Recent Developments in Finnish HEIs

Kalervo VäänänenRector, University of TurkuChair, Universities Finland

Introduction

• Finland has ”a dual-model” of HEIs: Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (or Polytechnics)

• University Act 2009• Universities of Applied Sciences Act 2013• Reasons for the new legislation aroused from

decreasing performance of both HEI sectors and expected decreasing funding possibilities due to economic crisis

Contents

• University Act 2009 and its implementation• University mergers in 2010• Re-organization of some basic services and

building of joint actions• Profilation program for the future outlined by

UNIFI ry

University Act 2009 and its implementation

• Universities became independent legal entities• A lot stronger role for University Board

(external chair and external + internal members) and Rector (elected by the Board)

• State funding was linked to performances instead of plans; a 4-year contract with a university index

• The number of universities decreased from 20 to 15 by merges

University mergers 2010

• From 20 to 15 via four mergers• University of Eastern-Finland (Prof Kekäle will

present a case report tomorrow)• Aalto University owned by Aalto University

Fund• The University of Arts• University of Turku: Turku School of Economics

was merged to University of Turku and it became one of our seven faculties

Re-organization of some basic services and building of joint actions

• Three real estate companies were established; the biggest one, Suomen Yliopistokiinteistöt Oy, is jointly owned by 10 universities and holds now a balance of about 1,2 billion euros

• Certia Oy, owned now by 9 universities, provides administrative services

• Finland University Ltd is an education export company owned by three universities (UEF, Tampere and Turku)

UNIFI’s Profilation Programs

• At the beginning of 2014 UNIFI ry launched a program to improve both the quality of teaching and that of research in Finnish universities

• The goal is to reach a significant improvement of quality, both in education and research, and more effective societal impact, by using tight networking, collaboration and ”functional merges” (joint study programmes ect.)

• From routine academic profession to adaptive academic expertise (a new instrument, ERKO, just passed the Parliament)

How the process is running…

• Working groups in: natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, educational sciences, business studies, foreign languages, medical sciences, technical sciences

• Rational analysis by asking a question: What is the best way to arrange education and research of each discipline in our country considering the quality of research and education, cost-effectiness and local societal impact?

• Final decision is up to each university but all universities are involved

facu

lties

• Political Science, Contemporary History• Social Research• Behavioural Sciences, Philosophy

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

• LawFACULTY OF LAW

• Business Administration, EconomicsTURKU SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

• Education• Teacher EducationFACULTY OF EDUCATION

• School of History, Culture and Arts Studies• School of Languages and Translation StudiesFACULTY OF HUMANITIES

• Mathematics and Statistics• Physics and Astronomy• Information Technology• Biochemistry and Food Chemistry

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

• Medicine• Health Biosciences• Dentistry• Nursing Science

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

• Biology• Chemistry• Geography and Geology

From industrialization to knowledge and research based society

• In 2010 a new University Act was passed, however, university reform has started already in early 1990’ by national PhD-programs.

• In 2010 Universities were fused into larger entities (from 20 to 14)• -> Boost in research activity and research quality• -> Both local and global functions (High quality education and

research is best for local development)