The community has kept Juha at home at Humak for years

“Flexible, hectic, and at times a bit strange — but mainly in a positive sense.”

This is how Juha Nikkilä describes Humak as a workplace. It is not just a first impression, as he has already spent more than two decades working at Humak. Juha joined the organization in the early 2000s, originally as a fixed-term employee.

“There was a one-year lecturer substitute position at the Suolahti education unit. I applied and was selected. After a year, I was offered a permanent position,” he says.

Over the years at Humak, his duties have changed many times. For the past five to six years Juha has worked in his current role as a lecturer in the online implementation of the Community Educator degree programme.

“A large part of my workday is spent in front of a computer. There are meetings, supervision sessions and webinars, among other things. I also serve as the degree programme coordinator and the thesis coordinator for the online programme,” he describes his daily work.

Flexibility and autonomy

Juha says that he consciously tries to take care of his well-being at work and to set clear boundaries for working hours. His workday usually ends on time, and his leisure-time hobbies also help keep those boundaries in place. According to him, Humak has been a flexible employer over the years. He has had the opportunity to influence the content of his work and to work autonomously. At the same time, there has always been a sense of community and support from colleagues. Many of those working in the online Community Educator programme have been at Humak for a long time; things run as agreed, and colleagues in different roles are committed to their work, Juha notes.

In addition to colleagues, what motivates him at work are enthusiastic and motivated students. The work feels meaningful when he can follow their study path from the beginning of their studies all the way to completing their degree and moving forward in life as a result.