University of Turku

The University of Turku (Finnish: Turun yliopisto, in Swedish: Åbo universitet, shortened UTU), located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the third largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after the University of Helsinki and Tampere University. It was established in 1920 and also has facilities at Rauma, Pori, Kevo and Salo. The university is a member of the Coimbra Group.

For the university founded in 1640, see The Royal Academy of Turku.
For the current Swedish-speaking university in Turku, see Åbo Akademi.
For the vocational university, see Turku University of Applied Sciences.
University of Turku
Finnish: Turun yliopisto
Swedish: Åbo universitet
Latin: Universitas Aboensis
Motto
Vapaan kansan lahja vapaalle tieteelle[1]
Motto in English
From a free people to free science and learning
TypePublic University
Established1920
RectorJukka Kola
Administrative staff
3,412
Students19,722[2]
Undergraduates8,183
Postgraduates5,986
2,011
Location
Turku
,
Finland
CampusUrban
AffiliationsCoimbra Group, UArctic
WebsiteOfficial Website (in English)

History

The Royal Academy of Turku
Main article: The Royal Academy of Turku

The first university to be established in Turku was The Royal Academy of Turku, in 1640, which was transferred to the new Capital, Helsinki, after the Great Fire of Turku in 1827.

Three famous Finns began their studies in Turku in 1822. These were Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Elias Lönnrot, and Johan Ludvig Runeberg who have a statue on University Hill. Another reminder of the Royal Academy is the Old Academy Building near the University's campus.

The University of Turku
The grand opening of the University of Turku in 1922. On the left is Artturi H. Virkkunen, the first rector of the university

The modern University of Turku was founded in 1920. The Finnish intelligentsia wanted a purely Finnish university, the first of its kind in Finland. 22,040 people contributed to the fund-raising campaign. Newly gained independence and the campaign are reflected in the motto of the University about a free people's gift to free science. To honour the memory of these donors, the University has named its specially created liqueur "22 040". Developed by the University's own food chemists, the liqueur does homage to some of the distinctive fruits of the Finnish landscape: the cloudberry, the rowan and the sea buckthorn.

The first premises of the University of Turku were in the centre of the city, by the market square. In the 1950s a new campus was built on Ryssänmäki (Russian Hill[3] – now known as University Hill). In the 1960s the University started to expand rapidly, a process that still continues.

The University was made a public institution in 1974.[4]

Since 1995 the University of Turku has been a member of the Coimbra Group.

In January 2010, the Turku School of Economics merged with the University of Turku, forming a seventh faculty of the university.[4]

Enrollment

The University has approximately 20,000 students, of which 5,000 are postgraduate students having completed their MSc or MA. The largest faculties are the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Organisation
Natura (left) and Main Building (right)
ICT Building
Department of History
Turku School of Economics

The university management consists of the Board, The Rector and the vice rectors and the University Collegiate Council.

The Board is the highest decision-making organ of the University and is made up of 10 individuals[5] both from academia, society and studentship. It develops the University's operating processes and approves plans concerning its financing and activities; it decide on the guidelines of granting appropriations; it give its opinion in any matters of significance that concern the University in principle and the Board approves the service regulations and other similar rules.

The Rector directs the activities and processes of the University and solves any issues concerning its general management. The Rector represents the University and uses the University's right to speak in courts of law and in dealings with the authorities. Professor Kalervo Väänänen is currently the elected Rector.[6]

The University Collegiate Council consists of 30 members: ten professors, ten other teaching and research personnel and other staff and ten students.[7]

Campus area

The University of Turku shares a campus with Åbo Akademi University and elements of Turku Science Park. The area also encompasses Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and the Student Village. The Main Building and the surrounding complex was built in the fifties on what became known as the University Hill. The campus is constantly expanding, the latest example is the Medisiina D building which houses the facilities of the Faculty of Medicine. The University also owns the Botanic Garden at Ruissalo as well as the research station at the Island of Seili.

Research

As defined in the strategy,[8] the University's multidisciplinary strengths in research are biofuture; digital futures; cultural memory and social change; children, young people and learning; drug development and diagnostics; and sea and maritime studies.

The University of Turku has been involved in many research projects in the Peruvian Amazon. With the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana – IIAP), based in Iquitos, has been studying the Amazon in the BIODAMAZ Project.

Famous alumni

Rectors
  • Artturi H. Virkkunen (1922–1924)
  • V. A. Koskenniemi (1924–1932)
  • J. G. Granö (1932–1934)
  • Einar W. Juva (1934–1945)
  • Harry Waris (1945–1948)
  • T. E. Olin (1948–1954)
  • Osmo Järvi (1954–1960)
  • Tauno Nurmela (1960–1970)
  • Kaarlo Hartiala (1970–1975)
  • Osmo Ikola (1975–1981)
  • Arje Scheinin (1981–1987)
  • Arne Rousi (1987–1993)
  • Keijo Paunio (1994–1997)
  • Keijo Virtanen (1997–2012)
  • Kalervo Väänänen (2012–2019)
  • Jukka Kola (2019–)

Chancellors

The Chancellor, appointed by the President of Finland upon proposal of the Finnish Government, was to promote science and scholarship, look after the general interests of the University and supervise its activities. The Chancellor confirmed the standing orders and other corresponding general regulations of the University. The most visible task of the Chancellor was the appointment of the Professors and the Docents of the University. Professor Pekka Puska was the last person to hold this position until it was abolished based on the decision of the University Board. The duties were reassigned to the Rector.[9]

  • Kaarlo Hartiala (1975–1984)
  • Olavi Granö (1984–1994)
  • Jaakko Nousiainen (1994–1997)
  • Keijo Paunio (1997–2000)
  • Sirkka Kartio (2000–2003)
  • Eero Vuorio (2003–2009)
  • Pekka Puska (2010–2013)

See also

References
  1. Academic Traditions since 1640
  2. "Turun yliopiston opiskelijamäärät (In Finnish)". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  3. Juslenius, Daniel (1700). Aboa vetus et nova. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. p. 185. ISBN 978-951-746-743-8.
  4. "The History of the University of Turku". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. "University Board". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  6. "Rector". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  7. "University Collegiate Council". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  8. "Strategy and Values of the University of Turku | University of Turku". www.utu.fi. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  9. "Chancellors of the University of Turku". Retrieved 23 May 2018.

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