Oskari Vilamo Fund prize awarded to Chairman Matti Harjuniemi

THE OSKARI VILAMO FUND PRESS RELEASE 26.10.2011

OSKARI VILAMO FUND PRIZE AWARDED TO CHAIRMAN MATTI HARJUNIEMI

The Oskari Vilamo Fund has conferred this year's award for merit, a total of 5,000 euros, on the Finnish Construction Trade Union Rakennusliitto's Chairman Matti Harjuniemi.

Matti Harjuniemi graduated from the University of Tampere in 1985, qualifying as a Master of Arts. He worked as Regional Secretary in the Tampere office of the KSL Civic Association for Adult Learning in 1983–1986, and as a teacher in the Finnish Construction Trade Union Rakennusliitto's Siikaranta Institute in 1986–1989. Harjuniemi became a construction worker when he completed a foundation course in house building in 1990 and a vocational degree in Carpentry in 1994. He worked as a carpenter at the construction company YIT in 1990–1995. He was invited to become a Department Secretary of Rakennusliitto in 1995 and served as its Deputy Head of Department in 2000–2004. Harjuniemi was named Rakennusliitto's Chairman in 2005.

As a representative of construction workers, Matti Harjuniemi has aimed to broaden the traditional notion of supervision of interests, for the benefit of the entire sector. He has paid special attention to developing construction industry workers' professional skills, improving the industry's cost-efficiency, coping at work, and improving occupational health. Quality of construction, raising public appreciation of the construction industry, and the battle against the grey market have also been key issues in Harjuniemi's work.

Thesis awards for one doctoral dissertation, one licentiate thesis and eight Master's theses

The Oskari Vilamo Fund's doctoral dissertation prize has been awarded to Marko Keskinen, Doctor of Science (Technology). The doctoral dissertation prize is 3,500 euros.

The fund's licentiate thesis prize, 2,000 euros, has been awarded to Kia Aksela, Licentiate of Science (Technology).

The fund's Master's thesis prizes have been awarded to Architect Merja Erkkilä, Architect Tuomo Hirvonen, Architect Satu Huuhka, Master of Science (Technology) Tuomo Järvenpää, M.Sc. (Tech.) Ville Lehtonen, M.Sc. (Tech.) Miro Ristimäki, M.Sc. (Tech.) Tero Sundström, and M.Sc. (Tech.) Mari Vuorinen. The Master's thesis prize is 2,000 euros.

Developer of the construction industry

The fund, named after Economic Counsellor Oskari Vilamo, is presided over by the Foundation for Economic Education and aims to promote higher-level research into construction. Lemminkäinen founded the fund in 1985. This year marks the 26th year an annual award for merit has been made, since 1986 when the awards began. Master's thesis awards have been granted since 1993. The fund has issued the award for a total of 37 doctoral dissertations, 20 licentiate theses and 76 Master's theses, including this year's prizes.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT:
THE OSKARI VILAMO FUND
MA Matti Aalto
Tel. +358 400 408 173
matti.aalto@lemminkainen.fi
www.lemminkainen.fi/oskarivilamo