In the Great Growth Dialogue, you will hear top speeches and memorable discussions from sharp thinkers in various fields, from OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher to Finnish economists, artists, business leaders, top athletes and top Finnish politicians.
The event will be hosted by Jaakko Loikkanen, Head of Political and Economic News, MTV and can be followed live from anywhere in the world. A link to the live stream will be published on this page closer to the event. The programme and the schedule of the Great Growth Dialogue can be found below.
The conference is organized in collaboration with:
The Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ), Confederation of Finnish Industries, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Central Union for Child Welfare, and Association of Finnish Foundations.
The program of the Great Growth Dialogue is compiled of four parts.
A more detailed schedule and instructions will be sent to invited guests participating on site by email well in advance of the event.
Part 1 at 10.30 – 12.15: The culture and skills of the entire society are built one person at a time.
The event will start with spectacular light acrobatics show by Lumina Productions, after which OAJ President Katarina Murto will open the Great Growth Dialogue event.
An international keynote speech on the importance of knowledge and education within this time will be given by Andreas Schleicher, the director responsible for the PISA study at the OECD. Pilvi Torsti, director at the European Training Foundation, will bring her own perspective to the theme.
After this, the theme will be expanded even further in two discussions in which the following experts will consider the importance of education from their own perspective:
- Associate Professor of Economics at Aalto University, Matti Sarvimäki
- Chief of Staff, Finnish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General, Rami Saari
- Ombudsman for Children, Elina Pekkarinen
- WorldSkills Champions Trust ambassador, Aapo Paunonen
- Artistic Director of Tero Saarinen Company, Tero Saarinen
- Advisor to the Board, Bank of Finland, Meri Obstbaum
- Chief Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Sinimaaria Ranki
- Five-time Paralympics champion, Leo-Pekka Tähti
- Teacher and President of the OAJ Council, Timo Saavalainen
- President of Aalto University, Ilkka Niemelä
The first part of the program will be concluded by cellist and Finnish Cultural Foundation grant holder Leevi Pelli and pianist Martta Pölönen.
Break at 12.15 – 13.15, stage programme and live stream break
Part 2 at 13.15 -13.50: Competence brings economic growth
The Varissuo School Orchestra plays the opening notes of the second part of the Great Growth Dialogue, which will focus on the importance of expertise for the prosperity of companies and Finland’s economic growth.
The theme will be led by Aaro Cantell, the owner and entrepreneur, Chairman of the Board, of Normet Group and Board Chair of Confederation of Finnish Industries. Aicha Manai, CEO of Startup Refugees, will reflect on the importance of international experts for Finland.
At the end of the second part of the Great Growth Dialogue, the winner of the OAJ and OKKA Foundation’s 20 000 euros research prize will be announced, and the awardee will give a speech.
Part 3 at 13.50 – 14.45: Influencers workshops – break in the live stream
The live stream will take a break while on site participants of the Great Growth Dialogue consider solutions that build a competent and hopeful future in facilitated workshops.
Part 4 at 14.45 – 15.45: The next chapter in education and skills
What do the leaders of the four largest parties think about the importance of education and skills as a builder of a more hopeful future for children and youth?
Discussing with the Party Leader of the National Coalition Party, Petteri Orpo, 1st Vice-Chair of the Social Democratic Party, Nasima Razmyar, Party Leader of the Finns Party, Riikka Purra, and the Vice-Chair of the Centre Party, Hilkka Kemppi.
The views of the party leaders will be commented on by Adina Nivukoski, the UN Youth Delegate for 2025.
At the end of the Great Growth Dialogue, the harvest of the workshops will be gathered and we will look ahead: how to create a more competent and hopeful future for children and youth?
Discussion of the leaders of the event organizers: Katarina Murto, OAJ President, Jyri Häkämies, Director General of Confederation of Finnish Industries, Ulla Siimes, Executive Director of the Central Union of Child Welfare, Liisa Suvikumpu, CEO of the Association of Finnish Foundations, Antti Koivula, Director General of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
The stage programme and live stream will end at 15.45.
