Tapio Varmola, who retired from his position as President and CEO of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences at the beginning of September, will join MDI’s advisory team. Varmola holds a doctorate in education, a university counsellor and a docent and has decades of experience in teaching and higher education administration, adult education and, in particular, the development of higher education and research in Seinäjoki.
“We are delighted to have Tapio as our advisor. He brings with him solid experience of higher education and the importance of education and competence in the vitality, attraction and holding factors of regions,” says Tommi Ranta, CEO of MDI.
“Education and higher education are an increasingly central part of regional competitiveness. These include innovation, research and development. I hope that through my long and varied experience I can bring new ideas and connections to the MDI team, ”says Varmola.
“Tapio has an extensive network and connections with education research and development experts in Finland and internationally. We hope that together we will be able to make new openings in the field of education and higher education policy, ” Ranta concludes.