- The biggest alumni event of the year, Aalto Alumni Weekend, was held at Dipoli on Saturday, October 25
- A total of 1,400 alumni from all Aalto University schools participated in the event
- Aalto EE's Alum of the Year 2025, Juha Jolkkonen, was also awarded alongside other Alumni of the Year recipients
Aalto Alumni Weekend, the biggest alumni event of the year, was held for the second time. This time, the event, which attracted a whopping 1,400 alumni, was held at Dipoli in Espoo.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of Aalto University. The radical idea of merging three higher education institutions into one led to the birth of an internationally unique multidisciplinary university.
“The development of Aalto has always been driven by people coming together. The desire to do something greater than what any single voice can achieve is what unites us. When you look at today’s Otaniemi, you see all three of our fields – art and design, business, and science and technology – working together. Can a university change the world? Absolutely,” said Rector Ilkka Niemelä in his opening speech.
In addition to Niemelä, the keynote speakers included industrial designer and entrepreneur Maija Itkonen, philosopher Esa Saarinen, and technology visionary and entrepreneur, Chair of the Aalto University Board, Tero Ojanperä.
The four program tracks offered alumni a range of keynotes and panel discussions on topics such as next-generation leadership, the future of innovation, the energy transition, and the opportunities of multipurpose technologies.
The Alumni of the Year, selected by all six schools and Aalto EE, were also announced at Aalto Alumni Weekend.
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| In one of the four program tracks, the next generation of leadership was explored. Panelists included Frank Martela (left), Hannakaisa Länsisalmi, Astrid Huopalainen, Pia Erkinheimo, and Sami Itani. |
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| Under the guidance of Executive in Residence Juha Äkräs, alumni had the opportunity to discover their own leadership profiles. |
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| The biggest alumni event of the year brought together 1,400 alumni from all Aalto schools at Dipoli on the Otaniemi campus. |
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| Juha Jolkkonen, Executive Director of the City of Helsinki's Social, Health, and Rescue Services Division and Aalto EMBA alum, was selected as Aalto EE's Alum of the Year. Each school, including Aalto EE, awards the Alum of the Year award to its alumni. In addition to Jolkkonen, the recognition was awarded to Minna Lukander, Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, Petri Lehmus, Ville Voipio, Mika Viljanmaa, and Matti Aksela. Get to know the Alumni of the Year. |
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| Alumni Mirja Heiskari (left) and Pirkko Taskinen have both participated in Aalto EE's training programs during their careers. |
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| Jussi-Pekka Erkkola, an alumnus of the University of Art and Design and Aalto EE, came to meet his EMBA peers. “Aalto has strengthened in me, above all, curiosity – the desire to learn and stay current. I’ve continued my studies at Aalto EE, and today the Aalto EMBA alumni network is also gathering,” he said. |
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| The daytime program concluded with a speech by philosopher, emeritus professor Esa Saarinen. Saarinen also teaches at Aalto EE, for example, in the Aalto Executive MBA program. |
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| In the evening, alumni had the chance to watch short films created by Aalto ARTS students and the award-winning documentary Radical Creatives, directed by alumna Emilia Hernesniemi. |
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| Alumni were entertained by the Boston Promenade big band, originally formed at the Helsinki School of Economics. |
