Dr. Liisa Timonen is the Director of International Affairs and a board member at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. She has previously served as the Head of International Affairs and the Head of Education and Development. Dr. Timonen oversees strategic international development, international services, partnerships, education- and work-based immigration services, and global education services. She has a rich portfolio of international and national research and innovation projects, having played key roles as a leader, designer, writer, contributor, and researcher.

Dr. Timonen possesses significant research expertise in international and transdisciplinary higher education and actively participates in various research communities. She focuses on co-creation of knowledge processes, community development, multicultural learning and teaching, diversity and inclusion management, and fostering teachers’ capacity building.

With extensive international and national networks, Dr. Timonen holds several positions of responsibility. She has been a member of the national boards of the International Forum and the Team Finland Knowledge Network at the Ministry of Education and Culture. Additionally, she is a member of the North Karelia regional committee of internationalisation and the PINNET network of heads of internationalisation at Finnish UASes. Dr. Timonen has received numerous international and national recognitions for her achievements.