Invited speakers

Barbara ISCHINGER is responsible for the OECD Directorate for Education, which helps Member countries to improve the quality, equity and efficiency of their educational systems. She has held a range of senior international positions over the last 17 years in the fields of international co-operation and education, with a focus on Europe, the United States and Africa. Before joining the OECD, Dr. Ischinger was Executive Vice-President for International Affairs and Public Relations at Berlin Humboldt Universität (2000-2005).

Alastair BLYTH is an analyst at the OECD Centre for Learning Environments (CELE). Recent projects at the OECD include Designing for Education: Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities 2011. An architect, he joined OECD in August 2007 from the University of Westminster, London, where he ran a research project on facilities performance evaluation for higher education buildings. A senior lecturer and senior research fellow at the University, Alastair co-authored a book Managing the Brief for Better Design, first published in 2001. He has written on a range of technical subjects for the UK architectural, property and construction press.

Hannah von AHLEFELD has been an analyst at the OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments (CELE) since 2003. She is responsible for numerous international projects relating to innovation in the design of learning environments and evaluating quality in educational facilities. Hannah previously worked as a statistician, author, and publications and network co-ordinator on OECD’s Education at a Glance and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Born in Australia and a qualified secondary school teacher, she has a strong academic and

research background in education and the social sciences.

Jyri Manninen, Dr., professor (Adult & Continuing Education), University of Eastern Finland.Have been involved in research, use and development of Learning Environments since 1989; especially so called virtual classrooms and Computer mediated communication (CMC). Also evaluation of Pedagogical and technological innovations in vocational training and use of web based learning tools in Finnish Open Universities. Analyses and development of web based learning environments since 1995, with a special emphasis on didactical relevance. Recently research interests are more focused on Learning Environments in general and on virtual innovation practice communities.

Kristiina Kumpulainen, PhD, is Professor of education at the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Helsinki. She has just recently returned back to the university sector after serving as a Director of the Information and Evaluation Services Unit at the Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE). Kristiina holds an adjunct professorship at the University of Turku in Finland . She has also been a visiting professor at the University of Warwick, UK, and at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Kristiina’s research interests focus on socioculturally informed educational research, formal and informal learning, learning environments and new technologies, innovative schools and their pedagogies, teacher professional development, video research methodologies, as well as on interdisciplinary research for the promotion of learning in the 21st century. Currently, she is charge of two ongoing research projects funded by the Academy of Finland, AGENTS – Towards children’s efficacious agency in formal and formal contexts and VISCI – Virtual interactive space for collaborative innovation. Kristiina serves on several editorial boards and acts as a reviewer for a number of scientific journals and international research programmes. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Lifelong Learning in Europe Journal (LLinE) and co-editor of JETEN, Journal of European Teacher Education Network. Kristiina has published her research work widely in national and international journals and books. She is also a regular keynote speaker and facilitator at national and international venues.

Tapio Kosunen, State Secretary, was formerly Director of the Open university of the University of Helsinki from 2004, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education and Science from 1999  to 2001 and Special Government Adviser at the Ministry of Education from 2001 to 2004.  Tapio Kosunen is Adjunct Professor in the University of Helsinki and in Eastern Finland University. He has worked as researcher, teacher and civil servant in a university, in a polytechnic, in local education and cultural authority, and as teacher in a comprehensive school and a folk high school. As State Secretary, he assists and represents the Minister in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the Government Programme in the Minister's sector, as the aide to the Minister leads the preparation of matters and, together with the Permanent Secretary, administers cooperation between the Ministry and other government sectors.

Marko Kuuskorpi, headmaster, Master of Education (researcher), works for the City of Kaarina Education Authority. He is currently employed as the headmaster for Piikkiö Comprehensive School, which provides comprehensive education for about 550 pupils. In addition to his work, with the support of National Board of Education, Kuuskorpi has been active in developing future learning environments, in which learning and the functionality of learning environments has been looked at from the points of view of physical environments, usability of different education technological equipment and accessibility. He is also completing a Doctoral Thesis on the subject during 2012.

Through his work Kuuskorpi has developed a versatile pedagogic knowledge of learning processes and learning environments. Kuuskorpi is especially interested and knowledgeable in developing learning and learning environments. In this area he is a specialist and a mentor in national and international networks. The knowledge has also accumulated a versatile network of players in the research, business and public sectors. This network continues to take the development work further.

Vesa Taatila,  Ph.D., adjunct professor,  works as a Special Advisor at Laurea University of Applied Sciences. His tasks include development of Laurea’s international strategy as well as support of entrepreneurial learning initiatives. Before starting in this position Dr. Taatila worked for eight years as the principal lecturer of innovation management supporting the learning of his students in entrepreneurship, innovation, pedagogy and leadership. He has published several text books and articles on these topics, focusing mainly on creative and innovative learning processes. Previously Dr. Taatila has made a long industry career in executive positions in Metso, Talent Partners and Sonera.

Harri Ketamo, Ph.D., is a CTO and founder at eedo intelligence Ltd. and Adjunct Professor at Tampere University of Technology. He has a strong background in Complex Adaptive Systems, Cognitive Psychology of Learning, User Modeling, Neural Computing and Game Design. Harri's current startup, eedo intelligence Ltd., is focusing on artificial intelligence and behavioral psychology -based educational concepts designed for global games- and social media companies. Before founding eedo intelligence Ltd., Harri has been e.g. a Director of Education at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, CEO and founder at GameMiner Ltd., a company focused on game AI's and Data Mining, and Academy of Finland granted post-doc researcher.

Esko Poikela, Director of Education in the City of Kaarina.
Before his recent post in local administration, Poikela has worked as headmaster in primary-lower
secondary schools, held several postions in educational organizations and
aquired practical experience through his years both in education and in Finnish
child welfare society. Poikela was the first headmaster of the School of
Kotimäki (host school of the conference on Thursday) and many of his views of a
modern school building as a centre of local activitiy are seen in the design of
this 2005 opened school.

Aulis Pitkälä, Director General, Finnish National Board of Education since 2012 and Deputy Mayor, Education and Cultural Services, City of Espoo, since 2008. His areas of responsibility include education and day care, adult education, cultural and sports services, services for young people. In 2010 these areas of responsibility have a combined budget of EUR 590 million and a total of 7 700 personnel. Between 2004 – 2007, he hold the post of Deputy Mayor in the City of Vantaa, where his responsibilities included education (education and library services) and leisure-time services (cultural, youth and sports services). He is also Vice- chairman of Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy (Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Ltd).

Jukka Sulonen, MSc (arch) Safa. He has a long experience as an architect designer and has worked the last 10 years mainly among school architecture.  Partner of Talli architects until 2009. Since then he has been working at Playa Architects Oy as the leader of the school project in Espoo City. He has participated in developing activities of the Building Information Files (publications of Building Information Foundation), especially worked with information files of School Design. He was a researcher in future school project called Inno School at Aalto University 2008 -2009.  A Doctoral Thesis on the relation between a modern school building and its users is under way.