Murata has collaborated with Aalto University to develop a tailored and uniquely comprehensive solution to meet Murata’s needs for skilled personnel. The most recent example of this collaboration is the Lifewide Learning course package developed for the employees of Murata Finland. The collaboration also includes study paths all the way to master’s and doctor’s degrees.

The Lifewide Learning course package, launched in December 2022, is a new territory for both Murata and Aalto. Murata is the first company Aalto is collaborating with on this kind of tailored lifewide learning solution. In response to factors such as globalization, technological changes and demographic developments, lifewide learning has been included in the Government Program of Finland, and its implementation will continue during the next government term. Universities have taken decisive steps to support Finnish society and businesses by building practices and opportunities for lifewide learning.

“This is a new territory for us and a good pilot for Aalto as well. We are also continuously developing methods for learning on the job,” says Hanna-Riikka Myllymäki, Director for Lifewide Learning Development and Partnerships at Aalto EE.

Aalto aims to make it easier for companies to find suitable courses for their employees from the wide range of courses offered by the university. Murata’s course selection includes courses under themes such as artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, big data, industrial engineering and electronic engineering, as well as management and communications.

“The course selection was based on Murata’s needs. We glanced through the whole educational portfolio of Aalto and hand-picked the most suitable studies for our needs. We will update the course selection according to Aalto’s current offering as well as the changing needs of our business,” says Tuomas Nurmi, Senior HR Manager at Murata.

Murata has been developing study paths with Aalto since 2020, starting with a path to a master’s degree and later also to a doctor’s degree. So far, seven Murata employees have been accepted for Aalto degrees: five for doctor’s degrees and two for master’s degrees. Murata does not pay a salary for the time spent studying for a master’s degree, but graduates receive a remuneration for their degrees. The company also subsidizes course fees and the cost of learning materials. In addition to receiving the remuneration, doctoral students may also spend one working day per week on their studies.