Information about Oulu
Information about Finland

Oulu and the Northern Ostrobothnia Region

Oulu is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, 160 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle and Lapland. The city is well served by air connections from Helsinki (55 minutes) and Stockholm (1 hour 10 minutes). The current population of Oulu is approximately 125 000.

Oulu is the second most important population centre in Finland after the capital city – Helsinki – and the major university, science, industry, shopping, service and cultural centre of Northern Finland. The Oulu and surrounding municipalities are especially renowned for high-tech expertise. Through the years Oulu has established its position as an attractive host city for many international workshops.

Apart from the diverse variety of tourist attractions, the city also has the capacity to host large-scale events. The exotic sunlight nights at midsummer and arctic ice, snow and darkness in winter are memorable experiences for visitors. Its proximity to the sea, fine parks, museums and art galleries, the colourful Market Place and the great variety of shops and restaurants make Oulu an inviting destination for the event participant.

Travel Information

The city of Oulu is well served by air connections from Helsinki and Stockholm. Finnair has numerous daily flights between Oulu and Helsinki. Between Stockholm and Oulu there are up to four daily flights with SAS.

The location of Oulu airport is 15 km south of the city centre and the conference hotels. There is a regular local bus service - route no. 19. A single fare from the airport to the city centre costs approximately 3,90 €. Taxis are available at approximately 25 €. An airport taxi costs 17 € per person and has to be requested in advance from mobile phone +358-600-30081.

You can also take a train from Helsinki to Oulu. The fastest train connection takes less than 6 hours, and a return ticket costs about 120 €. In order to get to the Helsinki railway station from the Helsinki airport, take bus number 615 or the Finnair bus. Reserve at least 35 minutes and 4 € for the transfer.

The university of Oulu - the venue for the event - is located 6 km from the city centre. Buses no 4, 6, 7 and 19 take you directly from the city centre to the university in 15 minutes. There is a bus approximately every 10 minutes. A single bus ticket to the university costs 2,40 €. A taxi costs up to 15 €.

To call a taxi from a mobile phone, dial +358-600-30081. From a fixed phone, dial 10041.

>> University and airport timetables

Accommodation

Hotels listed as workshop hotels offer good value room rates for the event participants of IWWAN´04. The same rates are valid 2 days prior and after the Workshop.

Participants should contact the hotel of their choice directly and reserve a room. In order to have the workshop room rate, you should indicate IWWAN when doing your reservation.

For late arrivals, hotels request credit card information. Accommodation will have to be paid at check out.

Please note that transportation to the banquet is arranged from the listed workshop hotels only.

Registration

If you need an invitation letter from the organisers in order to obtain a VISA, please e-mail a request to Ms. Sari Luukkonen. Please note that an invitation letter can only be sent to you once your registration payment has been received.

The registration and information desk at the venue will be located outside the workshop lecture rooms. The opening hours during the workshop will be:

Monday 31 May: 8-11, 12-17
Tuesday 1 June: 8-11, 12-17
Wednesday 2 June: 8.30-11, 12-17
Thursday 3 June: 8.30-11, 12-17

Conference and local information will be available at the registration desk, along with the notice board.

Cancellation policy

For cancellations received at the latest on 30 April at 16.00 Finnish time, a refund of 50 % of the total sum will be made after the workshop. For cancellations thereafter, no refunds will be made.

A registration is considered binding when the participant's information has been stored in the registration data base and the participant has received the first e-mail confirmation of the received registration including a registration number.

All changes to registrations and cancellations should be directed to
Congress Oulu
Ms. Helena Pikkarainen
E-mail: helena.pikkarainen@ouka.fi
Tel. +358-8-558 41323, +358-44-703 1323
Fax +358-8-558 41711

Insurance

Neither the workshop Organising Committee nor the workshop secretariat accept any liability or responsibility for illness or injury to persons, or for the loss of, or damage to property, or for any financial loss of any person attending the workshop. Participants and accompanying persons should make their own arrangements in respect of health and travel insurance.

Venue

IWWAN´04 will take place at the Linnanmaa campus of the University of Oulu, 6 km from Oulu city centre. The event concentrates in the area of lecture halls L5 and L6.

Buses stop at entrance T (on Erkki Koiso-Kanttilankatu) which is the nearest to lecture rooms L5 and L6. You can also use entrance X. Access map to the venue gives you more detailed directions.

Local bus timetables:
City centre

Lunch

During the workshop, lunch is served in Discus restaurant. When registering for the workshop, please indicate any special requirements and dietary preferences that you may have.

Internet access

A wireless Internet access will be available during the workshop in the workshop premises. Visitor accounts (valid 24 hours) will be available free of charge from the registration desk. You will need a laptop equipped with a WLAN (IEEE 802.11b) card. Some PCs will also be available for internet access onsite.

Badges

Admission to the the workshop lecture rooms is permitted only for those wearing the official IWWAN´04 badge.

Language

The official language of the workshop is English. Simultaneous interpretation will not be available.

Visa

If you need an invitation letter from the organisers in order to obtain a VISA, please e-mail a request to Ms. Sari Luukkonen. Please note that an invitation letter can only be sent to you once your registration payment has been received.