This week I am on an Erasmus exchange trip with a colleague, to TAMK, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, the sun has just set and its 11 o'clock at night, that's Finland. Colleagues from TAMK visited Staffordshire University last year to share experiences, and it is great to have the opportunity to do likewise. TAMK is a multidisciplinary university focusing on promoting wellbeing and health, business and production, together with learning and creativity, so to some extent there are some similarities with Staffordshire. Like Stoke-on-Trent, Tampere is also redefining itself culturally after overcoming the decline of a heavy industrial past. The University's mission, like Staffordshire, is working for the best of their student and for their working life. With such common ground pooling experiences and sharing challenges has been both reassuring and rewarding.
For somebody like myself, who loves modernist architecture and design, visiting Finland and TAMK is a wonderful experience. From the Marimekko napkins on Finnair to the mesmerising low hanging lampshades, it is difficult to resist taking photographs at every opportunity. As expected TAMK is the picture of elegant modern simplicity, complete with innovative design features. Clean straight corridors, furniture that is more than a nod to Alvar Aalto's timeless creativity and room purposes engraved in the glass panels of the doors. Well thought out details such as table hooks to hang chairs on in the refectory to make cleaning easier, height adjustable desks for staff and students and Service Street, an internal walkway that is home to all student services, including an IT fix shop, campus shop, admissions, library and study skills.
As the amber glow continues in the sky at 11.30 and I look out at the double decker resting train from Helsinki, I am very much looking forward to day 2, I am just hoping my phone can cope with my weighty album of modernist fascination.
