🔧 Engineers of the 1970s – Builders of Industrial Finland
The alumni entered the workforce during a time of rapid industrialization in Finland. Mechanical engineers played a key role in sectors like machine manufacturing, forestry, and construction. Their work was hands-on, and design was done on drawing boards—literally. Computers were rare, and CAD software was still decades away.
Their stories highlighted the importance of understanding materials, mechanical systems, and production processes. Their skills laid the foundation for many of Finland’s export products and industrial innovations.
🤖 FieldLab – A Learning Environment for Future Engineers
During the visit, the alumni explored FieldLab, TAMK’s next-generation learning and development environment that combines hands-on learning, research, and industry collaboration. FieldLab gives students the opportunity to work with robotics, automation, IoT, and digital manufacturing—technologies that would have seemed like science fiction in 1970.
The alumni were impressed by the advanced tools and technologies available to today’s students. At the same time, they emphasized that while technology evolves, the core of engineering—problem-solving, logical thinking, and practical understanding—remains timeless.
🔄 Lifelong Learning and Evolving Expertise
Mechanical engineering education at TAMK has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry. Today’s degree programme combines a strong technical foundation with modern skills such as sustainability, digitalization, and international collaboration. This evolution is essential to ensure that Finnish industry remains competitive in a global landscape.
đź’¬ Bridging Generations
The visit was a powerful reminder of the value of staying connected with alumni—those who helped build the reputation of TAMK and Finnish engineering education. It was also an inspiring moment for current staff and students: engineering expertise is never static; it grows through collaboration across generations.
A heartfelt thank you to our visiting alumni for sharing their stories—and to TAMK staff for shaping the engineers of tomorrow.
Text: Aija Paananen, Markus Aho
Artificial Intelligence was used in creating the text.
