Preparations related to the deepening of collaboration between higher education institutions in eastern Finland move on to the next stage as the members of the working groups established for the negotiations have been selected. The first meetings will be held in May–June 2026.
The working groups include representatives from the Kajaani, Karelia and Savonia Universities of Applied Sciences and their owner cities, the University of Eastern Finland and the student associations of the higher education institutions. The process will be coordinated by a steering group. A vision group and a working group focusing on collaboration structures will operate under the steering group. A political monitoring group will examine the progress of the collaboration negotiations from the strategic starting points of the owner cities.
The preparations will also be supported by a sparring group, whose task is to bring the views of different stakeholders to the negotiations and to support the preparations from regional and business perspectives. The sparring group includes representatives from the chambers of commerce, entrepreneur organisations, regional councils, vocational colleges, the Union of Eastern Finland and other key stakeholders in the region. The first meeting of the sparring group will be held on 25 May 2026.
Where required, the working groups may use external experts in their work, and their composition may also be supplemented during the process. Communication on the negotiations will be coordinated jointly by the communications units of the higher education institutions and the owner cities.
Information on the progress of the preparations and the work of the working groups will be published on the Preparations for the Eastern Finland University Group | University of Eastern Finland website, where the meeting materials of the working groups will also be updated during the process.
Composition of the working groups:
The task of the political working group is to assess the progress of the negotiations from the strategic starting points of the owner cities and to support the preparation by interacting with the steering group.
The first meeting of the political monitoring group will be convened by Rector Tapio Määttä, who will also participate in the work of the group. The group includes representatives from the owner cities. The monitoring group will elect a chair from among its members.
City of Iisalmi
Sanna Kauppinen, chair of the City Council
Kirsi Niva, member of the City Board
Jukka Ryhänen, chair of the City Board
City of Joensuu
Seppo Eskelinen, chair of the City Board
Sari Huovinen, 2nd vice chair of the City Board
Anni Järvinen, 1st vice chair of the City Board
City of Kajaani
Auli Halonen, chair of the City Board's economic development sub-committee
Minna Leinonen, chair of the City Board
Jari Lindh, chair of the City Board’s group sub-committee
City of Kiuruvesi
Rauno Pikkarainen, vice chair of the City Board
Tommi Tikka, chair of the City Board
City of Kuopio
Aleksi Eskelinen, chair of the City Board
Tiina Kaartinen, 1st vice chair of the City Board
Sakari Pääkkö, 2nd vice chair of the City Board
City of Varkaus
Timo Suhonen, chair of the City Council
Kati Hynninen, 1st vice chair of the City Board (deputy member)
The steering group coordinates the negotiations, outlines further preparatory measures, schedules the work and prepares proposals for the decision-making of the parties. The group is represented by the owner cities, the universities of applied sciences and the University of Eastern‑Finland.
University of Eastern Finland
Tapio Määttä, Rector, chair of the steering group
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Matti Sarén, President, CEO
Karelia University of Applied Sciences
Petri Raivo, President, CEO
Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Mervi Vidgrén, President, CEO
City of Iisalmi
Jarmo Ronkainen, Mayor
Kirsi-Tiina Ikonen, Director of Education and Welfare (deputy member)
City of Joensuu
Jere Penttilä, Mayor
Jenni Jokela, Permanent Secretary (deputy member)
City of Kajaani
Joni Partanen, Acting Mayor
Risto Hämäläinen, Director of Development (deputy member)
City of Kiuruvesi
Juha-Pekka Rusanen, Mayor
Matti Heikinmaa, School Principal of Upper Secondary Education and Director of Education and Culture (deputy member)
City of Kuopio
Soile Lahti, Mayor
Mikko Ripatti, Director of Education and culture (deputy member)
City of Varkaus
Joonas Hänninen, Mayor
Antti Mäkinen, Director of Administration (deputy member)
The tasks of the vision group are to refine the common situational picture, identify new collaboration opportunities in education, research and services, and to plan the involvement of staff and students in the preparation. In addition, the group will prepare material for the interim reviews of the performance agreement period to be held in autumn 2026 with the Ministry of Education and Culture. The vision group reports on its work to the steering group.
The vision group includes representatives from the universities of applied sciences, the owner cities, the university and the student associations of the higher education institutions.
University of Eastern Finland
Soili Makkonen, Director of Strategy and Development, chair of the vision group
Laura Hirsto, Vice Rector, Education
Jussi Pihlajamäki, Vice Rector, Research and innovation
Anu Liikanen, Director of Research and Innovation Services (deputy member)
Miia Turtiainen, Director of Student and Learning Services (deputy member)
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Matti Sarén, President, CEO
Pentti Malinen, chair of the Board of KAMK Ltd
Tuija Postari-Kivistö, Director of Administration and Finance (deputy member)
Tuomo Kälkäjä, vice chair of the Board of KAMK Ltd (deputy member)
Karelia University of Applied Sciences
Marjo Nenonen, Vice President
Anne Ilvonen, Director of Research and Development
Liisa Timonen, Director of International Affairs (deputy member)
Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Mikko Vuoristo, Vice President
Esa Viklund, Director of Education
Antti Iire, Director of International Affairs (deputy member)
Riitta Turjamaa, Director of Continuous Learning (deputy member)
City of Iisalmi
Terho Savolainen, Director of Economic Development
Eeva Suomalainen, Chief Financial Officer (deputy member)
City of Joensuu
Jani Kaasinen, Director of Education and Welfare
Jenni Jokela, Permanent Secretary (deputy member)
City of Kajaani
Mari Selin, Director of Education and Culture
Matti Sarén, President, CEO
City of Kiuruvesi
Juha-Pekka Rusanen, Mayor
Matti Heikinmaa, School Principal of Upper Secondary Education and Director of Education and Culture (deputy member)
City of Kuopio
Kirsi Soininen, Director of Strategy and Communications
Timo Antikainen, Director of Business and Economic Development (deputy member)
City of Varkaus
Markus Vesterinen, Director of Economic Development and Growth
Joonas Hänninen, Mayor (deputy member)
The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
Emilia Kivikoski, chair
Kajaani University of Applied Science’s Student Union KAMO
Ella Kela, vice chair of the Student Council
Venla Halonen, member of the Board (deputy member)
Student Union POKA of Karelia University of Applied Sciences
Mikko Miettinen, chair of the Board
Ville-Petteri Kujansuu, Executive Director (deputy member)
Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences SAVOTTA
Tiina Landén, chair of the Board
Roosa-Marika Hytönen, vice chair of the Board (deputy member)
The task of the working group is to also assess alternative models for the progress of collaboration and negotiations from legal and financial perspectives. The group will also identify the key conditions of the parties and examine the prerequisites for decision-making as regards the structure and schedule. The working group reports on its work to the steering group. The group includes representatives from the university, the universities of applied sciences and their owner cities.
University of Eastern Finland
Petri Rintamäki, Chief Legal Officer, chair of the working group
Heini Koskenvuori Chief Financial Officer, vice chair of the working group
Kajaani University of Applied Sciences
Matti Sarén, President, CEO
Pentti Malinen, chair of the Board of KAMK Ltd (deputy member)
Karelia University of Applied Sciences
Pia Hiltunen, Director of Administration and Finance
Jaana Tolkki, Director of Human Resources and Corporate Responsibility
Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Seppo Lyyra, Chief Financial Officer
Minna Kaija-Kortelainen, Head of Human Resources
Mikko Vuoristo, Vice President (deputy member)
Saara Karkulahti, chair of the Board (deputy member)
City of Iisalmi
Eeva Suomalainen, Chief Financial Officer
Kirsi-Tiina Ikonen, Director of Education and Welfare
City of Joensuu
Mikko Kärkkäinen, City Lawyer
Satu Huikuri, Chief Financial Officer
Jenni Jokela, Permanent Secretary
City of Kajaani
Joni Partanen, Acting Mayor
Risto Hämäläinen, Director of Development
City of Kiuruvesi
Tiia Väänänen, Director of Administration
City of Kuopio
Marja-Leena Martikainen, Chief Financial Officer
Tero Oinonen, Director of Administration (deputy member)
City of Varkaus
Antti Mäkinen, Director of Administration
Matti Mentilä, Chief Financial Officer (deputy member)
