University of Jyväskylä, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Wellbeing services county of Central Finland Press release 4 September 2023
Salla Toppinen-Tanner, who will start as Work Ability Promotion Professor of Practice on 1 October 2023 received her PhD on the reasons, development and repercussions of occupational burnout in 2011. She has carried out impact studies for the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health regarding interventions that promote career management and participated in developing related methods for mid-career capacity building and preventing incapacity for work due to mental health.
The Work Ability Promotion professorship of practice will be located at the University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Psychology. The professorship has a duration of three years with 20% working time. Salla Toppinen-Tanner will continue as the Director of the Work Ability and Working Careers unit of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Toppinen-Tanner has led work-life balance related projects, such as the national Work-family programme, and participated in drawing up and implementing the National Mental Health Strategy 2030. As the Director of the Work Ability and Working Careers unit she has participated in the design and implementation of the Work Ability Programme and the Mental Health at Work Programme.
“I would like to steer more attention towards the maintenance and improvement of work ability. We must develop solutions, especially to mental health challenges. Changing work life requires people with ample work ability. It is important that we take steps to ensure that work life appears attractive to young people and that ageing employees wish to continue in work life. At best, high-quality research responds to the needs of society and research data is utilised in decision-making and planning measures,” says Salla Toppinen-Tanner.
The significance of work ability promotion is constantly growing
The parties establishing the Work Ability Promotion professorship of practice are the University of Jyväskylä, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and wellbeing services county of Central Finland. A key objective is to strengthen the co-operation between these three organizations in a situation in which the societal significance of the promotion of work ability keeps growing and the development, dissemination and follow-up of evidence-based operational models is needed.
“The professor of practice will participate in the high-quality research related to work ability and well-being at work conducted at the Department of Psychology, strengthening both the department as well as the multidisciplinary well-being research and education (JYUWell) that is a key part of the University of Jyväskylä’s strategy, opening up new opportunities in co-operation with two notable partners,” says Dean Anna-Maija Poikkeus.
“It is gratifying to see how rapidly we have managed to establish new co-operation with the wellbeing services county. Together with our partners, we will bolster competencies and well-being in the entire society, in accordance with our strategy,” says Rector Jari Ojala.
“We wish to promote activities related to research, education, development and innovation in a variety of ways while also establishing co-operation with the University of Jyväskylä and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Knowledge and renewal are among our strategic pillars of success, which allow us to develop services and especially their impact, quality and productivity. This new professorship expands the research and development work of all of the involved parties,” says Jan Tollet, Director of the Wellbeing services county of Central Finland.
A professorship of practice may be granted to a person who has significant professional competence from managerial positions outside the academic world and whose competence can be considered to be of special use for the university’s educational and research activities.
Further information:
- Salla Toppinen-Tanner, Director, Work Ability and Working Careers unit, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Salla.Toppinen-Tanner [at] ttl.fi, +358 (0)46 851 2517.
- Carita Aschan, Director of Centre of Expertise, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, carita.aschan [at] ttl.fi, +358 (0)43 820 0923
- Anna-Maija Poikkeus, Dean, tel. +358 (0)40 805 3363, anna-maija.poikkeus [at] jyu.fi
- Jan Tollet, Director, Wellbeing services county of Central Finland, tel. +358 (0)50 400 0073, jan.tollet(at)hyvaks.fi
