Touko Närhi has been appointed as our new Junior Advisor for Benchmark & Education. In this capacity, he will support CESAER's initiatives concerning higher education policy and development, while also coordinating the operations of the Task Force Benchmark and the Task Force Learning and Teaching.
Prior to joining CESAER, Touko served as a Junior Policy Officer at FiLi (Finnish Liaison Office for EU R&I), a joint office of the Research Council of Finland and Business Finland. During his tenure there, he engaged in advocacy efforts targeted at EU institutions and monitored key developments within the R&I sector.
Touko holds a master's degree in Political Science from the University of Jyväskylä, where he completed an internship within the Sustainable Trade unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
At the conclusion of his introduction week, Touko said:
"I am thrilled to join the CESAER's Secretariat as a Junior Advisor for Benchmark and Education. The invaluable role of our Members in addressing global and European challenges, while advancing a sustainable future in terms of knowledge creation, environment, security, and prosperity, is undeniable. It is a privilege to be part of CESAER and to champion our Members' distinctive strengths within the EU and beyond."
You can find Touko on LinkedIn and contact him at touko.naerhi@cesaer.org.