The Skills Actor of the Year is Hyria’s Taitaja Development Team
Skills Finland’s awards committee has selected Hyria’s Taitaja Development Team as the Skills Actor of the Year, recognizing its active and innovative work in delivering regionally impactful skills competition activities.
The award was received on behalf of the team by Principal Tuula Kortelainen and Education Manager Mika Auvinen. Photo: Marko Nevanperä
Each year, Skills Finland honors an individual, team, or organization that significantly promotes the quality and visibility of skills competitions. Based on nominations from the network, the board-appointed committee selected Hyria’s Taitaja Development Team as this year’s Skills Actor of the Year.
“Hyria has implemented regionally impactful skills competition activities through its active and innovative Taitaja Development Team. The HyriaSkills competition has developed into an inspiring concept. Hyria staff participate annually in Taitaja activities as semifinal organizers, skill category organizers, and judges in both semifinals and finals,” the committee states.
In addition to Tuula Kortelainen and Mika Auvinen, the team includes: Heidi Hjelm, Hannah Hämäläinen, Juuso Kerola, Johanna Kuittinen, Jukka Lehtelä, Milla-Miia Luosujärvi, Noora Markkanen, Juho Niskanen, Janika Puustinen, Mikko Rasimus, Hanna Rohtsalu, Joni Seiti, Anna Skytten, and Emilia Ulaska. In previous years, Seija Siitonen, Matti Kymäläinen, and Jalmari Välimaa have also been part of the team.
Skills competitions as a natural part of institutional operations
The motivated Taitaja Development Team, supported by the education provider, consists of 15 professionals whose work is reflected in increased participation, strengthened competence, and growing attractiveness of vocational education. Mika Auvinen highlights HyriaSkills and the “Future Skills Talents” competition—launched last year for preparatory education students—as the team’s most significant achievements.
“We expect participation from all our training departments and functions. The team includes teachers, vocational instructors, special education teachers, guidance counselors, workshop coaches, marketing and communications professionals, and campus coordinators. All activities take place during working hours,” says Principal Tuula Kortelainen.
At Hyria, skills competition activities have become a natural part of institutional operations, with active participation from students, staff, and working life partners alike.
HyriaSkills gives students a chance to test their skills
The annual internal HyriaSkills competition, held since 2022, is an excellent example of the team’s work. It has developed into an inspiring concept.
Thank you for your contribution, and warm congratulations to Hyria’s Taitaja Development Team!