1800

The industrialisation of Finland begins in earnest in the first few decades of the 19th century, with the growth of the textile and metal industries.

Technical education also begins during this time, including mainly mathematics and map drawing for employees of military colleges and state administration office. Practical skills are learned through work placements.

1849

The first students start their studies at the Helsinki School of Technology (Helsingin teknillinen reaalikoulu) on 15th January. This would later become the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK), and then a part of Aalto University.

1850

In the mid-19th century, the term Teekkari (either as “Teekkari” or “Teknolog”) is used for the first time in Gothenburg, Sweden, and at the Helsinki School of Technology. Teekkari culture is still today found only in Finland and Sweden.

1856

Teekkari students are already having the best parties. An unnamed contemporary complains that they have “orgies at night that spoil their souls and bodies”.

1860

In the early 1860’s, the Helsinki School of Technology moves from a common curriculum and course content to five separate departments. These are engineering (mainly building construction, and hence civil engineering), chemistry, machine engineering, architecture, and surveying engineering. Between 1861 and 1872, 55 students graduate from the school, 34 of which in civil engineering.

1872

Teknologföreningen (TF) is founded at the Helsinki School of Technology. TF can be considered as the beginning of the history of the Helsinki University of Technology’s Student Union (TKY), which then during the 2010 university merger became Aalto University Student Union (AYY). TF is also still active in Otaniemi today for Swedish speaking Teekkari students.

1878

The first national Tempaus is organised in aid of the J. L. Runeberg statue fund.

1880

Tekniska Föreningen i Finland (TFiF) is founded. TFiF still serves its Swedish speaking members today, in cooperation with TEK.

1890

Women are beginning to gradually also be seen as Teekkari students. The first graduated female architect, named Signe Hornborg, graduates in 1890, after extra and part-time studies at the Polytechnic College (Polyteknillinen Opisto, the name at the time of the Helsinki School of Technology, now Aalto University). In 1905, Jenny Markelin is the first woman to graduate from road and bridge construction.

1891

Guild actions begin, with the foundation of the Chemistry Guild in Helsinki. 

1893

The Teekkari Cap takes on its current appearance, beginning the era of the present day Teekkari Cap. 

The Technical Club (Teknillinen klubi), the forerunner of the Tampere Technical Society (Tampere Teknillinen Seura), is founded.

1896

The Finnish-language Technicians’ Society STS (Suomenkielisten Teknikkojen Seura) is founded, with the primary mission of promoting the Finnish language in technology and industry. This is considered as the beginning of the history of TEK.

1904

A large number of students at the Polytechnic College (Polyteknillinen Opisto, now Aalto University) go on a lecture strike in protest at the expulsion of students who have refused conscription in the Russian army. The strike however fades away by the Autumn.

1908

After many different stages of existence and names, what started out as the Helsinki School of Technology (Helsingin teknillisen reaalikoulu) and then the Polytechnic College (Polyteknillinen Opisto) officially becomes the Helsinki University of Technology (Suomen Teknillinen Korkeakoulu, TKK). This is a university-level institution, with students having the rights of matriculants, and with teachers able to have the title of professor.

1915

The Jäger Movement, a secret group of male student activists wishing to get Finland out of Russia, is disguised as a part of student politics in universities and polytechnics. Teekkari people are responsible for the underground movement’s intelligence and training activities.

1920

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in the University of Turku is founded. Today this faculty also includes Teekkari students.

During the 1920’s, Teekkari students begin to wear a lab coat as a unifying accessory. These lab coats can still be seen during the move to the Otaniemi campus in the 1960s. In the 1930s, the first ideas of a garment known as the “överhalere” are presented, but it is not until 1959 when the first student overalls (kurssihaalarit) begin to be seen. These were used in the 1970s for certain excursions, until actual guild overalls begin to appear in the mid-1980s.

1923

Kemistklubben vid Åbo Akademi rf is founded in Turku. For a long time, this represents the sole Teekkari community in Turku, until the formation of DaTe and Digit ry in Åbo Akademi and the University of Turku respectively in 1999. In 2008, Turku gains its fourth Teekkari guild with Nucleus ry, followed by Adamas ry and Machina ry in 2020.

1927

Finnish speaking young academics move to celebrating Vappu at the park Kaivopuisto in Helsinki, instead of in Alppila. It is still celebrated there today.

1929

The first Teekkari songbook, named T.Y. Laulukirja, is published. The Teekkari Hymn, which had already been being sung in Teekkari circles, is also included in the songbook. The songbook provokes “disgust and horror in serious minded circles”.

1931

The Aviation Club of Polytechnics (Polyteknikkojen Ilmailukerho) starts its activities. In 1953, club members astonish the public by designing and building from scratch a flying motorised contraption.

1933

The Speksi tradition arrives in Finland, and the first Teekkarispeksi is presented as a Tempaus of the student union of the Helsinki University of Technology (TKY). Since 1990, Teekkarispeksi have been performed annually, as since 1999 have NääsPeksi in Tampere.

Retuperän WBK (The Retuperä Voluntary Fire Brigade Band, RWBK) performs for the first time at the “Retuperä Fire Brigade Party” (Retuperän palokuntajuhla), as a fundraiser for the Maanmittariklubi (now called Maanmittarikilta, or the Guild of Surveying Engineers).

1939

The Winter War begins on 30th November. The main building of the Helsinki University of Technology in Hietalahti is damaged badly in the bombing of Helsinki, and teaching is suspended until Autumn 1940.

1940

The title “academic engineer” (diplomi-insinööri) is introduced in the reform of the degree regulations in the early 1940s.

1941

The Continuation War begins on 25th June. Many students of the Helsinki University of Technology return to the frontline, and teaching is suspended, with no new students admitted in Autumn 1941. Teaching resumes in October 1942, but is interrupted once again by bombing in February 1944. After the war, there is a shortage of teachers, and a significant mark left on the student population.

1948

Helsinki University of Technology moves to Otaniemi. Preparations begin in 1948, and the land is purchased in January 1949.

The Wappu magazine Äpy is first published. Äpy is the oldest Wappu magazine in Finland, and today Wappu magazines are published in almost every Teekkari university.

1949

To ease the housing shortage of technology students, the grand Tempaus “Otaniemi is, let’s make the Teekkari Village” ("Otaniemi on, Teekkarikylä tehdään") is organised. The Tempaus raises funds for the construction of the Teekkari Village (Teekkarikylä) in Otaniemi. With supplies limited, bricks from the Helsinki Soviet Embassy, destroyed in the bombing, are used to build part of the village. The Tempaus produces an extremely positive image of Teekkari people amongst the general public. The Teekkari Village is opened in the Autumn of 1951, and in the Summer of 1952, it accommodates athletes of the Helsinki Olympics.

In the late 1940s, the first Teekkari student travels to the United States on an ASLA scholarship. The Finnish engineering and technology industries build relations with the USA with the help of these scholarships.

1952

The Christian Student Guild (Ristin kilta) builds a miniature golf course in Helsinki to finance the construction of a chapel in Otaniemi. This is Finland’s oldest course, and is located in Sibelius Park.

1953

The Fennada film captures the hustle and bustle of Teekkari life, showing its events, games and other hobbies in a short film. The spirit of the times is captured in the phrase “for a Teekkari, nothing should be alien – not even work” (”teekkarille ei mikään inhimillinen saa olla vierasta – ei edes työnteko”).  The film can still be watched at https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2006/12/19/teekkareita-ja-teekkarihenkea

1955

The first activities of the Helsinki University of Technology move to Otaniemi, with the master plan for the Otaniemi campus drawn up by architect Alvar Aalto. The move to Otaniemi takes about ten years.

Teekkari students start television broadcasting in Finland. The first public TV broadcast takes place on 24th May, with regular broadcasts beginning in Autumn 1956.

1958

The Polytechnic Museum (Polyteekkarimuseo) is founded in Otaniemi. With the formation of Aalto University in 2010, the museum gradually shifts away from being solely for Teekkari culture, and in 2019 officially changes its name to the Museum of Student Life (Opiskelijakulttuurimuseo), to reflect the changed student group found in Otaniemi. In 2008, a Teekkari Museum run by the Teekkari Union of Tampere is founded in Tampere.

1959

The first Teekkari students begin their studies in Oulu, with the first Oulu Teekkari Cap placed onto students’ heads in 1960. This marks the beginning of the Oulu Teekkari era.

1961

One of the most famous Teekkari Jäynäs takes place, during the time when the ship Vasa is raised off the coast of Stockholm. The ship sank in 1628. A few Teekkari students take a miniature statue of Paavo Nurmi to the deck of the ship while it is still submerged, resulting in the statue being found to great amazement after the ship is raised. The Jäynä was created by Harri Leppänen, Krister Ahlström, Martti Tuomola and Matti Kaje.

1965

The first students begin their studies at TKK’s campus in Tampere.

1966

The first Academic World Championships of Kyykkä are organised in Helsinki. Competitions begin to be held annually in Tampere in 1994.

In Tammerkoski in Tampere, the first Teekkari baptism (Teekkarikaste) is held on Wappu 1966.

In Autumn, Tampere starts to run an introductory “Big Brother” activity to help Fuksi, on which the current tutor activity is based.

The Helsinki University of Technology move to Otaniemi is finished. A series of Tempaus, known as Temppu ’66, boosts the migration of Teekkari students to Otaniemi. The Tempaus team wear rough, medium-brown cotton overalls.

The new student union building Dipoli, is inaugurated in Otaniemi. Within it, the office of Helsinki University of Technology’s Student Union (TKY), and a Teekkari restaurant are opened. The building is designed by Reima and Raili Pietilä (maiden name Paatelainen).

The first club at the Tampere branch of TKK, Tampere Teekkari’s Radio Club (Tampereen teekkarien radiokerho) is established.

1968

In a protest about values and reform to the university administration, on November 25th University of Helsinki students occupy the Old Student House in Helsinki. Despite the situation and political turmoil affecting Teekkari students also, they decide not to join in or enter the Old Student House. Source

1969

The first Teekkari studies begin in Lappeenranta.

1970

In the beginning of the 1970s, student unions begin to become politicised. In Tampere and Lappeenranta for example, political party activities also start to appear in student unions.

The questioning of old values, brought about by the political climate, puts an end to the tradition of official annual balls during the 1960s and 70s. The tradition returns in the 1980s however, and continues today.

1972

Tampere University of Technology (Tampere teknillinen korkeakoulu) becomes independent from TKK, becoming TTKK.

1973

Konetalo is completed as the first building on the Hervanta campus in Tampere, and the students move from the city centre to Hervanta.

The first guild meetings are held in Lappeenranta. The first guilds of LUT-University Student Union (LUT-Yliopiston Ylioppilaskunta, LTKY) are Kaplaaki (industrial engineering and management), Armatuuri (energy technology) and KRK (mechanical engineering).

1975

Lappeenranta University of Technology moves from the centre of Lappeenranta to the Skinnarila district, when the first phase of the new campus opens in April.

1977

In Oulu, due to a strike at the cap manufacturer Wahlmann, Teekkari students do not receive Teekkari caps. As a temporary solution, they use promotional caps for Miranol paint, with a woollen yarn tassel hanging by the side. This is also the origin of the Fuksi cap tradition in Oulu. 

1983

In Lappeenranta, Teekkari students of mechanical engineering set a record for time spent bathing in a mobile sauna, with a total of 336.4 hours.

1986

The first national level Jäynä competition is held in Vaasa, where the task includes erecting a statue of the founder of the Vaasa Faculty of Technology in Hovioikeudenpuistikko. The aim of the competition is to give the people of Vaasa a taste of what the arrival of the Faculty of Technology will bring to the city.

1990

The first Teekkari students start at the University of Vaasa. Initially, teaching is organised jointly with the Helsinki University of Technology, but in 2004 the University of Vaasa is granted the right to award DI (diplomi-insinööri) degrees.

1992

The Teekkari sauna, Mörrimöykky, is built in the vicinity of the Hervanta campus in Tampere. The sauna is still in heavy use today.

In Vaasa, a sauna van is built by the Teekkari students of Tutti ry, becoming the first mobile sauna at the university. In 2011, a new trailer sauna is completed, to be used in student events and the Teuva sauna races. 

1993

The Teekkari House (Teekkaritalo) is completed in Oulu. The official opening ceremony takes place on 2nd October 1992, but the building is only officially opened for use on 15th May 1993.

1994

The first Teekkari Workbook (Teekkarin Työkirja, now TEK Työkirja or TEK Workbook) is published. The book’s chief editor is Hakim Laukkoski.

1998

In Tampere, Konekilta (Guild of Mechanical Engineering, KoRK) build a record breaking “contraption” (härweli), which weighs up to 3500 kilos. Härweli are still an important part of the Tampere Teekkari Wappu. 

1999

For the first time, Teekkari students in the University of Oulu organise the Wesibussi, a charity event during Wappu time that has since become traditional. Initially the bus was provided by Koskilinjat oy, and is now provided by OTPTravel.

2010

Aalto University opens on the first day of January. It comes from the merger of the Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki University of Economics and the Helsinki University of Arts and Design. 

2015

An ever-increasing number of international Master’s technology degree students causes a gradual change in both studying life and Teekkari culture. At Aalto University, in 2015 a responsible for international students, the International Director, is introduced to the Teekkari Section (Teekkarijaosto), in a position that approximately aligns with that of the Fuksi Director for native students.

By 2023, most student unions of the universities of technology have a board member with responsibilities including international affairs. Guilds also have to adjust to a changing student pool, with more events and communication being done also in English. Committees such as the International Committee (KvTMK) in Otaniemi work to produce events for international Teekkari, and ensure that they can also take part in Teekkari traditions. While this progress does not progress at equal speeds around the country, in almost all areas its importance is noted and worked on.

2017

The online university FITech (Finnish Institute of Technology) is founded in Autumn 2017 by seven universities of technology, TEK, and Technology Industries of Finland (Teknologiateollisuus).

2018

In Otaniemi, the first Teekkari Bachelor programme taught in English begins in Data Science. Initially, students of this programme are a part of the Computer Science Guild (Tietokilta, TiK), but soon the need for an independent guild for these students emerged. On the 27th February 2019, Data Guild is officially founded as an association under Finnish law, becoming the first guild in Otaniemi with English as its primary language.

2019

The new University of Tampere is launched. Tampere University of Technology and the University of Tampere merge to form a new foundation university. The student unions also merge to form TREY, with the Teekkari Union of Tampere (Tampereen Teekkarit ry) already forming in 2018 to implement and govern Teekkari culture.

In Autumn 2019, the English Bachelor programme expands to include majors in Chemical Engineering, Computational Engineering, Digital Systems and Quantum Technology, but the students of these stay in their respective guilds. Other English-speaking programmes and guilds also come to LUT-University, in both its Lappeenranta and Lahti campuses.

2020

The COVID19 pandemic has a huge impact on Teekkari culture, with Wappu and almost all other events cancelled. Using the famous Teekkari ingenuity, student associations adapt, with online events becoming the new normal. Examples include Sitsit parties run through Discord, live streamed annual balls, and a multitude of online hangouts and games evenings. After a long pause, normality begins to resume around the start of 2022.