Preparations for the Aalto University are making good progress this spring. The aim is to create a university in which one can contribute to one's best, be it in studies, in the conduct of research and art, or teaching. Preparation work is being carried out in the following seven theme areas: research, teaching, people processes, societal impact, overall focus, services and finance. The leaders of these areas form the so-called ‘A8 Transformation Team' that is responsible for the practical implementation of the transformation project. The project is being led by a steering group consisting of the universities' rectors.

At present, more than 400 members and stakeholders of the Aalto community participate in the roughly 40 working and larger feedback groups preparing the new university. The aim for the working groups is to generate draft proposals that will then be discussed with the Aalto community. More information on the Aalto University preparation work can be found at http://www.aaltoyliopisto.info/en and wiki.aaltoyliopisto.info.

This online discussion focuses on the first drafts of Aalto University's mission and vision 2020 statements. This online discussion will enable us to survey the views of both the university community as well as its partners as regards Aalto University's mission and vision 2020 statements.

The drafts presented in this online survey have been prepared by the working group ‘Mental Foundation', working under the theme area ‘Overall Focus'. The working group (see members) is led by professor Jukka Seppälä. Based on the results of this online discussion, the views of the university community and its partners will be summarized and fed back into the mission and vision development work. The working group will then draft improved proposals for the mission and vision of Aalto University. Our objective is that the board of the Aalto University Foundation will approve the mission and vision of the new university in August 2009.

We invite the Aalto University community (students, staff and alumni) and its partners to take part in this online mission and vision discussion. The site is open until March 25. Participation will take 15-20 minutes of your time. Answering is anonymous.  Through this online discussion, you will also be able to send your greetings to our new rector Tuula Teeri, who starts as rector in April.

We will communicate the results and the feedback gained through this online discussion during April to the entire Aalto community. In May, we will invite you to discuss the values of the Aalto University through which we will be able to implement our mission and vision.

Welcome to the online discussion on Aalto's mission and vision statements. We look forward to your input. Let's build a magnificent new university together!

Best regards,

Esa Ahonen Mauri Airila Jari Jokinen Outi Krause Markku Markkula Pekka Saarela Timo Saarinen Hannu Seristö

For any questions concerning the method, please contact elina.joensuu@fountainpark.com and for technical questions, please contact support@fountainpark.com