Decorations awarded to members of Turku UAS staff

On Independence Day, the President of the Republic of Finland confers decorations upon citizens who have distinguished themselves in the service of Finland. From Turku UAS, decorations have been awarded to Principal Lecturer Timo Korhonen, Principal Lecturer Tiina Pelander and Lecturer Päivi Viinikkala.

The staff of Turku University of Applied Sciences were awarded the Cross of merit of the order of the lion of finland and the Cross of merit of the order of the lion of finland.

Cross of merit of the order of the lion of finland (SL R)

Principal Lecturer  Timo Korhonen

Korhonen is one of Finland’s best-known guitar artists and pedagogues internationally. He has played an active role in developing guitar art and expanding the guitar repertoire.

He has open-mindedly seized new kinds of interdisciplinary opportunities and has pioneered collaborations with composers of new music. Works have been dedicated to him by Magnus Lindberg, Kimmo Hakola, Leo Brouwer and Toshio Hosokawa, among others. Korhonen has been actively giving concerts around the world since he was 14 years old, and his extensive and award-winning recording production covers the most significant works of guitar art.

Korhonen’s long career as a principal guitar teacher at the Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences is characterised by innovation, the search for new things and supporting the students’ own guitar artistry. During their careers, Korhonen’s students have progressed to become active actors in the international field of art. He plays a significant role as an international promoter of guitar art, e.g. through regular master classes held several times a year around the world. On his initiative, the Turku Guitar Club was founded in 1995.

Korhonen has been a pioneer in the application of emerging technologies to the performance and teaching of music, e.g. using remote connections. She has led several national and international projects combining music pedagogy and digital technologies. In her development work, she has had an exceptionally broad view of both the cutting edge of technological development and the practices of the work of a music pedagogue. He has actively shared this expertise in the music education of Turku University of Applied Sciences to both degree students and professionals already working in the field of music, e.g. through new master’s and expert education.

Principal Lecturer Tiina Pelander

Principal Lecturer Tiina Pelander has worked as a Principal Lecturer and Head of Education at Turku University of Applied Sciences since 2015. Prior to this, she has worked for a long time at the Salo Health Care College in various positions, such as a teacher and head of department. Pelander is a nurse, a specialist nurse, a Master of Health Sciences and a Doctor of Health Sciences. She defended her doctoral dissertation in 2008 on the quality of pediatric nursing.

In his work at Turku University of Applied Sciences as a principal lecturer and in charge of education, Pelander has been particularly responsible for the development competence of the competence area of nursing, the creation of the online nurse education in nursing education, the identification of students’ previously acquired competence, the development of the thesis process and the process of student graduation. In addition to all this, Pelander has promoted digital and childcare expertise as a principal lecturer and researcher in several RDI projects nationally and internationally related to nurses’ skills for the benefit of the client and the patient.

In total, Pelander has worked in teaching positions for the benefit of nursing expertise for more than 32 years. Since 2020, the online nursing education has developed into an established form of education, being currently the most attractive form of education in nursing education at Turku University of Applied Sciences. Pelander has worked in the position of Head of Education throughout his career at the University of Applied Sciences, doing his job excellently. In particular, research expertise, digital nursing skills and the development of childcare are visible in the work of the person in charge of education. In the work community, Pelander is a strong expert in nursing education. I propose to Principal Lecturer Tiina Pelander the Medal of Honour for her achievements in the field of nursing education.

Cross of merit of the order of the white rose of finland (SVR Ar)

Lecturer Päivi Viinikkala

Lecturer Päivi Viinikkala has witnessed the birth of the UAS system and has played a strong role in developing both teaching and student guidance. Her work in the field of universities of applied sciences began in the predecessor of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the Va. Uusikaupunki unit, where he worked as a lecturer and head of education (in business logistics and information technology). From there, his career has continued uninterrupted at the current Turku University of Applied Sciences Ltd. Prior to this, he worked as a lecturer at the Uusikaupunki Business School.

Viinikkala’s contribution to the university of applied sciences has been considerable. She has been responsible for the position of Head of Education, Curriculum, Tutoring and Guidance Counsellor in the Degree Programme in Business Logistics. He has worked as a guidance counsellor in a very multidisciplinary manner in business logistics, vehicle and transport technology, industrial engineering and management, and financial services. She has handled the challenging tasks of guidance counselling in a student-centred and confidential manner by supporting students’ well-being. Many BBA and engineering students would not have completed their degrees without the exemplary solution-oriented approach of Viinikkala’s guidance and guidance for career and postgraduate studies.

The feedback from the UAS community on Viinikkala’s expertise and approach to work has been invariably positive. She has also been an important support to her teacher colleagues; when a challenging situation has arisen, it is very often said “now I have to ask Päivi”. She has actively maintained her skills through active participation in BBA Educators’ Days and stakeholder cooperation, especially in the logistics sector. On behalf of the University of Applied Sciences, he has been responsible for the annual logistics days organised in Turku together with the Finnish Association of Purchasing and Logistics (LOGY). The event offers topical topics and new perspectives to both students and professionals in the field. At the moment, topical topics include digitalisation trends in logistics, promoting competitiveness through procurement, security of supply and responsibility in maritime transport.