Erasmus+ Staff Week Savotta: Exploring HEI Safety & Resilience
Registration is now open –
Let’s Gather for Savotta!
18.-22.5.2026 Hämeenlinna, Finland
(All dates are in day.month.year format)
Savotta is a Finnish term that embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication. Traditionally it refers to a logging site or a worksite where intensive labour is performed. In a broader sense, it symbolizes any challenging task or project that requires perseverance and teamwork. Savotta represents the commitment to achieving great results through collective effort and determination.
We have entered a world where rapid change is the norm. Globally, factors like geopolitical instability, economic shifts, and climate challenges have created an environment where the future is hard to predict. In European higher education, similar dynamics are at play. We face unpredictable challenges ranging from evolving student needs and digital transformation to funding uncertainties and the lingering impacts of recent crises. This shared sense of uncertainty pushes both society and education to reconsider long-held assumptions.
Our age questions traditional views of what it means to be safe. Today, the concept of safety isn’t limited to physical well-being and campus security; it extends to areas like digital security, academic integrity, occupational safety, stakeholder and national interests, and even mental well-being of students and staff. Higher education institutions across Europe need to rethink their approach to safety and security from altering perspective, such as combining traditional and cybersecurity measures seamlessly, increasing vigilance over hybrid interference, creating supportive environments to address student mental health, and ensuring that academic practices adapt to both external threats and internal pressures. This shifting landscape means that no single definition of safety can capture all dimensions of security in our modern world.
We are in urgent need of robust capacities that can absorb shocks and drive transformation. Globally, industries and communities are investing in adaptability not only to survive turbulences but also to turn challenges into opportunities. In Europe’s academic realm, this translates into initiatives like building a safety culture through shared values, combining cybersecurity and traditional safety measures, endorsing flexible safety competence management, sharing safety and security practices to assure the unhindered and safe mobility of our students and staff, and fostering innovative research partnerships for safety and security. Higher education institutes need to become increasingly agile, employing proactive measures that help them respond to rapid changes in technology, demographics, politics, and economic conditions.
Faithful to the Finnish tradition of gathering for Savotta, we believe that collaboration is the best way to create solutions, no matter how overwhelming the problem. By rallying our colleagues to gather with us, we hope to build a network that shares insights, best practices, and new ideas, endorses cross-border collaborations, and engages with industry partners and stakeholders.
With these thoughts, it is our pleasure to welcome our European colleagues to gather for Erasmus+ Staff Week Savotta: Exploring HEI Safety & Resilience in Hämeenlinna, Finland (link), from 18.-22.5.2026. The week is organised in cooperation between HAMK Masters’ Degree Programme in Social and Health Care Development, Crisis Management in Social Services, and HAMK Human Resources Services.
Main Themes and Approaches
The programme is tailored especially for university staff working in the fields of safety, security, and contingency of higher education institutes. However, other support and academic staff are also welcome and will certainly benefit from participating.
The programme focuses on three core themes:
- Sense of Safety and Resilience – Understanding the key elements that foster a safe, secure, and adaptable academic environment.
- Applied Learning – Engaging in experience-driven methods such as design-based education and collaborative problem-solving to develop and implement safety solutions.
- Collaborative Solutions – Enhancing inter-institutional cooperation and exploring new research and development ideas on matters related to HEI safety and resilience, as well as broader security and preparedness issues across Europe.
The Savotta week features interactive workshops and outdoor experiences designed to inspire new perspectives and practical ideas:
- Insight Sessions – Sharing expertise through presentations and discussions on building community-based safety policies and leveraging professional competencies for resilience.
- Co-Creation Sprints – Environmental exploration examining intrinsic safety, natural intelligence, and Finland’s deep-rooted connection to nature through design-based approaches.
- Synergy Building – Collaborative sessions encouraging European cooperation, fostering new professional relationships, and strengthening collegial networks that will extend beyond the event, supporting HEI safety and resilience in the future.
Preliminary Programme
Monday 18.5.2026 we meet at the Hämeenlinna University Centre. The first day will be dedicated to orientation, networking, and setting goals for the week. The programme starts with the registration, followed by welcome and introductions. After welcome lunch at our campus restaurant Helmi, we will make sure everyone has the Secapp application up and running, and then take a Safety Walk around our campus and go through the key elements we rely on in creating a safer and secure studying, working and researching environment.
At the end of the afternoon, we invite you to join us for a tour of Hämeenlinna’s most interesting sights and beloved landmarks. We will also introduce you to some of the very basics, and also some peculiar perks, of daily life in Finland and Hämeenlinna, so if you want the full local experience, don’t miss out!
Tuesday 19.5.2026 kicks off at Hämeenlinna town centre with the first Insights Session. We start the day at the medieval Häme Castle, dating back to 13th century, where we discuss the definition and dimensions of safety, security and resilience in the context of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), European, and global perspectives.
After the session, we move on to our first Co-Creation Sprint challenge, where teams spread out to explore the sense of safety in the urban environment of Hämeenlinna town centre. The lunch for Tuesday is not included in the registration fee, but we will provide you with a list of recommended lunch restaurants you can visit at your own convenience. To close day 2, we gather to hear the teams’ presentations. The evening is free time, and we will give again some suggestion on what to see and experience.
Wednesday 20.5.2026 we head out to the heart and soul of Finland, as we will spend the day at HAMK UAS’s Evo Forestry Campus. The third day includes another Insights Session, this time discussing resilience and well-being with various approaches.
The second Co-Creation Sprint challenge will take us even deeper into the woods, and all paths eventually lead to a Campfire Session, where we break down the findings and enjoy a very Finnish evening.
On Thursday 21.5.2026, we return to the Hämeenlinna University Centre. In the morning, we will discuss the different approach to HEI safety in three parallel sessions:
- Organisational & Social Factors: This session moves beyond traditional compliance to explore the core human elements of a robust safety framework. We will discuss the vital role of leadership in setting the safety tone, the link between employee wellbeing and risk mitigation, and how continuously developing human competence strengthens the collective safety culture.
- Physical & Asset Protection: This session challenges us to rethink the concept of physical security from guarding against threats to actively cultivating environments where individuals feel safe, supported, and confident. We will explore innovative strategies for asset protection that consider human experience, designing spaces that are not only impenetrable to risks but also contribute positively to mental and physical wellbeing. The focus is on creating a campus community where safety is felt, not just enforced.
- Digital Resilience: This session dives into the concept of digital resilience, examining how we can extend our understanding of human and physical security into the cyber domain. We will explore strategies for creating holistic safety solutions that protect individuals and assets across all interaction points – from online communications to smart environments – ensuring a consistent and robust safety posture regardless of the medium.
After lunchbreak we have a discussion about the experiences with the Secapp application, and then we wrap-up the week with closing discussion and formal closing ceremony with handing out certificates and letters of attendance.
In the evening, we gather for a celebration dinner served at the Old Town Hall of Hämeenlinna.
Friday 22.5.2026 is a day for optional programme. You can visit HAMK staff and students, or ask for an opportunity to job shadow our staff. You can also have an bilateral meeting, or distance work from our campus.
If you feel like taking time to look around Hämeenlinna or visit bigger Finnish cities like Tampere or Helsinki, we will gladly give you tips and advice how to get the most of your trip.
We are very excited to announce our collaboration with Secapp during Staff Week Savotta.
Secapp is a communiation and alert platform provided by Finnish SaaS company Secapp oy. specializing in secure communication and critical incident management solutions. Secapp platform provides tools for real-time alerting, team coordination, and crisis response, with a strong focus on reliability, data security, and ease of use. The Secapp platform is trusted by safety and security professionals in many sectors such as healthcare, public safety, logistics, energy and heavy industry in Finland and internationally.
Secapp is also in wide use in daily safety activites at all levels of Finnish education institutes from daycare to higher education (link), making it a natural partner for us. Secapp will provide a reliable and interactive communications platform and enhance participants safety during the week.
Networking
Meet and network with colleagues from all across Europe. So far, staff from the following universities have signed up:
- Abdullah Gül University, Turkey
- Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
- Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Häme University of Applied Sciences, Finland
- Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
- NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
- Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh
- Polytechnic University of Setúbal, Portugal
- St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
- St. Pölten Univesity of Applied Sciences, Austria
- Technical University of Leoben, Austria
- University of Barcelona, Spain
- University of Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Erfurt, Germany
- University of Murcia, Spain
- University of Patras, Greece
Registration and fee
Register now to join colleagues from across Europe. The registration will close 2.3.2026.
Currently, 20 out of a total of 50 participant places remain available.
Registration fee
The registration fee includes the program and social events specified in the programme (subject to change). Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if notified during registration. All prices are VAT 0%, in accordance with the Finnish VAT Act, Section 5a(1).
Register by 31.1.2026, to take advantage of the Early Bird registration fee of 540 €. After that, the fee will be 600 € until the end of registration time, 2.3.2026.
Registration fee must be fully paid 31 days before the staff week begins (by 17.4.2026).
Cancellation and refunds:
- Cancellation until 100 days before the event (by 4.2.2026) or before invoice is due: full refund of an invoiced fee.
- Cancellation 100-31 days before the event (5.2.2026-17.4.2026): 50% refund of invoiced fee.
- Cancellation after the registration has ended (after 18.4.2026): No refund.
The refund will be refunded to the invoiced party.
Good to know before registration:
Before registration, you may want to consider the following:
- Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation. You have added some information about available hotels and special deals for staff week participants, and we are really glad to help if you need any advice or suggestions.
- The week includes outdoor activities, and weather conditions may vary. Bring appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear.
- Some event locations may be challenging to reach for those with mobility limitations. Remote participation is not available.
- Some venues may be outside of mobile network coverage or have limited access to the internet.
- Participants are expected to comply with and follow our university rules and the safer space principles (link).
Be part of a week dedicated to exploring HEI safety and resilience in higher education. Together, we’ll share insights, build meaningful connections, and uncover opportunities for future collaboration!
Practical information
Accommodation in Hämeenlinna
Special quoted price room blocks are available in two hotels:
Hotel Emilia, Raatihuoneenkatu 23, 13100 Hämeenlinna (link)
Visit hotel’s website here (link).
Hotel Emilia is a small, cozy hotel located in the Hämeenlinna town centre. Breakfest is included in the room price.
Special quoted prices are:
- Single Standard Room 114 € per night
- Twin Standard Room 124 € per night
- Single Superior Room 124€ per night
- Double Superior Room 134€ per night
Reservation must be done directly to the hotel, by telephone +358 3 6122 106, or by email hotelliemilia@hotelliemilia.fi. To get the quoted prices, please mention the discount code “Staff Week Savotta” when making the reservation.
Sokos Hotels Vaakuna, Possentie 7, 13200 Hämeenlinna (link)
Visit to hotel’s website here (link).
Sokos Hotels Vaakuna is a recently modernised hotel next to the Hämeenlinna railway station, by the lake Vanaja. Breakfest is included in the room price.
Special quoted prices are:
- Standard Single Room 120€ per night
- Standard Double Room 135€ per night
Reservation by telephone +358300 870 000 or +358 20 1234 636, or by email vaakuna.hameenlinna@sokoshotels.fi. To get the quoted prices, please mention the discount code “Staff Week Savotta” when making the reservation.
You can find more accommodation options and information about other local services at Visit Hämeenlinna website (link).
Please note that you are responsible for booking your own accommodation and handling any related obligations. HAMK UAS does not participate in arranging or booking accommodation in any way.
Travelling to Hämeenlinna
By train
When arriving to Finland, you’re most likely to land at Helsinki Airport in our capital region. From there, the easiest way to travel to Hämeenlinna is by train. Finnish National Railways (Valtion Rautatiet, VR) provides an reliable hourly service from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna with regional (slow), Intercity (faster) and Pendolino (fastest) trains.
We highly recommend installing the VR Matkalla app (link) to your mobile phone for easy scheduling and ticket buying. In regional trains, you need to have a valid train ticket before entering the train. Tickets for Intercity and Pendolino trains include also a designated seat.
At the airport, find your way to the railway station located below the terminal. From there, take the I train to Tikkurila Station. In Tikkurila, you need to switch to train heading northbound towards Tampere. You will arrive in Hämeenlinna after about an hour.
By bus
Several bus companies also have bus routes from Helsinki Airport to Hämeenlinna. For schedules and tickets, please visit Matkahuolto (link), Onnibus (link) and Flixbus (link) websites.
By car
If you want to drive to Hämeenlinna yourself, the Motorway 3 (“Valtatie 3”) connects the capital region to our town. From the airport, head west following signs for Tampere. Continue via Ring Road III (“Kehä III”) and merge onto motorway northbound. The drive to Hämeenlinna takes about an hour.
Arriving from other Directions
If you arrive by boat to Helsinki, make your way to Helsinki Railway station and take a train towards Tampere. The train ride is about 45 minutes.
If you land at Tampere airport, take a bus to Tampere railway station, and take a train towards Helsinki. If you want to drive a car, follow the signs for Helsinki, and drive Highway 3 southbound about 45 minutes to reach Hämeenlinna.
If you arrive by boat or plane to Turku, use the VR Matkalla app to check the train route or go to Matkahuolto website (link) for bus services. By car, follow the signs to Hämeenlinna. They lead you to scenic Highway 10 (“Valtatie 10”), which gets you to our town in about 2 hours.
Climate and clothing
In Finland, cold weather can continue quite late into the year, and May typically marks the beginning of spring.
Daytime temperatures usually range from 5°C to 15°C, occasionally reaching up to 20°C. Mornings and evenings can be chilly, and strong winds may make the air feel colder than the actual temperature. Nights are often still cold, possible even freezing. Rainfall is moderate, and snowfall is rare but still possible even in mid-May.
As the summer solstice approaches, daylight increases significantly. During the time of staff week, there are typically up to 17 hours of daylight in southern Finland. Hotel rooms typically have blackout curtains, but the amount of light, especially on clear nights, can still affect tiredness and sleep quality more than you might expect.
When packing for May in Finland, it’s best to prepare for variable conditions. A warm jacket, windproof layers, and comfortable waterproof shoes are recommended. Dressing in layers allows you to adjust throughout the day. It’s also a good idea to bring a hat and light gloves, especially for early mornings or windy days.
Please bookmark this site and check back regularly for updates on the programme, traveling to Hämeenlinna, and other important information
Event email: savotta@hamk.fi
See Savotta event page at Erasmus+ iMotion here.
See Savotta event page at LinkedIn here.
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