Anu Haapala Appointed Director of Development for University of Helsinki’s Teaching and Learning Services

Anu Haapala Appointed Director of Development for University of Helsinki’s Teaching and Learning Services

(IN BRIEF) Anu Haapala, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, has been named the new director of development for the University of Helsinki’s Teaching and Learning Services sector, effective April 1, 2024. With a background spanning over a decade in research and development roles at various Finnish educational institutions, including Xamk and Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, as well as experience as a teacher and researcher at the University of Joensuu (now the University of Eastern Finland), Haapala brings extensive expertise in pedagogical development, guidance practices, and continuous learning in higher education. Her appointment signifies the university’s commitment to further enhancing its teaching quality and student support services. Esa Hämäläinen, Director of Administration at the University of Helsinki, expressed enthusiasm for Haapala’s addition to the team, citing her research-based development experience as valuable for shaping the future of university education.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 26-Feb-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Doctor of Philosophy (Education) Anu Haapala has been appointed as the director of development of University of Helsinki’s Teaching and Learning Services sector starting on 1 April 2024. The sector is responsible for the strategic planning of the University’s teaching and education, the diverse services related to the smooth completion of studies and student support as well as the pedagogical development of teaching and academic administration.

For the past ten years, Anu Haapala has worked as the director of research and development at the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) and before that as a head of department at the Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences. She has extensive experience in developing operational processes, pedagogy, guidance practices and continuous learning in higher education.

She has also worked for a long time as a teacher and researcher in the Faculty of Education at the University of Joensuu (now the University of Eastern Finland).

“I am taking up this position with pleasure and enthusiasm. My career has always been focused on future-oriented development of education and learning, sustainable well-being and optimally enabling the work of experts. I believe that in the role of director of development I can make extensive use of all the expertise and know-how I have accumulated during my career as we work together to further develop the University of Helsinki into the best in the world,” says Anu Haapala.

University of Helsinki’s Teaching and Learning Services comprises more than 350 specialists whose work results are reflected both in the continuous development of teaching and the smooth progress of studies.

“I am truly happy to get Anu join our team. Her extensive experience in research-based development provides an excellent foundation for developing university education of the future along with the required services.  We warmly welcome her to the University of Helsinki,” says Esa Hämäläinen, Director of Administration of the University of Helsinki.

Media Contact:

Esa Hämäläinen
Head of Administration
UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
esa.hamalainen@helsinki.fi
0294122212

SOURCE: University of Helsinki