Topias Tolonen appointed as our specialist in educational policy!

Our group of specialists has been reinforced with a new specialist. The newest of our two specialists in educational policy started in his position in mid-September.

Topias Tolonen has begun work as HYY’s specialist in educational policy. Together with Jenna Sorjonen, the other specialist in our educational policy sector, Tolonen is in charge of advocacy work related to higher education policy and the University of Helsinki. In addition to this, Tolonen’s job description includes advocacy work related to internationalisation at the University, EU-level educational policy and working life. Tolonen’s desk has filled up quickly, with lots of work on issues related to the UNA Europa alliance and the University’s upcoming audit, for instance.

Tolonen has graduated as Master of Science in applied mathematics. He has also studied economics and is currently revising his thesis on incentives and the principal–agent problem. His educational background has provided him with problem-solving tools that will come in handy in advocacy work, too.

Tolonen has diverse previous work experience from both the finance sector and small growth companies. He has also worked as an hourly-paid teacher at the University. Besides acting on HYY’s Board, Tolonen also has experience from various other positions related to students and higher education.

‘My employment history and background in the student movement are further complemented by my positions of trust as a student representative in the UNA Europa alliance, the quality management unit of the European Students’ Union and various administrative bodies at the University of Helsinki’, Tolonen lists.

In HYY, Tolonen was especially attracted by the broad scope of the job description and the pleasant community of specialists. He is happy to get to work with themes related to education.

‘There is a constant wealth of new things to learn about these themes, but I would particularly like to develop as an influencer’, an excited Tolonen explains.

In his spare time, Tolonen tweets a lot and spends time with 15-year-old video games, while he also acts as the curator of Hämäläis-Osakunta, for instance. Tolonen, who originally moved to Helsinki from Tampere, chuckles when mentioning his warm regard for his old regional identity. He also remarks that he would like to go trekking in Nuuksio or even some more exotic location.

Tolonen’s predecessor, Heidi Rättyä, moved into a new position as the executive director of Young Greens of Helsinki.