From the shores of lake Saimaa towards the stars – a journey into the heart of excellence

Markku Vengasaho

• Senior lecturer, Skill Manager, Project Manager of Pastry Saimaa, Saimaan ammattiopisto Sampo.

• Skill Manager of the Confectioner Skill from 2015–2017 and from 2020 onwards, member of the WorldSkills and EuroSkills training teams in the confectioner skill since 2017.

• Vocational teacher since 1995. European Vocational Teacher of the Year 2019, Pro Teacher candidate 2022, Skills Person of the Year 2025.

• In his free time, he cycles and goes berry-picking.

I took part in the Taitaja semi-finals in Seinäjoki for the first time in the early 2010s. At that time, I had already been teaching for several years in the vocational upper secondary qualification in food production at Saimaan ammattiopisto Sampo. I was teaching bakers and confectioners and found two young people in the group who were interested in joining Taitaja. I had already been reflecting on competition activities before that, but it took a while before the idea became reality. In our first competition we made it to the finals with the students, which was a great experience.

Competition activities really took off when I participated in the Taitaja competition in Lahti in 2014 with our student Emeliina Papinniemi. Emeliina came fifth in Lahti, and the following year she already took the victory. That marked the beginning of a ten-year journey in confectionery competition activities, which has now led to the opening of the Pastry Saimaa Centre of Excellence this year.

Competition activities with a big heart

Winning is a major source of inspiration, as are success and the competition itself. However, what inspires me most in competition activities is seeing the students’ potential and how they become excited about what they are doing and about competing. I live for goals, and by nature I am someone who aims high. When there is a great goal in sight, it is easier to make the right choices. I always want to move forward, develop and work in networks; other people are a source of inspiration for me. I love being with people, discovering their best qualities and helping them shine in their own area so that they can succeed.

Competition activities are about much more than chasing gold medals. Competing arouses emotions and, at its best, it is done with passion. It is a way to learn and inspire, to make our sector better known and to build connections. A victory is always a victory, but in addition competition activities develop our profession and the competitors’ own skills, and bring people together. At the end of the competition, someone always becomes a star – and our field needs people who succeed and rise to become role models for others.

But no star shines alone, this is always done together, and that is what makes it so wonderful. The student is always at the centre of everything, and the rest of us must strengthen the competitor’s passion and love for the skill so that they can shine. The importance of the team cannot be emphasised enough: it is important to bring together people with different strengths and perspectives, whether in competition activities or in anything else. I am extremely fortunate to be able to do work that truly reflects me at Sampo. Being able to develop, coach and build networks strengthens my core and encourages me to continue.

From Saimaa to the world

Pastry Saimaa, which celebrated its opening in early 2025, is the result of years of work, where many pieces fall into place and our love for the field becomes concrete. It is a confectionery centre of excellence, with the goal of raising the level of expertise in the field to European standards within five years. We bring international top trainers to Lappeenranta to share their expertise with our students. We have outstanding products, the best students and partners, and of course the best visiting international trainers. In addition, we offer product development opportunities for companies and build international networks.

Even if one might not immediately believe it, Lappeenranta is an exotic place for international guests: we are located by the beautiful nature and Lake Saimaa, near the border, with excellent transport connections. The two-hour journey from Helsinki to Lappeenranta offers the chance to slow down and focus on the future. We are located in the city centre, in excellent facilities and, most importantly, people here believe in us. I feel that we have already succeeded in creating our own culture at Pastry Saimaa. A confectionery family has been formed here, where we work in broad cooperation with both external stakeholders and internally with other fields at Sampo. We have already established a strong position in the confectionery field in Finland, and our eyes are set on the long-term future. This journey is not taken alone, and it is important to ensure continuity in the long run.

I was asked what the Skills Person of the Year award means to me. I am deeply honoured by the award and by what it represents. In international contexts, it is valued and brings additional credibility to our activities. I see it primarily as a mark of trust. That the work my team and I have done together has had a wider significance. When there is trust, you can build anything upon it. The whole world map lies open before us – the sky is the only limit.