Saima | University of Eastern Finland aims for the topText Anne Heikkinen I Photo Raija Törrönen The University of Eastern Finland has launched operations and set its targets high. Indeed, the university aims to be among the three most significant universities in Finland and among the top 200 universities in the world.
Strengthening research The University of Eastern Finland has specified its three areas of expertise in research: Forests and the Environment, Health and Well-being, and New Technologies and Materials. The university’s research in these fields enhances its profile as a university which is multidisciplinary, internationally competitive and research-driven. “We have chosen to be a researchintensive university, which requires that investment be increased in research within the areas of expertise. The strengths of the university can, however, be found in its multidisciplinarity in the future, too, and our education offering will remain versatile despite the fact that degree programmes and major subjects are being bundled into larger entities,” says Rector Perttu Vartiainen. The entry into force of the new Universities Act at the turn of the year emphasises the importance of external funding in the universities’ overall budget. The universities have gained more freedom, but also responsibility for their operations and success. This sets certain pressures on researchers and research groups. “The launch of the University of Eastern Finland has activated the members of the university to acquire funding. I believe that this is also a sign that the research groups want to establish their position in the new community,” says Academic Rector Kalervo Väänänen. Looking abroad The University of Eastern Finland seeks to conduct internationally recognised research and provide education of a high international standard. “The goal of reaching the top 200 universities in the world is set really high. This requires that we extensively improve the quality of our research and that in certain fields we reach a level that will enable us to publish our findings in the world’s leading scientific journals,” Academic Rector Kalervo Väänänen envisions. The new university also needs to establish its position within the academic community. A great deal of work will still be needed to promote the university’s image and raise awareness of the university’s operations. “We will not become a leading university simply by saying so,” Rector Perttu Vartiainen points out. He believes that it will not be possible to assess the achievement of this goal until 2015. Another aim of the university is to publish all of the most important research findings in international forums. Furthermore, the university seeks to enhance its international cooperation in both research and education and it will target increasing resources to the recruitment of international graduate and postgraduate students, and teaching and research staff. “The only way for the university to succeed in attracting top international experts is through high-level research and research-based education. It is the task of the university to provide a research environment where researchers can work on the frontline of their field,” Academic Rector Väänänen says. The university is becoming increasingly international also in practice. According to Academic Rector Väänänen, this can be seen in the language of instruction used at the university, among other things. “In ten years from now, the language of instruction will more and more often be English. The university’s international Master’s degree programmes already use it as the language of instruction, and this will be increasingly true for the university’s doctoral programmes, too.” | ||
