It was my own idea. That’s what Mirka Hemmilä told herself when she applied to study industrial engineering and management at LUT University two years ago. Now, Hemmilä laughingly admits that the idea may not have been entirely her own.
“My maternal grandmother – or mammu, as I call her – both of my grandfathers, my dad, and my mom have all studied at LUT. I've heard many happy stories about their studies in Lappeenranta.”
In other words, Hemmilä hails from a true LUT dynasty. It turns out that the LUT frame of mind was ingrained in her from childhood because she was born when her mother, Katriina Vesala, was still a student at LUT: Hemmilä’s first home was a LOAS student apartment on Tervahaudankatu street.
One more fun fact: Hemmilä's other grandfather obtained his master's degree in technology in his sixties, a little before he died. Now, the grandfather’s traditional student cap is worn by his granddaughter.
“I’m glad I can pay tribute to grandpa by wearing his hat. Now, the hat gets to experience student life to its fullest,” Hemmilä says.
Three generations of LUT
- Marja-Leena Joukainen. Industrial engineering and management alumna from 1979.
- Katriina Vesala. Business administration alumna from 2004.
- Mirka Hemmilä. Industrial engineering and management student, enrolled in 2022.
Homecoming Day 2024
We invite you to relive your fondest memories, catch up with old friends, and build new connections with fellow graduates and the personnel of LUT.
LUT as a launching pad for interesting careers
Hemmilä has been satisfied with her choice of university. The Kouvola native also considered heading to Vaasa on the west coast or Rovaniemi in Lapland, but Lappeenranta appealed to her the most with its range of studies. Industrial engineering and management hit just the right balance of business and technology.
Back when her grandmother Marja-Leena Joukiainen was applying to study in Lappeenranta, people used to leaf through a catalogue to find out about places to study.
“I opened the catalogue, closed my eyes, and pointed. My finger hit LUT University – at the time, it went by the name of Lappeenranta University of Technology. I also applied to study dentistry, but I’m glad I didn’t get in. Industrial engineering and management was my thing.”
Joukainen has worked as an entrepreneur for most of her professional life. She has headed large-scale corporate projects and even worked as a subcontractor for her alma mater. These days, as she's approaching retirement, she only does business consulting.
At the beginning of orientation week, we held a welcome party on the median strip of Skinnarilankatu, the street leading up to the campus. We had couches, large wooden giraffes, a DJ – the works!
Vesala already had a Bachelor of Business Administration degree when she came to Lappeenranta to study.
“I had it all worked out – I didn’t even consider applying anywhere else. I wanted to be either a financial investigator or an accounting teacher. In addition, Lappeenranta was close to my hometown Kouvola, and I was never really interested in Helsinki despite its proximity.”
Vesala's career aspirations became a reality: since 2005, she has worked on the Kouvola campus of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk as a lecturer of financial administration. She's also a robotic process automation coordinator.
Hemmilä’s graduation is looming in the distance, five years from now. She's planning on working in project teams in the future.
“The projects could relate to areas such as renewable energy and sustainability.”
Excursions and street parties
All three women have been active members of the student body. Joukainen was a member of the student union board and representative council and the secretary of the student sports club Parru. Vesala was a student tutor and held prep courses. Hemmilä is now one of LUT’s student marketing assistants. Next year, she will head the student marketing team.
The student years hold a great deal of memories for each of them. In Joukainen's day, recreational activities were arranged together with nursing, physical therapy, and commercial college students.
“But what was truly memorable were our technology student excursions abroad and our trips to the Vierumäki sports institute. A group of us would go do sports for an entire week.”
Vesala recalls one August day when the student tutors had come up with an exceptional way to welcome new first-year students to the university.
“At the beginning of orientation week, we held a welcome party on the median strip of Skinnarilankatu, the street leading up to the campus. We had couches, large wooden giraffes, a DJ – the works! The nervous first-year students were met with the hospitable Skinnarila spirit.”
Lessons from mom
Self-starter. That's how Joukainen describes her daughter and how Vesala describes hers. They’ve always known what they want. The parents may have expressed wishes and given pointers, but the daughters have made their own decisions.
“You can't dictate what someone should be interested in and what they should study. But I’ve given Mirka advice in practical matters, like where to apply for a student apartment,” Vesala explains.
“Studies show that our student satisfaction is the highest in the country. One reason behind it may be that we have lots of multidisciplinary events and we leave no one alone.”
In terms of summer jobs, however, the mother and daughter didn’t quite see eye to eye last year. Vesala felt her daughter should have gotten a job that supported her studies and would have served as a professional stepping stone to a career in the field. Nevertheless, Hemmilä decided to get out of the rat race, move to the family's summer cottage and work as a salesclerk in the nearby Alko in Padasjoki. As for the coming summer, Hemmilä’s plans are already set: she’ll continue as LUT's marketing assistant.
The women do, nevertheless, agree that all work experience is valuable. The family has always held hard work and entrepreneurship in high regard. A tenet that’s been passed on from one generation to the next is that money doesn't grow on trees and rights come with responsibilities.
“Here, they take care of people”
When Joukainen started her studies in 1975, LUT had roughly 500 technology students. In fifty years, the tiny Skinnarila campus has swelled into a university of 6000 students. Business and social sciences have been added to the mix. However, one thing remains the same: the sense of community.
“Back in my day, that meant that everyone was on equal footing. It didn’t matter if you came from a city or the countryside, from a highly educated family or from a family where you were the first to get an academic education – like me,” Joukainen describes.
“Everyone is welcome here, regardless of their background. You can be a 19-year-old first-timer, a 40-year-old whose studies are an eternity project, or a quick crammer like me. There's no posturing or one-upmanship here,” adds Vesala.
Hemmilä confirms that the Skinnarila spirit is alive and well. As a marketing assistant, she tours Finland, bringing the glad tidings of LUT to others.
“Studies show that our student satisfaction is the highest in the country. One reason behind it may be that we have lots of multidisciplinary events and we leave no one alone.”
The women come to the conclusion that LUT’s sense of community is what makes the university unique. Everyone is equal, you can ask anyone for help, and the staff is readily available. Even the local LOAS student housing receives its share of the praise.
“Here, they take care of people,” Vesala sums up.
