“Universities will survive and thrive only if they are part of their surrounding society. This is why it is vital for us to openly interact with our campus cities, other public-sector actors, companies and citizens, and also to find new models for this interaction,” said Rector Jukka Mönkkönen, opening the 9th anniversary celebration of the University of Eastern Finland.
Mönkkönen noted that the establishment of the University of Eastern Finland was “a wise decision”. “In terms of our size and standard of activities, we are one of the leading universities in Finland, and we also perform well in international rankings. We owe our success to all our staff members and students,” Mönkkönen said.
He emphasised the role of universities as producers of new knowledge in our changing world, where societal and political structures are undergoing significant changes.
“Universities have the opportunity to influence this development by keeping the truth as the ultimate goal and by defending the role of research-based knowledge in society. They can do this by conducing high-level multidisci-plinary research and by developing education so that it comprehensively meets citizens’ needs for skills and expertise.”
The University of Eastern Finland is currently preparing a new strategy in collaboration with the academic community and its stakeholders. According to Mönkkönen, multidisciplinary research areas that are based on strong expertise and that seek to solve global challenges serve as a solid foundation also for the university’s new strategy.
“In today’s rapidly changing operating environment, our strategy needs to constantly evolve, and we also need to safeguard the preconditions for the development of research and education in the long term,” Mönkkönen said.
Also speaking in the anniversary celebration, Mayor of the City of Kuopio Jarmo Pirhonen noted that the university is one of strongest pull factors for the city from the viewpoints of its residents and companies alike. According to Pirhonen, the Kuopio Health innovation ecosystem and Kuopio Business Centre are expected to further support the transition of expertise into new business activities.
“Our mutual goal is to turn the Savilahti area into the most interesting learning and innovation environment in Europe,” Pirhonen said.
The university has also had a positive influence on the collaboration between its campus cities. Pirhonen focused in his speech on how the broad expertise of the university could better be utilised across the campuses.
“Stakeholder collaboration and strong stakeholder support are of vital importance to us,” Rector Mönkkönen said in his speech in the university's the anniversary celebration.
According to Mayor of the City of Kuopio Jarmo Pirhonen, the university has had a positive influence on the collaboration between its campus cities.
Main photo: The University of Eastern Finland Choir JOY was in charge of music in the anniversary evening party.