Kenneth Nordell new Research Director in Business Administration at Novia UAS

19.1.2026
News Press release RDI
Kenneth Nordell

Kenneth Nordell assumed the role of Research Director at the Department of Business Administration at Novia University of Applied Sciences on 1 January 2026. He is based in Turku but works across all campuses, and he steps into the position with both experience and enthusiasm.

Nordell has worked at Novia for three years, primarily as a project manager and team leader in circular business models. During that time, he has gotten to know a large part of the staff and therefore already feels partly at home in the organisation.

“I have received a very warm and sincere welcome from my colleagues, and it truly means a lot,” he says.

Broad experience from industry

Before joining Novia, Nordell worked for many years in industry, particularly in the steel sector. After completing his M.Sc. in Heat Engineering at Åbo Akademi University, he held roles in quality systems, environmental management, production, investments, B2B, financial monitoring, LEAN implementation, risk analysis, and innovation. He has also worked internationally as a consultant for several major suppliers to the steel industry.

At Novia, he has focused especially on circular business models, an area in which he has also served as a team leader.

Attentiveness and shared goals in focus

As Research Director, Nordell emphasises the importance of creating good conditions for the staff.

“One of a supervisor’s most important tasks is to ensure that employees thrive and have the opportunity to carry out their work well,” he says.

During his first weeks, he has held many individual discussions with project managers and other staff to gain a clear picture of their needs and wishes. Since all project managers are employed on fixed-term contracts, questions about the future are central. Nordell highlights that the activities within business administration rely entirely on external funding, which makes long-term planning and stability particularly important.

“Our message is clear: we want to keep everyone who works here and continue developing together,” he says.

Strategy: grow, be visible, and stay relevant

The strategy for business administration emphasises growth, which means initiating and enabling new project applications. At the same time, it is important to carry out ongoing projects at a high level of quality and to ensure that external partners want to continue collaborating.

Nordell also sees an important task in identifying needs from companies, organisations, and communities in the regions.

“We are here to support and develop society and the businesses in our regions. To succeed, we must stay ahead and anticipate upcoming needs,” he says.

He considers Novia’s geographical spread — with operations in Ostrobothnia, the Turku archipelago, and Uusimaa — to be a major strength.

Nordell prefers to work on-site and emphasises the importance of being present. He wants the business administration unit to remain an open and accessible partner to the surrounding community. Being visible in society, participating in seminars, and presenting research results are, in his view, essential for growth and for strengthening the institution’s role.

Challenges ahead

The general economic situation and a likely decrease in project funding mean tougher competition for resources.

“Less money and more actors competing for it means we need to be even sharper,” Nordell notes.

At the same time, he sees that the projects are not only financially important — they also contribute to developing internal competence.

Maintaining strong results and a positive atmosphere in the workplace is another key challenge. In fact, the work community was one of the reasons he applied for the position.

Eager to continue developing

Despite his experience, Nordell feels there is much to learn in his new role.

“I have always been eager to take on new things. Even though I’ve worked at Novia for a couple of years and feel partly settled in, there is still a lot that is new to me,” he says.

 
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