Pekka Pulkkinen is the Alumnus of the Year – work continues on the world's tallest railway bridge

The international "grand man of the Finnish bridge design", Pekka Pulkkinen, has been chosen as the University of Oulu's Alumnus of the Year. Pulkkinen, who is "maybe officially" retired but still working and mentoring, has had a long career in construction field. He is currently finishing the world's highest railway bridge in India.

"The work has to be done to the end," Pulkkinen says.

Pulkkinen, who holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, studied at the University of Oulu has had an extensive and impressive international career. He is known for his impressive bridge projects around the world.

Milestones include the Swietokrzyski Bridge in central Warsaw and the 1.3 km long Binh Bridge in Vietnam. His career took off with Jätkäncandle in Rovaniemi, the international project was completed in 1989. Jätkäncandle was Finland's first cable-stayed bridge for road traffic and a gateway to other international bridge projects.

Designing and working on the world's tallest bridge in India is one of Pulkkinen's memorable projects – and not without reason. Work in the mountains has posed challenges to the years-long project, as has the country's bureaucracy, and partly for these reasons Pulkkinen has wanted to be involved in the project until the end. The Chenab railway bridge is located in some places in the inaccessible mountainous region of India. The height of the arch bridge is 360 meters and the span of the arch is as much as 467 meters.

The project could be described as a "thriller". A 150-kilometer-long, very dangerous mountain road leads to the bridge site, which Pulkkinen says in an interview he drove "with white knuckles."

"Maybe I can retire after this project," he laughs, but adds that he is happy to share his knowledge and ideas in the future as well. Passion profession?

"Maybe so," he laughs.

The value of the team

Pulkkinen appreciates the education he received at the University of Oulu and considers Finnish expertise in bridge design and construction to be of high quality. He sees great significance in the university as an educator of top experts and as a provider of networks, and also appreciates the cooperation and good relationships that were created between students and have lasted for decades.

'We were a great support for each other, among different experts, during and after their studies. We have been able to develop and develop together," Pulkkinen says.

"The University of Oulu has strong expertise in mechanics. It helped me too. I also included a special course in bridge design in my studies. It was just one course, but I had no fear that I wouldn't make it in bridge design."

Eva Maria Raudasoja, President of the Oulu University Association, describes Pekka Pulkkinen as follows:

"The handprint of the University of Oulu Alumnus of the Year 2024 is global. The significant national and international merits of his career are a concrete and visible indication of the renewed strategy of the University of Oulu: "Our northern handprint is global". Our university's strategy remains based on its mission to create new knowledge and provide research-based education to build a more sustainable, intelligent and humane world."

Pekka Pulkkinen was recognized as Alumnus of the Year at the University Gala of Oulu on 8.11.2024

Alumnus of the Year

The Oulu University Society annually nominates the Alumnus of the Year from among University of Oulu graduates. The tradition began in 1999 when the Society named President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari Alumnus of the Year 1999.

When selecting the Alumnus of the Year, the Board of the Oulu University Association examines the following criteria: Genuine visibility of the candidate, The candidate identifies himself or herself as a graduate of the University of Oulu, The nomination of the candidate speaks to the year of its topicality, The significance of the candidate as part of the story built by the University of Oulu as part of the surrounding society, and The candidate's actions for the benefit of Northern Finland and the competitiveness of the region.