Getting to contribute to the future of art is the best thing about being the head of academic affairs
The “Working at Uniarts Helsinki” series presents employees who enable the growth of students and help them become highly skilled and broadminded artists and changemakers, thanks to their work in different roles within the university.
Who are you and what do you do at Uniarts Helsinki?
I’m Milla Vaisto-Oinonen, the senior head of academic affairs in the shared academic affairs team at Uniarts Helsinki. We’re responsible for the development of services for students and applicants, university-level support for admissions, the annual tuition fee process, coordination of study psychologist services and wellbeing services for students, maintenance and development of student information systems and the student register. My own work involves a lot of preparations for guidelines and decisions concerning academic administration, vice dean cooperation, process work and support for the academies’ academic affairs and coordination of related cooperation.
How would you describe your typical work day?
My typical work days consist of various team, preparation and planning meetings as well as preparation work related to decisions, statements and guidelines. I’m a member in various university-level groups and enjoy getting to work across unit lines.
How did you end up working for us?
When I saw the job ad, I immediately thought that the position would be a great opportunity. I’ve worked in academic affairs in Otaniemi for a long time, first at the Helsinki University of Technology and then at Aalto University. During my career, I’ve had many opportunities to expand my competence, and I’ve had the pleasure to work in academic affairs in very versatile duties, ranging from admissions services to the Open University, duties as the head of academic affairs, as well as process and change management. Taking the leap to Uniarts Helsinki felt like a natural next step on my career, and as a senior head of academic affairs, I also get to utilise my previously-acquired expertise on a wide scale. My work environment is inspiring, people working for academic affairs are competent and committed, my own team is fabulous and the university itself is unique, so all the pieces of the puzzle fit!
What is the best part of your job?
The best thing about my work is definitely people, and of course the fact that all days are different. The most rewarding part of my job is getting to contribute to the future of art, and I believe that this rings true to a lot of my colleagues in academic affairs.
Where are you most at home mentally?
I’ve from Seinäjoki, Southern Ostrobothnia, and that’s where my mental home is: in the dialect of my family, in grandma’s black currant juice and on open expanses with the wind in my hair. It’s a good thing I can get the same feeling here in the south when I walk along the seashore, resting my eyes on the horizon. And luckily we also have the Seinäjoki Unit if my homesickness gets too awful.
Which Uniarts Helsinki performance or exhibition did you visit most recently?
Most recently, I visited the Yhtäkiä-Suhduhnle exhibition at the Kuva/Tila Gallery and took a particular fancy to Lassi Kontiainen’s works. When I started working for Uniarts Helsinki in February, I got a tour in the wardrobe and props departments, which was like a dream come true for an old drama club member like me. I also look forward to Uniarts Helsinki’s 10th anniversary festivities and Uniarts Fest!
Who do you want to send your greetings to and what do you want to say to them?
I want to send my greetings to all new and old students of Uniarts Helsinki: Welcome, we’ve been really waiting for you! I wish you a wonderful new academic year and many moments of learning and discoveries of something new.
I also want to send a big thank you to the Student Union and all active student members in various decision-making bodies of Uniarts Helsinki. Personally, I’ve had the chance to work with our student Eliise Tani in the executive group for bachelor’s and master’s education, so I’d like to send my warm regards to her: I really value your commitment and effort in this important work!
About Uniarts Helsinki
Uniarts Helsinki is an open meeting place for the arts – an ambitious university community for bold reformers and experts in tradition. We cultivate a unique environment that helps artists grow and strengthens the power of art as a driver of change. Uniarts Helsinki is among the leading performing arts universities in the world, and it is comprised of the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy and Theatre Academy. We have about 2,000 students and about 700 full-time equivalent employees.
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