The School of Arts, Design and Architecture reaches the landmark of one hundred doctors
12.10.2012
On 10 October, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture organised a seminar to celebrate the one hundred Doctors of Arts who have graduated in Finland.
At the celebratory seminar held at Media Centre Lume, Doctors of Arts spoke about their views of Finnish and international working life.
The event was opened by the school’s Dean Helena Hyvönen, who reminded the listeners of the favourable position enjoyed by Finland in the field of art education.
’Finland remains one of the few countries where art education is provided at the academic level. Our pioneering system has been used as an educational model for many foreign universities.’
’We now have a strong tradition of higher education in the creative fields, but is our society ready to make use of the graduates? These top experts have a lot to give to businesses and society’, Helena Hyvönen continued.
The 100th and the 1st Doctor of Arts
The 100th Doctor of Arts in Finland, Kirsikka Vaajakallio, defended her doctoral dissertation at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in August. The first student to obtain a doctorate at the University of Art and Design in 1991 was Päivi Hovi-Wasastjerna, who today directs the school’s Research Institute.
Päivi Hovi-Wasastjerna gave a review of the history of doctoral education and rejoiced at the staggering increase in the number of students in doctoral education.
’There has been an enormous increase in the number of doctoral candidates. There are as many doctors graduating this year as there were in the 1990s put together. After Vaajakallio’s dissertation in August, three doctors have already graduated.’
In her address, she highlighted the way in which changing working life competences currently influence doctoral education.
’Mastering competences needed in working life has become central. In doctoral education, we need to think about what competences are really needed and how we can incorporate them in the education. The requirements of working life have changed greatly since the early days of doctoral education,’ says Hovi-Wasastjerna.
The 100th Doctor of Arts, Kirsikka Vaajakallio, stressed the significance of activities that breach boundaries.
’As a graduate from Aalto University, I have learnt how important cooperation across boundaries is. It has also been vital to understand that the roles of a designer and a researcher are mutually supportive – not exclusive.’
Panel examined doctors’ employment prospects
At the seminar, recently graduated doctors from the school described their views of Finnish and international working life. The panel discussion was chaired by the Head of the Department of Architecture Antti Ahlava (Doctor of Arts), with contributions from Research Director Esko Kurvinen from Elisa Oyj, Kärt Summatavet from the Estonian Academy of Arts, Producer/Managing Director Riina Hyytiä from Dionysos Films, Design Evaluation team leader Heli Rantavuo from Nokia Design, London, and arts teacher Sirkka Laitinen from the University of Helsinki’s Viikki Primary School.
The fact that doctors mainly find employment in research and educational positions came up not only in the opening remarks of the seminar but also during the panel discussion. Aalto University and many polytechnics have employed nearly two out of three of the doctors, but the low number of Doctors of Arts recruited by businesses is worrying. The panellists talked about what doctors could offer to companies and society, and what companies could give to doctors.
Nithikul Nimkulrat, who sent his greetings via video link from the University of Loughborough, and Riina Hyytiä stressed the mindset that doctoral education develops.
’Doctoral education imparts a capacity to read important issues, and the graduates are able to absorb large wholes quickly. This will be an advantage for both the employee and the employer in working life,’ said both Hyytiä and Nimkulrat.
Internationally and nationally, a doctorate will be a requirement for tasks at a certain level.
As Heli Rantavuo put it, ’Doctoral education guarantees a certain standard. The quality of Finnish education has also been noted in the international job market. Doctors are at the same time both expert advisors and implementers.’