375 years Helsinki University

Did you know that the University of Helsinki turned 375 years this year? It is not just the oldest but also the oldest university in the country. Originally founded as the Royal Academy of Turku during the time of the Swedish Empire, it was moved to Helsinki in 1829.

And for the big anniversary whole year is filled with lots of exciting events organized by the university. To find out more about what's happening, check their website.

Where is Kaisaniemi?

Did you lately wonder why the metro stop Kaisaniemi isn't mentioned anywhere anymore? Well, for those of you who missed it, Kaisaniemi metro station was renamed. It is now called University of Helsinki (Helsingin Yliopisto/Helsingfors Universitet).

Now the university, in the year of its 375th anniversary also finally got its own metro station.

Start Up Sauna

Innovation is the engine driving the Finnish economy. To support good new ideas not getting lost but actually turning into real businesses the state supports start ups where it can. But also other institutions are doing their part. 

Aalto University opened the Start Up Sauna a few years ago. The old warehouse on the campus in Otaniemi is now home to many small business that are trying to find their way to big success. Here they can rent cheap rooms and set up their first own office. But even entrepreneurs without any cash for rent can come here in work for free in the open space. 

For those of you working on a new business themselves this might be a great opportunity to get away from your desks at home and also get some idea exchange with other curious minds from the capital area.

For more information and to find out what's happening at the Sauna visit the official website.

In the library

The new University Library was finished in 2012. Its glass front and its open floors make it an interesting building. Here are some impressions from the so called Kaisa House.

To check their database click on their website.

A corner of thoughts

On Alkesanterinkatu you can find of the probably most interesting cafés in whole Helsinki. Here the University of Helsinki runs the so called Tiedekulma (science corner).

Apart from serving coffee, tea and pastry Tiedekulma offers lots of other opportunities. Browse through their selection of interesting books and sit down to read them. Or join the interesting discussions, readings and presentations that are held there regularly. Also take the stairs down. You find small but good exhibitions on the lower floor. Or just meet new people here.

What’s with the white cap?

Vappu is all about the white student’s cap that was already mentioned in several posts before. Now here comes some background information on this special hat and its meaning and tradition.

Introduced in the 1870s it was just given to those who earned the right to study at a university though passing the entrance exam. It was worn by students during their summer vacation which traditionally started at Vappu and lasted till the end of September. Nowadays Finns get the cap after graduating from high school and wear it every year on the two days of Vappu (April 30^th and May 1^st).

The golden cockade at the front of the cap shows lyra of Apollo and represents the University of Helsinki. It is sold with this symbol all over Finland. Universities in other parts of the country recommend their students to replace the cockade with the symbol of their university though.

Even the size of the cockade has a meaning. The bigger ones with 22 mm diameter are worn by the Swedish speaking, the smaller ones with 16 mm diameter by Finnish speaking students.

Finns have a very special connection to their caps. After receiving your cap you keep it for the rest of your life. It’s never to be replaced and also never to be washed. That also explains why some of them have a rather yellow then white color. This might not just indicate how old the cap is but also how well it is treated by its owner.

For charity and honor

Today the freshmen from Helsinki University of Technology gathered on the square in front of the Kamppi shopping center for a special ceremony. Divided into guilds (faculties) they stood in line and sang for charity.

This ceremony is part of the process of earning the white hat with the black tassel that makes them fully accepted students. Every year around the same time an event is organized by the older students in which the freshmen have to do something for charity and at the same time prove their team spirit. Each faculty is represented by a handful of freshmen. The faculties colors are shown through the flag and the overalls the students proudly wear.

This year the young students supported an initiative that raises money for elderly people. One evening before Vappu (May 1^st) all freshmen will finally receive their much sough-after hats.

The new University Library building

After years of work and an ugly construction site at Kaisaniemi the new library building of the University of Helsinki has finally been revealed. The new Kaisa House has a pretty astonishing architecture and fits very well between its surrounding buildings. The big glass front ensures a lot of natural light inside and gives the library a unique look. Go and take a look!

Unfortunately due to moving the City Centre Campus Library many of the libraries will be close for several weeks.