunch we enjoyed the workshop of Eberhard Schenk from TH Köln “Enabling students to develop leadership responsibilities in project teams”.
Session of psychologist Eberhard Schenk from TH Köln. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
DAY 3 – Wednesday 4 June 2025
After opening of the day, we heard the presentation: “Laurea’s Student Union Laureamko – informing, involving and influencing” by Rami Hollmerus and Linda Lindgren. We briefly also discussed how to support and promote student engagement at our universities.
After coffee break, we heard the inspirational keynote of Kaisu Kiiskilä, who is the HR Director at Sanoma Learning. Her presentation title was “Nordics Leadership Requirements of the Future – Case Sanoma Company”
Keynote by Kaisu Kiiskilä, HR Director at Sanoma Learning. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
After lunch we enjoyed the workshop on personal leadership and social safety by Luisa Decker from Avans UAS. The workshop started with the introduction of a theoretical framework and included some interactive elements to foster reflection and discussion on leadership qualities and social safety. The importance of offering various educational modules and adapting leadership to meet modern demands were discussed. (Laurea 2025.)
The need for leaders in education to be self-conscious and self-aware were emphasized, but also the importance of asking unbiased questions to their team members and understanding their team’s perceptions to ensure psychological and social safety. Psychological and social safety are the basis for good transformative leadership. Leaders should work on self-awareness, honesty, and understanding their impact on others. Personal leadership involves navigating transitions and transformations while maintaining safety. We tested some activities like self-reflection, eye contact exercises, and considering cultural differences. (Laurea 2025.)
Session of Luisa Decker about psychological safety. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
DAY 4 – Thursday 5 June 2025
After opening of the day, we heard the presentation of Andrea Platte from TH Köln online. Her colleagues Stefanie Vogt and Kosima Kosak were live to present and discuss the topic “From inclusive pedagogy to inclusive leadership and faculty development”.
Session of Stefanie Vogt (left), Kosima Kosak (right) and Andrea Platte (online). Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
The Faculty of Applied Sciences is in the midst of a long-term effort to integrate inclusive pedagogy and didactics into leadership practices – both at the team level and across the faculty as a whole.
This workshop explored whether and how the principles of inclusive pedagogy can inform and shape ’inclusive leadership’. We discussed the questions: Are there existing frameworks to ensure that leadership roles remain accessible to a diverse range of individuals? What strategies can faculties and academic teams adopt to promote inclusivity in leadership development? This interactive discussion was about bridging the gap between inclusive teaching and inclusive leadership, with a focus on practical applications in faculty development. (Laurea 2025.)
After lunch wewere transferred by bus to Microsoft Finland for a company visit. Microsoft Finland is one of Laurea´s key partners so it was exciting to visit them. We heard the presentation of inspiringTiina Rolig “AI and Change Management: Microsoft’s journey towards the future”. And after that her HR colleague Anne Wahlström presented Microsoft in general to us a bit more.
HR Director from Microsoft Finland, Tiina Rolig presenting. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
We continued from Keilalahti to Helsinki city center where we had organized sightseeing walks with guides in the historical center of Helsinki.
Guests at the sightseeing tour in Helsinki city centre. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
In the evening, we enjoyed a nice farewell dinner in the city center in restaurant Factory, again the key partner of Laurea. This was a common event for the BIP/International week and WP3 meeting participants.
Welcome drinks before farewell dinner at Restaurant Factory. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
DAY 5 – Friday 6 June 2025
The last day started with a workshop of “Focus on the societal level of leadership –open space method” by Gijs Dekkers and Bart Siemens from Avans. This workshop was a great way of summing up the week. After that we discussed takeaways back home and had a closing ceremony with certificates. The guests had the possibility to have lunch for the last time before their departures back home or for holiday in Finland.
Session of Gijs Dekkers (left) and Bart Siemens (left). Mika Launikari in the middle. Photo by Sini Aalto-Friman
Conclusions
The goals and questions before the training programme were:
- Are you excited to learn more about leadership in higher education in Europe?
- Do you want to develop your professional understanding of the subject?
- Are you interested in inspiring and motivating your colleagues and team members, stimulating their thinking and broadening their horizons for the greater good?
- Do you see potential for institutional change through leadership development at your own university? (Laurea 2025.)
I think the week answered well this questions. The programme was based on the idea that leadership – both as a field of study and as a practical skill – and it encompassed the ability of an individual, group or organization to lead, influence or guide other individuals, teams or whole organizations, and by that also influencing societal developments. Good leadership cares for staff members, enhances their social safety and well-being, and promotes diversity, equity, equality, inclusion and belonging. (Laurea 2025.)
The guests were very content with the week. The only recommendation for the future was to have more discussions or workshops. We often had a presentation first and then discussion or workshop. But that is naturally a good point that we will take into consideration. Some points from the open feedback that warmed my heart:
“I found the program very varied and well organized.”
“You at Laurea did it so well that it will be difficult to improve from this high standard.”
“Thank you so much for having us! It was a really good week :)”
“The event was a great success. I would like to thank Sini and Mika and everyone else for organizing it. The events were very varied, and the group work rounded off the presentations very well. I found the trip to Microsoft particularly interesting, and the topic was also omnipresent. Such collaborations between LAUREA and companies in Helsinki should be used for future International Weeks. I would also like to thank you for the hospitality in your country and the various activities throughout the week. Hope we will see us again!”
“Kiitos for everything <3”
“Thank you so much, it was a great time of discovering and exchanges”
“It was an amazing experience with so much on offer that it was almost mindblowing.”
Now the week is over but hopefully many will continue to work with these topics in their own organizations and with their new colleagues. We also asked, “What do you want to develop after this session in the topic of transformative leadership?” Here are some open answers:
“Get to know more about antifragility”
“Change Management Skills: Strengthen skills in change management to effectively guide organizations and individuals through transitions and transformations. Inclusivity and Diversity: Focus on creating inclusive environments that value diversity, ensuring that all voices are heard and contribute to the organization’s mission. Cultivate the ability to be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience in the face of uncertainty etc. “
“Shift of mindset. CREATING the future together.”
“I would like to use some of the discussion tools in my own team to fluidify dialogue. I will also borrow the ideas from our partner universities and suggest them in my own university”
“Keep trying to work on projects in an intelligence collective with interactive meetings to listen to every voice, and welcome every idea”
“Raise awareness about leadership across our institution, involving our top management”
These events are the most meaningful in my work, to help people develop themselves and internationalization. The effect of a one international week or BIP can be transformative indeed.
We are hoping that this professional programme can continue at Avans or TH Köln in the years to come.
At Laurea the next international week organized by me is our Laurea International Week & PIONEER festival during the Laurea Job Fest on Tikkurila and Leppävaara Campuses in Finland January 26-30, 2026! Laurea is also acting as a chair of PIONEER alliance in 2026, so this is the exciting kick off for that! Stay tuned! This is the event page for all future Laurea International Weeks: International Week 2025 – Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
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