Professor Mona Forsskåhl new rector and CEO at Arcada University of Applied Sciences
Published: 25.08.2017 / Press release
FD Mona Forsskåhl, professor in Nordic languages at the University of Helsinki, has been chosen as the new rector and CEO for Arcada University of Applied Sciences Ltd. Forsskåhl assumes her new position on 15 May 2018. Arcada’s rector and CEO since many years, Henrik Wolff, will continue in his current role until then.
Professor Mona Forsskåhl has a wide experience of both teaching, research and leadership in various educational settings. Besides her position at the University of Helsinki she has e.g. been professor/head of subject and vice-dean at the Faculty of language, translation and literary studies at the University of Tampere, senior lecturer/head of subject at Hanken School of Economics and a researcher.
“The goal of the recruitment of a new rector and CEO for Arcada has been to find a competent and experienced leader with a wide knowledge of higher education, and a clear vision about Arcada’s future. We consider Mona Forsskåhl to be an inspirational leader, who can lead Arcada towards a continued increase in the quality of our education and research, and towards growth in the ever-changing world of education,” Chairperson of the board Arne Wessberg comments.
According to Mona Forsskåhl Arcada has a central role in Finnish society as a Swedish institution of higher education, and she considers the UAS to have a huge potential for further development.
“I consider this position as rector and CEO for Arcada, which is a modern multidisciplinary UAS with an international profile, to be very exciting. I will assume leadership for Arcada at an interesting juncture, since we live in a time when the role of the educational sector in society is re-evaluated, and scientific institutions of higher education need the courage to think in new ways and across boundaries,” Forsskåhl says, referring to the discussion about the future roles of UASs and universities in Finland.
Forsskåhl will acquaint herself with the operations of the board and the leadership of Arcada starting this autumn, and will assume her new position as rector and CEO on 15 May 2018. Henrik Wolff will then leave Arcada after 23 years as rector.
“I’m happy that I have the opportunity to get thoroughly acquainted with Arcada’s operations and strategic work during the upcoming semester, before I assume the responsibility full time. It is also important for me to finish ongoing research projects and to hand over various current tasks and responsibilities in a smooth way. I will spend the year getting a comprehensive overview of higher education in the Nordic countries,” Forsskåhl says.
The position as rector and CEO for Arcada was applied to by 18 people in total. The applicants represented various sectors and fields of expertise.
Further information:
Chairman of the board Arne Wessberg, tel 040 0618 800
Professor Mona Forsskåhl, tel 050 4305 940
