Events Specialist Elisa Sulkinoja’s career path is not the most typical one.
The events specialist role is brand new at the University of Eastern Finland. Events of varying sizes are regularly organised at the university, and academic staff often need help with the arrangements. Sometimes, an intern or a temporary assistant may be hired for the event, but events often are organised by staff alongside their own duties, or expertise is outsourced from outside the university.
The new role was established in response to this need, and Events Specialist Elisa Sulkinoja is now responsible for the planning, preparation and execution of events and conferences organised by the faculties and units, in collaboration with the event organisers.
“The role also supports the university's strategic goals and increases the visibility of the University of Eastern Finland both internally and externally,” Sulkinoja says.
She also acts as a coordinator between the various stakeholders and ensures that events run smoothly, are of a high quality and have an impact.
A winding path to a career at the university
Sulkinoja says she has always been determined and ambitious. As a teenager, she played competitive ice hockey and, at the age of 15, moved from her hometown Jyväskylä to study in the Kuortane general upper secondary school, which specialises in sports.
“After general upper secondary school, I had an offer of admission to a university of applied sciences waiting for me, but I decided to do something else. I had always been fascinated by hairdressing, so I wanted to study it.”
After graduating as a hairdresser, she followed her love and moved to Joensuu, where she decided to open her own hair salon.
“I’m particularly proud of that time in my life. In my twenties, I was running a successful business on my own, in a city that was completely new to me,” Sulkinoja says, looking back.
Being an ambitious person, she also decided to start her planned studies at a university of applied sciences.
“After finishing my studies, I closed my hair salon and had two children born close together in age.”
When the children were a bit older, Sulkinoja applied to study at the University of Eastern Finland.
Strengths lie outside research
Sulkinoja was admitted to business studies and she majored in tourism marketing and management. During her Master's studies, Sulkinoja was offered a job at the Business School.
“Of course, that meant there was an expectation of me getting excited about pursuing a PhD and a career in research. It didn't feel like my thing, but I wanted to give that career, too, a shot.”
After serving as the second author for a scientific article, Sulkinoja became convinced that her strengths lie outside research.
“However, I was keen to continue working at the university. I hoped that I could help to promote, for example, collaboration between universities and global education.”
Her wishes came true to some degree, but not to the extent she had hoped.
“Then, the role of a doctoral conferment coordinator opened at the university, and it felt like all pieces of the puzzle fell into place.”
Were it financially feasible, I think all units would rather outsource the organisation of their events.
Elisa Sulkinoja
Events Specialist
A dream career in the making
Sulkinoja was appointed to coordinate two major doctoral conferment ceremonies: her first in Joensuu in 2024, followed by another in Kuopio in 2025.
“In other words, we wanted to organise two high-budget events within two years. I was really excited about them. These events also strove to have a regional impact and to increase the university's visibility, so they were also a form of branding.”
The experience of planning and implementing two major events gave her the enthusiasm to do more.
“I'm glad the University of Eastern Finland finally decided to establish the events specialist role. We strongly advocated for its importance, and our efforts finally paid off!”
Now that the role has been made permanent, Sulkinoja says the real work is just beginning. It requires service design and dialogue with the faculties.
“Were it financially feasible, I think all units would rather outsource the organisation of their events. This would allow the academic staff to concentrate on the scientific content of their events, leaving the organisational tasks to others.”
Warm without compromising academic dignity
The events specialist role requires customer orientation and the ability to work with different kinds of people. Thanks to her previous experience as an entrepreneur, Sulkinoja is well equipped for the role.
“Working together with the event organisers, the goal of all events is to gain the University of Eastern Finland the positive visibility it deserves.”
The academic world is sometimes perceived as rigid and hierarchical. According to Sulkinoja, there’s been a constant trend in a more human-oriented direction.
“I want to do my part in making the university a warmer and more approachable place, without compromising academic dignity.”
Sulkinoja says she is proud to be a “UEFian” and that she has her heart in her work. This also shows in the community and her surroundings.
“I’d also like to point out that not everyone in the academic world has to be made from the same mould. Diversity is a strength here, too.”
