Our alumnus Rauno Niittymäki: Earning a degree does not mean an end to studying

Difficulties in learning languages was probably the reason why Rauno Niittymäki did not go to upper secondary school. In maths, physics and chemistry, the young man had a ten in secondary school, but only a five in English.

– At that time, language learning was so different. Students took turns in reading and translating the texts from English to Finnish in front of everyone, with the teacher constantly correcting. I was so nervous about my turn that I didn't learn much in the class, Niittymäki recalls.

Later, Niittymäki did learn English and even a little Spanish when he was on a teaching exchange at the University of Valencia. He studied first to become an electrical and automation engineer, then vocational teacher, then graduate engineer and finally a licentiate in education. Niittymäki was also planning to write his doctoral thesis, but was caught up in the rush of life, and never did. Along the way, he has also studied business and entrepreneurship.

In 2013, Niittymäki retired as a lecturer in electrical power engineering at Häme University of Applied Sciences. He continued to work in electrical engineering in his own company until the end of last year, but now, at the age of 74, he is finally fully retired.

Niittymäki encourages today's students to keep up the motivation to learn new things.

– Learning does not end with earning a degree but continues throughout life. You never know what kind of knowledge and skills you will need in the future. Everyone will certainly need to study more, for a postgraduate degree or even a new profession, he says.

Studies gave me a strong professional identity 

Rauno Niittymäki is originally from Valkeakoski. There he worked as a summer trainee at his father's workplace at the paper mill as a young boy.

He started his career in 1970 as an automation technician at Tervasaari factory. In 1973, he began studying electrical and automation engineering at Tampere Technical College, which is now part of Tampere University of Applied Sciences.

– The studies gave me the basics of electrical engineering and a strong professional identity that has helped me succeed in the working life. The group spirit was good, and I still keep in touch with my classmates from that time.

Niittymäki graduated as an engineer in 1977. Two years later, he obtained the necessary installation licences to manage electrical work and set up an electrical installation company, Säästö Sähkö Oy, in Mikkeli and Virtasalmi. The company had six partners and at best 20 installers.

– In 1984, I was 34 years old and had not taken a single day of summer holiday. Financial responsibilities were also starting to weigh on me, and I wondered if there was an easier way to make a living.

Niittymäki sold his share in the company and went to study to become a vocational teacher. He worked first at vocational schools in Pieksämäki and Forssa, and from 1989 onwards at Valkeakoski Technical College, which later became part of Häme University of Applied Sciences.

In 1990 Niittymäki graduated as a Master of Science in Engineering from Tampere University of Technology after one and a half years of studies.

– The engineering studies provided a good basis for the graduate studies. Only the Swedish language caused a few problems, he grins.

Microchips are now found in every device

Electronics and information technology have evolved enormously during Niittymäki's working years. The traditional skills of an electrician are still needed, but they are accompanied by new demands.

– Microchips and microprocessors have entered every device. It is no longer enough to be able to install a device, but also to be able to program it to work in the installed environment.

Another huge change has taken place in computing methods. It used to take Niittymäki a whole working day to calculate the parameters of a network. Now it can be done on a computer in only a few minutes.

The future of the electricity sector looks bright for Niittymäki. Although the overall use of electricity is no longer growing at the same rate, the number of different electrical appliances is continuing to increase.

– There are many different areas of expertise in electrical engineering, and there is bound to be a place for everyone in the working life, he encourages the students.