Congress Ambassador

Jyväskylä Convention Bureau (JCB) works actively with the researchers and professors at the University of Jyväskylä in order to attract international scientific seminars, congresses and conferences to Jyväskylä.

The Convention Bureau and the university strengthen the collaboration by nominating a new position, Congress Ambassador. The Ambassador encourages scientists to organize congresses or conferences, and contribute to international scientific discussions.

With the yearly nomination of an Ambassador, it is possible to convey the significance of scientific conferences in behalf of the ambassador, the university and the city itself. The Ambassador is an active member of the international scientific organizations of his/her own field. In addition, the Ambassador represents the university and Finnish scientific expertise and research in general when attending different international events and congresses.

JCB and its network offer assistance in organizing congresses and conferences. The Ambassador’s role is to share his/her experiences of organizing conferences to colleagues and lower the threshold for other scientists to begin the process. It is especially important to raise interest and awareness among the younger researchers.

Any person of science, who has the merits to represent the city of Jyväskylä and the university, can be nominated for the position. Jyväskylä Convention Bureau’s members choose the Ambassador from the nominated persons.

If you want to nominate a person for Congress Ambassador, please contact Jaana Ruponen (Marketing Manager) jaana.ruponen (at) jyvaskyla.fi or Anu Mustonen (Head of Relations) anu.mustonen (at) jyu.fi.

In the message, tell the person’s name, title and organization and give reasons why the person would be suitable for the position.

Associate Professor Arja Sääkslahti, the Congress Ambassador for 2025, lists 10 reasons why it pays to organise an international congress in Jyväskylä – and especially on the University of Jyväskylä campus.

The University of Jyväskylä (JYU) is a multidisciplinary and internationally highly renowned university in many fields. By organising scientific congresses, we make our University’s research better known while also strengthening our international position.

Every time I arrive on campus, my eyes rest on the beautiful, harmonic composition of natural elements and University buildings. It gives you a boost for the day first thing in the morning! Although I have not visited all the campuses in the world, our congress visitors have commented on our campus so much over the years that this is no exaggeration. Visitors also enjoy the feeling that they feel like valued guests here. That feeling leaves a stronger memory than congresses held at big conference venues that tend to be similar from one event to another.

In Jyväskylä, accommodation is available mostly within walking distance. Moving around is easy and simple, and you don’t need to be concerned about bus or train timetables. At our congresses people can concentrate on the actual event and joint activities with colleagues outside the congress programme.

Nature is spread across the campus area, and within walking distance you can find other fascinating locations: Harju ridge, many lakes, Tourujoki river, Laajavuori, Ladun Maja area, as well as various nature paths and camping areas… everyman’s rights, berry and mushroom picking time in autumn. We have four distinct seasons. For Finns, these are everyday things, but for many congress visitors these can be something truly new.

The Finnish school system has its origins in Jyväskylä, and on our campus the spirit of Finnish education lives on. We should carefully cultivate and maintain the spirit of the Athens of Finland and provide opportunities for our congress visitors to get acquainted with our unique education system and its underlying thinkers. The ideal of teachers as bringing enlightenment to the people becomes clear and our understanding increases of the great footsteps we are following in. The campus guides have also been highly praised by visitors!

Jyväskylä is not only the Athens of Finland, but also a kind of national melting pot. Our students come from different parts of Finland, helping to make the spirit of our University more communal, open, friendly, safe, and diverse. And more and more international students are adapting to the local conditions, despite the darkness of winter.

Our University understands the significance of congresses and offers support for congress organisers. The University’s facilities are optimal for congresses of 100 to 500 people, but the auditorium of the Main Building enables events for up to 700 persons. The first step is to negotiate and reserve different facilities for different needs. This is followed by a carefully prepared budget to finalize the arrangements for the start of the congress. JYU Congress Organiser’s Guide includes everything you need to know, and answers to other questions can be found simply by asking!

Faculties and departments often struggle with financing congress participation for their staff and postgraduate students. Organising an international congress offers an excellent chance for staff to participate in congresses, as the costs are much lower than those required for one or two researchers to travel abroad for a congress.

From this perspective, congresses hosted here represent cost savings!

We Finns still have a reputation as steady, trustworthy and friendly colleagues who act ethically and invest in quality. Our congress visitors have often commented that Finns – and in this case especially the people of Jyväskylä – are like the nature surrounding them: kind, well-balanced and peace-loving people, ready with help or advice whenever needed.

Jyväskylä features interesting architectural areas right next to the University. Alvar Aalto is unique and important – and provides a great asset. But there is also the unique Älylä area: Wivi Lönn was the first female architect in Finland to establish her own office. Buildings designed by her can be seen not only in the Älylä area, but also within walking distance from the campus.

In different seasons, we can offer congress visitors some glimpses of Finnish sport culture. We have strong traditions in sports that are often lesser known in global terms, and which make use of different seasons. Our national sport culture is represented, among others, by women’s gymnastics, Finnish baseball, bandy, skiing as well as somewhat newer sports such as ice hockey, figure skating, floorball, frisbee golf, and more.

Would you dare to offer to winter congress visitors a chance to try sledding, winter swimming, or ice skating? I have, and it has been well worth it – many visitors became immediate fans of Finland and Jyväskylä … and they are among the first to register whenever they hear that there is a congress in their field being held in Jyväskylä.

Arja Sääkslahti is Associate Professor of Sport Pedagogy in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä. She is the University’s congress ambassador for 2025.