Erasmus+ Staff Week Savotta: Exploring HEI Safety & Resilience

Where does HEI safety and resilience take root? How do we cultivate a genuine sense of safety? How can we co-create new approaches to strengthen safety and resilience? Should we connect to a network to enhance safety and resilience in European academia?

In an era of growing uncertainty and disarray, fostering resilience and strengthening the sense of safety in higher education has never been more crucial. We find ourselves daily in the centre of environmental, social, ideological, and technological turmoil around us. We are facing unprecedented challenges at an increasing rate, with shifting truths and countless unknowns rising all around us. In the field of safety and security, we have our hands full, or as we say in Finland: Siinäpä meillä savottaa! – that’s quite an endeavour. But in the spirit of the traditional Finnish savotta, we can find strength in coming together, exchanging knowledge, and building practical solutions that enhance our collective resilience and safety.

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) warmly invites you to a topical and engaging Staff Week Savotta in Hämeenlinna, Finland from 18.-22.5.2026. Over the course of an immersive week, we will engage in discussions, hands-on workshops, and outdoor experiences while sharing and shaping our views on safety practices and resilience strategies in higher education institutions (HEIs) across Europe.

Core Themes & Approaches

Staff Week Savotta is designed for HEI professionals, including safety and security personnel, educators, and administrative staff interested in strengthening resilience and safety within their institutions. The programme focuses on three core themes:

• Sense of Safety & Resilience – Understanding the key elements that foster a 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 on safety and preparedness across Europe.

The week features interactive workshops and outdoor experiences designed to inspire new perspectives and practical solutions:

• Insight Sessions – Shared expertise with 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.

Registration

Registration for the Staff Week Savotta in now open and will close 2.3.2026. A maximum of 50 places are available.

Registration form: https://link.webropol.com/ep/Staff-week-savotta

The registration fee includes the programme and social events. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if notified during registration.

Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation. Please visit our website for further information about arrival, accommodation and other services in Hämeenlinna.

Before registration, you may want to consider the following:

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 follow the university's code of conduct and the principles of a safer space.

Go to our website for further details and registration: www.hamk.fi/savotta

Be part of a week dedicated to exploring safety and resilience in higher education. Together, we’ll share insights, build meaningful connections, and uncover opportunities for future collaboration!

Let’s gather for Savotta!