Matti Latva-aho appointed Vice Rector for Research and Petteri Alahuhta as Vice Rector for Cooperation at the University of Oulu

At its meeting on 29 April 2025, the Board of the University of Oulu has elected Matti Latva-aho, D.Sc. (Tech.), as Vice Rector for Research and Petteri Alahuhta, Ph.D., as Vice Rector for Cooperation. The Vice Rector for Research leads the research activities of the University of Oulu and the Vice Rector for Cooperation leads stakeholder and cooperation relations as well as innovation activities. The term of the vice rectors is five years from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030.
Petteri Alahuhta and Matti Latva-aho.

Professor Matti Latva-aho is particularly known for leading the successful 6G research at the University of Oulu, for which he is also praised by the group that prepared the selection.

"He has a proven track record of successfully leading multidisciplinary and especially internationally high-quality large research entities and of strategic research development."

Petteri Alahuhta will transfer to the position of Vice Rector for Cooperation from the position of Vice President of VTT's research area.

"He has an excellent track record of the analytical, renewing and inspiring leadership approach required in the management and strategic development of international stakeholder and cooperation relationships and innovation activities," the selection group argued the selection.

The duties of the Vice Rector for Research include monitoring, evaluating and promoting the high international level and societal impact of research, developing internationally top-level expertise and creating the conditions for new research initiatives and collaboration.

The duties of the Vice Rector for Cooperation include leading internationally high-quality innovation activities and promoting cooperation and societal impact, monitoring, evaluating and promoting the impact of innovation activities and cooperation relationships, and developing internationally top-level expertise.

The new vice rectors are alumni of the University of Oulu

Matti Latva-aho is the director of the national 6G Flagship programme at the University of Oulu. He is Professor of Digital Transmission Techniques at the University of Oulu and Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo. Previously, he led the Centre for Wireless Communications CWC and the Department for Communication Engineering, among other things. Latva-aho graduated from the University of Oulu as a Doctor of Technology in 1998, as a Licentiate of Technology in 1996 and as a Diploma Engineer in 1992. In addition, he completed an eMBA degree in management from the University of Oulu in 2005.

Petteri Alahuhta is currently the Vice President of the Cognitive Industry research area at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, where he has worked in several managerial and research positions since 1994. Alahuhta holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science from 2011 and a Diploma Engineer degree from 1996 in Computer Science and Engineering. In addition, he has completed an eMBA degree in management at the University of Oulu in 2002 and management studies at VTT's management training programme IMD in Switzerland in 2011–2012.

Taina Pihlajaniemi, who currently serves as Vice Rector for Research, will retire at the end of June. The previous Vice Rector for Cooperation, Arto Maaninen, started as the university's Rector at the beginning of the year. The Vice Rector for Education is Mirja Illikainen for the term 1.3.2024–28.2.2029.

Last updated: 29.4.2025