Kirsi Kaunismäki-Suhonen appointed as Director of School for School of Cultural Services and Music

Kirsi Kaunismäki-Suhonen has started as the Director of School for School of Cultural Services and Music at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences on September 23, 2024.

Kaunismäki-Suhonen joins Metropolia from the position of principal of Tahvonlahti elementary school in Helsinki.

In addition to her work as a principal, Kaunismäki-Suhonen has worked as a music teacher, class teacher, and choir conductor. She also serves as an integrative change coach and artistic producer for the international Choirs for Ecocide Law project, which promotes awareness of laws against ecocide. She is also an alumna of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, having graduated as a Cultural Manager (Master's level) in June 2024.

As the Director of School, Kaunismäki-Suhonen is responsible for implementing strategy in the areas of continuous learning, RDI activities, and business operations. She is also in charge of planning human resources and developing the degree programs and the supply of lifelong learning in collaboration with degree and team leaders. Additionally, she serves as the supervisor for the degree and team leaders in her School.

"Reducing state support for arts and culture challenges education, innovation, economic growth and social cohesion. To meet these challenges and to strengthen the phenomenological, learner-centered and ecosystem-based nature of our learning activities, we need to strengthen our networks. By engaging in multifaceted cooperation and project work with different actors, we will highlight the importance of the arts and culture sector in our society. At the same time, our students will gain important working life skills and we will learn to understand our own potential in RDI activities and entrepreneurship", says Kaunismäki-Suhonen.

More information

Kirsi Kaunismäki-Suhonen
Director of School, School of Cultural Services and Music, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Kirsi.Kaunismaki-Suhonen [at] metropolia.fi (Kirsi[dot]Kaunismaki-Suhonen[at]metropolia[dot]fi)