Chydenius focuses on multidisciplinary research and education
Applied chemistry, business, information technology, social sciences, and teacher education – Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius focuses on these five disciplines in both education and research. By offering multidisciplinary adult education and carrying out research projects in cooperation with businesses, the consortium – run by the universities of Jyväskylä, Oulu, and Vaasa – contributes to regional development.
In recent years, Chydenius’ research funding has increased. And so has the volume of projects.
“Our research is based on the needs of the local business life. In applied chemistry, for example, sustainable solutions are at the core of our research. For the past few years, this unit has been focusing on the use of recyclable chemicals in battery manufacturing,” says Director Marko Aittola.
Smart wireless technologies and their applications in environmental monitoring are also studied closely at Chydenius.
“Our IT unit is studying how these technologies can be used in real time monitoring of, for example, groundwater, fauna, and the air quality in buildings and whole cities. The data would benefit a wide range of industries from construction to mining.”
Aittola also mentions work-from-anywhere and the modern working life as important research topics at Chydenius’ business unit.
“As the need for new workers increases, we have to find innovative solutions to reshape our way of working.”
Like research, education has also developed with the region’s changing needs at Chydenius. For the first time ever, the consortium will be offering doctoral education also in business. In addition, to attract more international students, the language of the master’s programme in applied chemistry was recently changed to English.
“The goal is to make sure that we have highly educated, skilled professionals in the region in the future as well. In 2021, we had almost six applications per study place – the demand for adult education is on the rise.”
