We succeed together: Dean Osmo Tervonen and Liaison Manager Kati Ketola know the field of funding

The funding enables research and innovation. Not a small job. Ketola and Tervonen share their tips:

"Together with Kati, we have set out to strengthen existing partnerships and seek synergies with new financiers. We aim to approach new openings strategically from the angle that all parties would benefit from the cooperation," Tervonen explains.

The most significant funders are foundations, which often support scientific research with the returns on their investment assets.

"Each foundation has its own focus areas that determine what kind of projects they want to fund. It is up to us to find out about them. Together with the researchers, we prepare the background materials so that we can use them to stimulate discussion about potential collaboration," Ketola says.

Talking about the money

The contacts often yield results, as many foundations consider the University of Oulu to be a reliable partner. In the end, funding has been found for each project that Tervonen and Ketola have promoted with researchers.

"We are always looking for a good dialogue with our partners and offer our expertise to them as well."

Effective cooperation, and successes, is based on a clear division and working together. Tervonen has the ability to look at large entities and consider goals through the faculty's strategy. Ketola is skilled at finding new funding opportunities and working in the customer interface.

"For Kati, talking about money is never difficult. She dares to pick up the phone and immediately bring up the budget with the financiers," Tervonen praises.

"Perhaps it has been influenced by the fact that I have previously worked in non-governmental organisations. Researchers do important work that has the potential to make the world a better place. It would be more difficult to talk about these things if I didn't believe in the power of science," Ketola ponders.

She sees Tervonen's strength as the ability to listen.

"Osmo knows how to put himself in the other's shoes and finds points of contact between the financiers and the university."

Sharing good practices

Ketola and Tervonen are currently promoting a research project related to the well-being and services of children, young people and families.

"The biggest challenges in Finnish health care at the moment are in the social sector. As a faculty, we must also take responsibility for this. It requires a new kind of thinking," Tervonen says.

Fruitful cooperation usually leads to innovative solutions also in the field of fundraising. Tervonen and Ketola remind that good practices should also be shared with colleagues and stakeholders.

"It is essential to have the courage to think creatively and then boldly start doing things together. Not everything has to be ready right away. We learn more along the way."

Osmo Tervonen's term as dean ends this year. In the work pair, it causes wistfulness.

"We have had a good connection and we have understood each other. It has made the work easy", Ketola says.

Tervonen's future plans are open.

"When I'm at work, my mind has been filled with the tasks at hand. When the time comes to let them go, there will certainly be room to think about what I would like to do next in life."

Who

Osmo Tervonen

Job: Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

Education: Licentiate of Medicine, Chief Physician of Radiology, Professor. Worked at the University of Oulu since 2006.

Motto: What would be the value of life if we didn't dream?

Kati Ketola

Job: Liaison Manager. Worked at the University of Oulu since 2015.

Education: Master of Social Sciences and Bachelor of Business Administration.

Motto: Most of the time, good enough is good enough.

This article is part of the "We succeed together" series produced by the University of Oulu Communications, which introduces university members who work together in different ways. Written by Sanna Wallenius, photographer Mikko Törmänen.