Professor Seita Vesa, Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), has been appointed as the Head of Law Department at the University of Eastern Finland. University Lecturer Kimmo Malin, LL.D., has been appointed as the Deputy Head of Law Department responsible for education, and Associate Professor Sanna Mustasaari, LL.D., as the Deputy Head of Law Department responsible for research. The term of the Head of Department and Deputy Heads of Department begins on 1st January 2026 and ends on 31st December 2029.
Seita Vesa has served as the Deputy Head of Department for research at the UEF Law School since 1 January 2022. She approaches her new role as Head of Department with a positive and practical mindset. Familiar colleagues and a well-known department make it natural to continue her work from a different position. During her term, Vesa aims to move things forward in an open and constructive spirit.
- I am grateful for the trust placed in me and at the same time very aware that the work is wide-ranging and requires continuous prioritization.
The new Head of Department looks forward to developing the department’s activities together with students and staff so that they can best support the quality of both research and teaching, as well as a thriving work community. Vesa believes that many issues can be resolved through dialogue, transparency, and long-term planning.
Malin will continue in his role as the Deputy Head of Department responsible for education. He approaches this already familiar position with a calm outlook. Malin notes that the initial idealism is now complemented with realism brought by practical experience. As Deputy Head of Department for education, his responsibilities include developing teaching processes, the quality of learning, and the working conditions.
- I consider it important to ensure that the quality of teaching remains high and that student guidance and study paths are systematically developed. The goal is to make sure our education meets future needs. It will be interesting to see, for example, how artificial intelligence develops and at the same time consider how we can make use of the opportunities it brings for education.
Starting as the new Deputy Head of Department for research, Mustasaari approaches her role with an enthusiastic and curious mindset.
- We are already a strong research environment, and it is wonderful to further develop the conditions for research together.
Mustasaari’s duties include responsibilities related to the doctoral programme in law as well as tasks that support the department’s research activities. She looks forward to the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues to promote new research initiatives. She particularly hopes to be able to provide opportunities for early career researchers to grow and to become more international.
Further information:
Seita Vesa, [email protected]
Kimmo Malin, [email protected]
Sanna Mustasaari, [email protected]