Partnership to Develop Graduate Skills for Industry

A collaboration to pursue mutual goals in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and marine disciplines, initiated on the recommendation of joint international industrial partners, has been announced by the University of Strathclyde and the Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS). The overall aim is to increase the number of qualified graduates with Master level background for the Finnish Turku region.

Professor Tim Bedford, Associate Principal Research & Innovation at Strathclyde, said: “We see great opportunities for international cooperation. At TUAS, we found an entrepreneurial approach which is very similar to ours, with strong support for the regional innovation system.

“We found common ground in marine engineering, digital manufacturing and health and can begin to build cooperation in these fields, with TUAS and the other universities, industry and city of Turku.”

Professor Atilla Incecik, Associate Principal and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Strathclyde, said: “We found similarities in the history and future plans of Strathclyde and TUAS.With a common heritage and common future, this is a great opportunity to build cooperation and I look forward to us working together.”

During a recent visit, the Strathclyde representatives discussed future developments with TUAS, along with representatives of the University of Turku, Åbo Akademi, Lappeenranta University of Technology and Aalto.

Juhani Soini, Vice-Rector of TUAS, said: “During the visit of the University of Strathclyde to Turku, we were able to locate several practical measures through which the cooperation can be quickly deepened. During the spring, we will make a return visit to Glasgow. After that, we will surely be wiser regarding the schedules and detailed content of the cooperation in education.”

The Director of the Turku’s City Development Group, Pekka Sundman, said: “Strengthening the already good international connections through cooperation in education is a natural continuum for us. The University of Strathclyde is engaged in close collaboration with several international companies, some of which also operate in Southwest Finland.

“Lack of skilled workforce must not restrain the growth of the economy in the Turku region. It is a common interest of the regional actors if we manage to increase the number of technology experts by expanding the cooperation in education beyond the national borders.”