Piia Koski builds a smooth everyday student life in Seinäjoki

Text: Siiri Keltamäki
Photo: Taina Renkola

Piia Koski works as an education coordinator at the University of Tampere at the University Consortium of Seinäjoki. Koski, who is originally from Teuva, has graduated with a master’s degree in sports sciences from the University of Jyväskylä and already worked with study administration tasks during her studies. When the position of education coordinator at the Seinäjoki office opened up at the University of Tampere, she decided to apply for the position and ended up in her current role.

The work of an education coordinator includes a wide range of study administration tasks. This includes, for example, various study administration support services, such as advising students and teachers. The topic can be, for example, course registrations, technical systems or study structures. In addition, the job description includes managing facility reservations and some tasks related to continuous learning and open university studies. At the heart of everything is the goal of ensuring that everyday studies on campus go as smoothly as possible.

The duties of the education coordinator are counterbalanced by the position of project coordinator in the Students on the Move project. This is a project of the Tampere Universities community, the second project period of which began in August. Piia Koski’s task is to implement the project’s activities locally in Seinäjoki. Koski summarises that the core goal of the project is to increase activity in the everyday life of higher education institutions. The project aims to reduce the passive sedentary time of students and staff by adding functionality and breaks to study days. By interrupting long-term sitting and increasing movement, it is possible to improve concentration and thus learning outcomes.

Within the framework of the project, a wide range of activities have been carried out both on the Seinäjoki campus and in the surrounding terrain. One of the outdoor activities was a nature day, where people got to hike in lake landscapes. Indoors on campus, the activities have focused on lessons and seminars. For example, short physical break activities have been included in supporting students and staff to take breaks from their work. In addition, sports equipment has been brought to the campus to ensure that exercise takes place at the lowest possible threshold. There has also been training on how to increase activity specifically in the context of higher education.

The most significant goal of the second project period is to establish the activities as part of the everyday life of the university consortium. The project period will therefore focus on the development of existing activities and activities, but according to Piia Koski, new openings are also on the way. At the moment, the degree students of the Seinäjoki University Consortium have, among other things, the opportunity to use the city’s swimming pool and the gym connected to it at a discounted price, as well as to participate in the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences Student Union. sports shifts organised by SAMO. As new development measures, Koski mentions students’ independent activities and support for events organised by students themselves.

Piia Koski’s strong background as an athlete supports the work of the project coordinator. Her sports background is in athletics, especially discus throwing, as well as weightlifting and powerlifting. In addition to her own training, she has coached others, which makes the work of a project coordinator natural and inspiring. Movement and activity are important themes for her, and it motivates her to work towards her goals in the long term.

In Koski’s words, working at the University Consortium of Seinäjoki has felt homely and open. There are four universities on campus, which brings a wide range of people and fields together, and provides an opportunity to get to know a wide range of people. The University Consortium of Seinäjoki engages in a lot of interdisciplinary cooperation in a network-like manner, also with stakeholders. According to Piia Koski, this is an advantage and strength of the University Consortium: At Seinäjoki, cooperation is strongly between different disciplines, not just within disciplines.

Did you know that the activities of the University Consortium of Seinäjoki focus on continuous learning services, among other things? In 2025, as many as 2113 participants took part in continuous learning services, and a total of 59 training events focusing on continuous learning were organised.