Aalto on Tracks is taking around 100 people from the Aalto University community with a private train from Helsinki to Shanghai World Expo, China, on May 2010. That's over 10 000 kilometers and a week on tracks!
Our goals are to take Aalto University, Finland and Finnish education to the world. We want to unite Aalto people and create an unforgettable learning experience for around a hundred Aalto people and guests.
Follow us on the map and via Talky!
Our departure from Helsinki is on 14th May 18:23 with a Tolstoy train!
We have now confirmed the participants on Aalto on Tracks! Thanks for the great applications and enthusiastic ideas. It was great to see powerpoint presentations, hand-drawn pictures and even videos as free-form applications! You can have a look at the Participants page.
Lot of stuff have happened during last few week. We have already many groups working on different programs on the train, like TEDx, company case team, publication team, sports team, culture team etc! In addition to the program arranged by the participants, we will also have eReader research case, workshop cases from Espoo city (social media and online services), company workshop cases and lot more.
We have confirmed around 15 company partnerships for the project. We will publish the sponsors this week.
We will stay one night in Beijing as well. We are honoured to have co-operation with the students of the best university in China, Tsinghua University. We will have program with BATES (Business Association of Tsinghua Entreprenerial Students), which is a student-run entrepreneur club just like Aaltoes.
In Shanghai we will have many company visits, different kinds of excursions, the opening of Aalto-Tongji Design Factory Shanghai and of course participate to Finland Day in the expo and all the events there. Check out the general Shanghai program from Aalto University web page as well.
PS. our train leaves on 14th at 18:23 from Helsinki. We will have farewell party in Amarillo (Mikonkatu 9) near Helsinki railway station just before the departure, starting from 3 pm. It will be open for everybody, come to wish good journey for us!
Hi all!
We have selected around 80% of the participants and we had application more than places. We have people confirmed from Aalto University School of Art and Design, School of Economics, School of Science and Technology + University of Helsinki, Sibelius Academy, Tampere University of Technology and TU Ilmenau Germany – it’s going to be very multidisciplinary experience!
We still have free places due to few cancellations, so it’s time for second round! Put your application THIS WEEK at the latest, if you still would like to join the trip of your lifetime 
Remember that we have arranged the possibility to do the exams on the train.
PS. today on Wednesday 14th is Planning Event for all the participants, 18:00 at Design Factory.
- Mikko
Awesome news! We got the official TEDx license! Our TEDx event is going to take place on the train in Russia after we have left from Moscow.
Now we are looking for spectacular speakers. Do you have ideas worth spreading? Do you want to make history and speak at TEDx on the train? If yes, please contact!
More information about the TEDx event.
-Olli
olli.laine [at] aaltoontracks.com
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx – local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At the TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, has accepted our invitation to become the patron of Aalto on Tracks. This gives an excellent boost for our project and we are very happy to have Mr. Stubb supporting us.
Aalto on Tracks is departing from Helsinki towards Shanghai on May 14th. Most of the participants have now been selected, and we are looking forward to a memorable journey.
Enjoy the Easter!
- Mikko Ikola
