Kiira Karkkainen

Analyst

Kiira joined CERI in May 2008 and she is currently working on the University Futures project which aims to inform and facilitate strategic decision-making in higher education by exploring what may be possible, different roles for higher education in future societies. The first volume Demography of the OECD book series entitled Higher Education to 2030 was launched in December 2008. Two further volumes, Technology and Globalisation, and a fourth presenting scenarios for the future of higher education systems will be published in 2009. Within this framework, Kiira’s work focuses on issues related to globalisation. She also coordinated the high-level OECD/France international conference, Higher Education to 2030: What Futures for Quality Access in the Era of Globalisation?, held on 8-9 December 2008 in Paris.

Previously, Kiira worked on forward-looking education policy issues through a Nordic consultancy as well as at CERI, with focus on financing and provision trends in OECD higher education. She also conducted research and analysis for UNESCO on corporate-public sector education partnerships in developing countries. In addition, Kiira worked on international development policy, co-operation and diplomacy at the European Commission, UNESCO, the Finnish UN Mission and in Romania.

Kiira holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Sciences Po Paris, France, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki, Finland, with major in Political Science and International Relations. Kiira, a native Finnish speaker, is fluent in English and French. She also speaks Spanish and some Swedish.

Contact information:

OECD/CERI
2, rue André Pascal
75775 Paris, Cedex 16

ceri.contact@oecd.org
Telephone : 33-1 45 24 91 71
Fax: 33-1 44 30 63 94