Uniarts Helsinki appoints top management: Ossi Naukkarinen the new vice rector for research, Kaisa Rönkkö the new Sibelius Academy dean
The term for both positions is five years. The Uniarts Helsinki Board made the appointment decisions at its meeting on 12 June.
The Board appointed Professor of Aesthetics Ossi Naukkarinen from Aalto University as vice rector for research for a five-year term from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2030.
Uniarts Helsinki’s vice rector for research leads the development of research and doctoral education at Uniarts Helsinki and promotes the related national and international cooperation. The vice rector is responsible for the results of research and for attaining the goals set for research in collaboration with the director of the Uniarts Helsinki Research Institute and the vice deans of Uniarts Helsinki’s three academies – the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy and Theatre Academy.
Ossi Naukkarinen, PhD, has a long track record of holding university management positions. He has served as the vice rector for research in 2018–2023 and as the vice dean for the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in 2012–2018, both at Aalto University. Naukkarinen has played a central role in promoting the internationalisation of research activities, reinforcing funding and developing doctoral education at Aalto University.
“I’m happy that we get to welcome Ossi Naukkarinen as Uniarts Helsinki’s new vice rector for research. His experience in holding university management positions, reinforcing research funding, developing doctoral education and research services and carrying out research in the arts create a solid foundation for succeeding in the position,” Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén says.
Kaisa Rönkkö selected as the Sibelius Academy dean
The next dean at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy during a five-year term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030 will be Director of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland Kaisa Rönkkö.
The dean is the director of the Sibelius Academy’s operations within Uniarts Helsinki. The holder of the position is responsible for the education, research and artistic activities of the academy as well as the related partnerships and external relations. The deans of the three academies of Uniarts Helsinki are also members of the university’s executive group.
Master of Music Kaisa Rönkkö has been the director of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland since 2023. Some of her previous positions include executive director of Music Finland in 2018–2022, head of the Orchestra Department at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in 2012–2018 and senior coordinator at the Defence Command of the Finnish Defence Forces in 2009–2013, which entailed management of the national military music field. She has also worked as a CEO, manager, musician, pedagogue and business developer in the creative industries, among other duties.
Rönkkö has an exceptionally broad experience base in the music industry and in the context of dealing with and solving work-related challenges that the publicly funded arts sector and freelancers are facing. She also has merits in successfully holding demanding management positions and in improving the operating conditions of the entire Finnish music industry. Rönkkö is one of the most prominent proponents of the Finnish arts and cultural sector and one of the key cultural policy influencers.
“Kaisa Rönkkö will benefit the management of the Sibelius Academy and the entire university with her ambitious outlooks and wide-ranging know-know in these times of societal changes that require the arts sector to evolve and promote its relevance,” says Rector of Uniarts Helsinki Kaarlo Hildén.
The Uniarts Helsinki Board made the appointment decisions at its meeting on 12 June.