Xamk’s RDI and simulation learning facilities interested our guests from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Visitors From HKA, Germany

HKA is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg, South-West Germany, and one of those most actively engaged in research. HKA has six faculties: Architecture & Civil Engineering, Management Science & engineering, Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering & Information Technology, Computer Science & Business Information Systems and Information Management & Media. HKA and Xamk are both in INGENIUM European University alliance with eight other European universities. INGENIUM offers international collaboration opportunities for students and staff, but bilateral connections are vital especially for research purposes.

HKA delegation consisted of (from the left in the picture above) Dr. Martin Knapp, responsible for quality assurance in HKA’s Center of Applied Research (CAR) and support for the researchers in the application process for projects of strategic importance for the university and for EU projects, Markus Kuttelwascher, project manager in CAR, on the operational level responsible for the management of large research projects, among others currently two EU projects, Dr. Manuela Lexen, head of CAR and expert for DFG- (German Research Foundation) and EU-projects and Prof. Dr. Franz Quint, Vice-President for Research, Cooperations, and Transfer. Director of research unit, Arto Pesola and Research Director, Hanna Kuninkaanniemi were pictured with the visitors at the Active Live Lab in Mikkeli.

Getting to know Xamk’s RDI activities

On Monday the HKA delegation was welcomed to Mikkeli by Xamk’s President, CEO Heikki Saastamoinen and Vice President RDI, Kalevi Niemi shared insights to RDI activities and processes at Xamk. The visit continued at Active Life Lab on Saimaa Stadium where Director of Active Life Lab Arto Pesola and Research Director Hanna Kuninkaanniemi showcased Xamk’s customs to plan and implement RDI-projects. Active Life Lab is Xamk’s wellbeing research unit, where they investigate and develop data-based, effective wellbeing services for preventive and solution-oriented health promotion.

The second day started in Kotka campus with Research Directors Petteri Jernström, Noora Talsi and Ville Henttu with introduction to RDI activities at Kotka. The head of Property Management Tuomo Kotola gave a guided tour to Kotka Campus, and the visitors had a chance to explore Xamk’s RDI and simulation learning facilities. The delegation ended their stay with a guided tour to Maritime Center Vellamo which is closely situated to Xamk’s Kotka campus.

In Kotka the visitors explored the maritime simulation facilities and got to use the command board simulator, which is used for learning purposes and for example for oil spill and collection research. Seafaring teacher Lauri Kontosalo, from Xamk’s cooperation partner Ekami – The Joint Authority of Education of Kotka-Hamina Region, showed how wind and rain or GSP malfunction affects the ships course in the simulation.

They also got to know KymiLabs facilities in Kotka as Project Manager Anna Eskola and Project Manager Elli Tykkä showed them around the site. KymiLabs has over 30 years of extensive experience in concrete testing services and emission measurements.

Nursing and hospital learning facilities were also visited. The ambulance simulation facilities were in use by the students during the visit.

HKA delegation also visited the Cybersecurity and Game Technologies research group. Software Designer Riku Heino showed their virtual map of Kotka. Also, Research Director Noora Talsi, Project Manager Sabine Soursa and Head of Research Group Heidi Sjögren from Digital economy shared their insight to Xamk’s RDI activities during the campus tour.

Dr. Martin Knapp highlighted that you get to know the facilities, people and procedures better when you are on sight and face to face. Now after the visit they have better understanding of what we are doing in Xamk. HKA’s four main research topics are Innovative Mobility Concepts, Resources and Climate, Intelligent Systems and Work and Production. With HKA there are similarities to Xamk’s RDI activities, as Xamk is focused on Digital Economy, Sustainable Wellbeing, Logistics and Seafaring and also Forest, Environment and Energy.

Possibilities for future collaboration in RDI activities

HKA’s Vice President Franz Quint said that they wanted to visit Xamk to get to know Xamk’s RDI activities. HKA has mostly local and national partners and only few partners in northern Europe so possibilities to collaborate with for example Xamk is something that interests them. Vice-President Franz Quint commented why visits like these are important: “it’s good to have a partner and to have established co-operations with, if such an opportunity (applications in EU programs or also bilateral German – Finnish programs) becomes up”. Let’s see what the future holds!

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