Aalto University is inviting all Finnish organisations, communities, influencers and individuals to enhance their creativity as a a key economic and societal driver of renewal and growth. The goal is to equip tens of thousands of people with foundational knowledge in creativity skills.
Over 60 organisations have already joined forces to support the radical creativity initiative, including Fiskars Group, Finnish postal service Posti, KONE, Wolt, Marimekko, Smartly, Kemira, Kalevala Koru, Kesko, SOK, Rovio, VTT, Sitra and A-lehdet. The initiative is also backed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland along with the cities of Helsinki and Espoo.
As part of the initiative, Aalto University is launching a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), , which will be freely available to organisations and individuals.
Radical creativity is a bold, transformative approach that challenges established norms, creating entirely new and unprecedented ways of thinking and working. President of Aalto University Ilkka Niemelä believes that Finland has all the prerequisites to grow into a trailblazer in radically creative thinking and action — provided we recognise that creativity is neither an exclusive privilege nor the responsibility of a select few.
’Creativity isn’t just an innate trait — it’s a skill we can all learn, enhance, and develop. We cannot solve today’s complex challenges with traditional approaches and expect novel outcomes. By investing collectively in learning and utilising radical creativity, we boost Finland's competitiveness and strengthen our role as a global leader in sustainable development and innovation,' Niemelä says.
Posti is a versatile and international logistics expert that was originally established to provide postal services in Finland.
‘Posti has operated for nearly 400 years, and we want to stay relevant in the market for the next 400 years as well. This requires constant renewal that does not happen without creativity. Creative skills are essential across every level of our organisation, which is why this extensive learning opportunity is incredibly valuable to us,' mentions Oskari Tinkanen, Vice President Innovation and Venturing at Posti, also supporting the initiative.
The course introduces the concept of radical creativity, as well as methods to address complex challenges and embrace the uncertainty inherent in the creative process.
The course teaches ways to harness creativity as a tool for making change, irrespective of the field or background.
Completing the three-credit introductory course takes approximately 72 hours. A large group of Aalto University experts, teachers, and researchers from various fields have developed the course, and it is provided by Aalto University's Department of Design.
The World Economic Forum’s (2023) identifies creative thinking as one of the most in-demand skills in working life today and in the future. Employees and organisations alike need radically creative thinking to innovate and thrive.
‘We must be bold enough to innovate and experiment with entirely new products, services, and ways of operating. Now and in the future, radical creativity will be essential to the success of both companies and national economies. Nations that actively foster creativity are also more attractive to international talent and investment,’ says Anne Brunila, economist and board professional supporting the initiative.
You can find more about the supporters of the initiative here. The Diving into Radical Creativity course is available in Finnish and English at starting from 14 November, 2024.
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You can learn more from radical creativity from a recent Radical Creatives documentary directed and written by Emilia Hernesniemi. You can order a free screening of the documentary at . The documentary features thoughts on radically creative thinking and action from member of Finnish parliament Pekka Haavisto, human rights activist Ujuni Ahmed, and CEO and Founder of Smartly.io Kristo Ovaska, to name a few.
Learn about creativity from individual and organisational perspectives, and how to create and lead transformative change.
Chief Human Resources Officer Riitta Silvennoinen is encouraging employees to be radical by taking time for learning. All staff at Aalto have the opportunity to take a basic course in radical creativity during their working hours.
Dozens of organisations have already joined forces to support the radical creativity initiative
Director Emilia Hernesniemi's document explores the connection between self-confidence and creativity. Discover the cast and creators, or organise a film screening for your team.
There is no set recipe for changing the world. It takes courage and grit to boldly create something new without fearing failure.
