university of turku annual report 2015

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 • 1

UNIVERSITY OF TURKU

2015

2 • ANNUAL REPORT 2015


ContentsRector’s Review 4Balanced Finances 5Almost 20,000 Students 6Student Body Is Strongly International 7Key Figures of the Faculties 8Surpassing Target Numbers in Degrees 10University Carried out a Research Assessment Exercise 11Societal Interaction Expanded 12Graduates Have Good Employment Prospects 13Number of Personnel Decreased 14Renewed and Compact Facilities 15Eventful 2015 16Looking to the Future 18

ANNUAL REPORT 2015Publisher: University of TurkuContents, layout and translation: University CommunicationsPrint: Paino-Kaarina Ltd

2ND

BEST

SCIENCE UNIVERSITY IN FINLAND

NTU Ranking

233RD

IN THE QS WORLD

UNIVERSITY RANKING

AMONG THE BEST

1 %IN INTERNATIONAL

UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

YEAR 2015 was eventful and very active for the University of Turku.

ONE OF THE HAPPIEST EVENTS was the student application round in the spring. According to the number of applicants, we were the second most popular university in Finland.

DURING THE YEAR, almost a record number of Bachelors, Masters and doctors graduated from our University. I can also say that the year was highly productive in research as nearly 5,000 articles were published. In addition, we carried out a Research Assessment Exercise in the whole University.

IN 2015, we had many discussions on the national profiling of Finnish universities. We negotiated with several part-ners, particularly with our close neighbour, Åbo Akademi University. We already have many joint operations with Åbo Akademi University and initiated many new ones dur-ing the year.

SOCIETAL INTERACTION also increased in many ways. We es-tablished a new advisory board that is considerably smaller than before but very active and strives to tackle today’s soci-etal questions. The media often approaches our researchers for expert statements. We have been in close contact with the region, the City of Turku and the home cities of our satellite campuses. In addition, we communicate continu-ously with several representatives of business life and our collaboration with companies has picked up significantly.

THE CUTBACKS ISSUED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT shad-owed the year. The University’s revenue, including capital income, was somewhat on the same level in 2015 as in the previous year, but we started the adjustment of our struc-tures and personnel in consideration of the reduced budget

in the coming years. We initiated an adjustment and devel-opment programme. In 2015, the number of our personnel was reduced by nearly 100 person-years, and the decrease concerned mainly other personnel groups than teaching and research staff.

WE CONTINUED TO STRONGLY DEVELOP AND INVEST in transnational education. When in 2014 we only had four transnational education agreements, in 2015 we already had 15. I am glad to say that several faculties have active-ly seized this opportunity. I believe that in the near future we can significantly strengthen the University’s finances through transnational education.

LAST YEAR, we spent a great deal of time preparing and planning our new strategy. One of our central new initi-atives is the University for Entrepreneurship. We strive to provide all our students with an understanding of entrepre-neurship on a large scale and want to encourage our per-sonnel to adopt a more entrepreneurial attitude.

WE PREPARED THE UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGY with an exten-sive working group. We also organised wide-ranging hear-ings on its contents. The new strategy was completed just in time at turn of the year. I believe that on the basis of the strategy we can build our future for the next 4–5 years as optimistically as we have done so far.”


Rector of the University of Turku

”

THE UNIVERSITY’S ACCOUNTING PERIOD was €2.3 million in surplus. The net profit of the University’s investment activities rose significantly to approximately €9.3 million.

FUNDRAISING AND INVESTMENT INCOME 10,901,143 €


Balanced Finances

Basic fu

nding

from

the

Gove

rnment 6

6 %

Other revenue 5 %

Revenue from other co-financed

operations 13 %

Tekes 2 %

Academy of Finland 10 %

Operating revenue 4 %

TOTAL INCOME 262,546,835 €

Personn

el c

osts

65

%

Literature 1 %Other expenses 3 %

Scholarships 3 % Travel expenses 3 %

Renting 13 %

Service acquisitions 6 %

Materials and supplies 5 %Removals 1 %

TOTAL COSTS 267,574,827 €


THE UNIVERSITY OF TURKU WAS the second most popu-lar university in Finland in the joint application round to higher education. There were more than 18,000 applicants and 2,586 of them received a study place.

Almost 20,000 Students

Students | according to the pursued degree

7,527STUDENTS

IN THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

Russ

ia 22

6Ge

rman

y 21

4Ch

ina

208

Fran

ce 14

3In

dia

112Ira

n 96

Paki

stan

96Sp

ain 9

1Ita

ly 8

3Es

toni

a 75

The U

nite

d Sta

tes 6

4Vi

etna

m 57

Bang

lade

sh 56

Nepa

l 56

Pola

nd 53

Nige

ria 47

The

Czec

h Re

publ

ic 47

Hung

ary 4

7Th

e Ne

ther

land

s 45

Aust

ria 44

Japa

n 41

Ukra

ine 3

4Tu

rkey

32Et

hiop

ia 29

Grea

t Brit

ain 28

Gree

ce 28

Latv

ia 27

Slov

akia

25Gh

ana 2

3Re

pulic

of K

orea

23Pe

ru 23

Mex

ico 22

Rom

ania

20Be

lgiu

m 18

Cana

da 18

Swed

en 18

Belar

us 17

Lithu

ania

16Au

stra

lia 11

Braz

il 11

Colo

mbi

a 11

Thail

and 1

1Eg

ypt 8

Norw

ay 8

Slove

nia 7

Switz

erlan

d 7Al

geria

6Az

erba

ijan 6

Bulg

aria

6Ge

orgi

a 6Ho

ngko

ng 6

Cam

eroo

n 6Cr

oatia

6Po

rtuga

l 6Ta

nzan

ia 6

Alba

nia 5

The P

hilip

pine

s 5

Irak 5

Irelan

d 5Ke

nya 5

Cypr

us 5

Libya

5M

oroc

co 5

Mol

dova

5Se

rbia

5De

nmar

k 5Ch

ile 4

Kaza

khst

an 4

Male

sia 4

Suda

n 4Ta

iwan

4Un

know

n 4Ug

anda

4Ice

land 3

Jord

an 3

Nam

ibia

3Ta

jikist

an 3

New

Zea

land 3

Afga

nist

an 2

Arm

enia

2So

uth

Afric

a 2Gu

atem

ala 2

Indo

nesia

2Ja

maic

a 2Lu

xem

bour

g 2M

yanm

ar 2

Singa

pore

2Sr

i Lan

ka 2

Tuni

sia 2

Uzbe

kista

n 2Zi

mba

bwe 2

Arge

ntin

a 1Ba

ham

as 1

Boliv

ia 1

Bosn

ia-He

rzeg

ovin

a 1Co

sta R

ica 1

Ecua

dor 1

El Sa

lvado

r 1Isr

ael 1

Leba

non 1

Mon

golia

1Ni

cara

gua 1

Ivory

Coa

st 1

Zam

bia 1

Sene

gal 1

Turk

men

istan

1Ve

nezu

ela 1

Germany 74

Spain 72Great Britain 58The Netherlands 56China 52Sweden 51France 50The United States 39Italy 36Austria 27Japan 27Belgium

26Russia 22The Czech Republic 20Indonesia 16Sw

itzerland 15Denm

ark 14Brazil 13M

alaysia 12Tanzania 12Chile 11Canada 11Republic of Korea 10Lithuania 10Ireland 9India 8Norw

ay 8Peru 8Estonia 8Kenya 7Thailand 7Hungary 7Australia 6Iceland 6Colom

bia 5M

exico 5Portugal 5Greece 4Croatia 4Luxem

bourg 4Turkey 4The M

aldives 2M

alta 2Nepal 2Poland 2Slovenia 2Taiwan 2Vietnam

2The United Arab Em

irates 1Djibouti 1South Africa 1The Philippines 1Guatem

ala 1Kazakhstan 1Liechtenstein 1Nam

ibia 1Panam

a 1Singapore 1Sri Lanka 1

IN TOTAL

19,488

8,83

5

5,3571,802

3,385

109

LOWER ACADEMIC

DEGREE

HIGHER ACADEMIC

DEGREE

LICENTIATE DEGREE

DOCTORAL DEGREE

NON-DEGREE

STUDENTS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION


Student Body Is Strongly International THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL DEGREE STUDENTS clearly surpassed the set targets.

DEGREE

STUDENT

EXCHANGE STUDENT

OTHER

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE

THE NUMBER AND

DESTINATION OFOUTGOING EXCHANGE STUDENTS

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM

107COUNTRIES

Russ

ia 22

6Ge

rman

y 21

4Ch

ina

208

Fran

ce 14

3In

dia

112Ira

n 96

Paki

stan

96Sp

ain 9

1Ita

ly 8

3Es

toni

a 75

The U

nite

d Sta

tes 6

4Vi

etna

m 57

Bang

lade

sh 56

Nepa

l 56

Pola

nd 53

Nige

ria 47

The

Czec

h Re

publ

ic 47

Hung

ary 4

7Th

e Ne

ther

land

s 45

Aust

ria 44

Japa

n 41

Ukra

ine 3

4Tu

rkey

32Et

hiop

ia 29

Grea

t Brit

ain 28

Gree

ce 28

Latv

ia 27

Slov

akia

25Gh

ana 2

3Re

pulic

of K

orea

23Pe

ru 23

Mex

ico 22

Rom

ania

20Be

lgiu

m 18

Cana

da 18

Swed

en 18

Belar

us 17

Lithu

ania

16Au

stra

lia 11

Braz

il 11

Colo

mbi

a 11

Thail

and 1

1Eg

ypt 8

Norw

ay 8

Slove

nia 7

Switz

erlan

d 7Al

geria

6Az

erba

ijan 6

Bulg

aria

6Ge

orgi

a 6Ho

ngko

ng 6

Cam

eroo

n 6Cr

oatia

6Po

rtuga

l 6Ta

nzan

ia 6

Alba

nia 5

The P

hilip

pine

s 5

Irak 5

Irelan

d 5Ke

nya 5

Cypr

us 5

Libya

5M

oroc

co 5

Mol

dova

5Se

rbia

5De

nmar

k 5Ch

ile 4

Kaza

khst

an 4

Male

sia 4

Suda

n 4Ta

iwan

4Un

know

n 4Ug

anda

4Ice

land 3

Jord

an 3

Nam

ibia

3Ta

jikist

an 3

New

Zea

land 3

Afga

nist

an 2

Arm

enia

2So

uth

Afric

a 2Gu

atem

ala 2

Indo

nesia

2Ja

maic

a 2Lu

xem

bour

g 2M

yanm

ar 2

Singa

pore

2Sr

i Lan

ka 2

Tuni

sia 2

Uzbe

kista

n 2Zi

mba

bwe 2

Arge

ntin

a 1Ba

ham

as 1

Boliv

ia 1

Bosn

ia-He

rzeg

ovin

a 1Co

sta R

ica 1

Ecua

dor 1

El Sa

lvado

r 1Isr

ael 1

Leba

non 1

Mon

golia

1Ni

cara

gua 1

Ivory

Coa

st 1

Zam

bia 1

Sene

gal 1

Turk

men

istan

1Ve

nezu

ela 1

Germany 74

Spain 72Great Britain 58The Netherlands 56China 52Sweden 51France 50The United States 39Italy 36Austria 27Japan 27Belgium

26Russia 22The Czech Republic 20Indonesia 16Sw

itzerland 15Denm

ark 14Brazil 13M

alaysia 12Tanzania 12Chile 11Canada 11Republic of Korea 10Lithuania 10Ireland 9India 8Norw

ay 8Peru 8Estonia 8Kenya 7Thailand 7Hungary 7Australia 6Iceland 6Colom

bia 5M

exico 5Portugal 5Greece 4Croatia 4Luxem

bourg 4Turkey 4The M

aldives 2M

alta 2Nepal 2Poland 2Slovenia 2Taiwan 2Vietnam

2The United Arab Em

irates 1Djibouti 1South Africa 1The Philippines 1Guatem

ala 1Kazakhstan 1Liechtenstein 1Nam

ibia 1Panam

a 1Singapore 1Sri Lanka 1

OUTGO

ING

558

INCOMING 531

FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS

74

4402

531

313

580

INCOMING STUDENTS

2,570(over 3 months)

(under 3 months)

THE NUMBER AND HOME COUNTRY OF

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS


STUDENTS

3,186DEGREES

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES

PERSONNEL

295

Bachelor’s

388Master’s

338Licentiate

1Doctoral

22

STUDENTS

1,996DEGREES

FACULTY OF MEDICINE

PERSONNEL

705

Doctoral

62

Lower academic degree

63

Higher academic degree

235

STUDENTS

1,975DEGREES

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

PERSONNEL

374

Bachelor’s

295Master’s

256Licentiate

1Doctoral

5

STUDENTS

3,078DEGREES

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES

PERSONNEL

601

Bachelor’s

260Master’s

238Licentiate

1Doctoral

46

Key Figures of the Faculties


STUDENTS

1,165DEGREES

FACULTY OF LAW

PERSONNEL

76

STUDENTS

1613DEGREES

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

PERSONNEL

187

Bachelor’s

156Master’s

137Licentiate

4Doctoral

15

STUDENTS

3,090DEGREES

TURKU SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

PERSONNEL

306

Bachelor’s

398

BRAHEA CENTRE 172

PERSONNEL AT THE INDEPENDENT UNITS

LANGUAGE CENTRE 35

Research Unit for the Sociology of Education RUSE 21

TURKU PET CENTRE 59

FINNISH CENTRE FOR ASTRONOMY WITH ESO 8

Turku Centre for Computer Science

TUCS 1

TURKU CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY 86

Master’s

349Doctoral

13Bachelor’s

180Master’s

157Doctoral

10

IN TOTAL

382

Surpassing Target Numbers in Degrees OUR TARGETS FOR THE NUMBER OF DEGREES were surpassed on all levels in 2015. Graduation rate, which describes the progress of studies, rose a little on the whole University level, being 74 percent in 2015. The fig-ure denotes how many of the graduates completed their degree within the target time, i.e. in 14 semesters.

Degrees | according to the completed degree

Development in Degree Numbers

LOWER

HIGHER

LICENTI-ATE

DOCTORAL

* Since the two-cycle degree system came into effect in 2005, the lower academic degree has been compulsory

1,257 1,310

1,295

1,391

1,710

1,740

265211

141

2000

500

0

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2005 2010 2015

55145

43

14019

1737


LOWER ACADEMIC

DEGREE

HIGHER ACADEMIC

DEGREE

LICENTIATE DEGREE

DOCTORAL DEGREE

IN TOTAL

3,6301,740

1,710

173

7


University Carried out a Research Assessment ExerciseDURING 2015, the University of Turku carried out a Research Assessment Exercise which evaluated the units’ research ac-tivities in the whole University. The Research Assessment Ex-ercise included a self-evaluation of the units, an international peer assessment as well as a bibliometric analysis. The assess-ment covered the research activities between 2010–2013. The results of the Research Assessment Exercise will be published during spring 2016.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TURKU ALSO SUCCEEDED in applying for external research funding. For example, the amount of fund-ing granted by TEKES has almost doubled in the last five years.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS was 4,886 and the number of publications on the Publication Forum Classification level 2 and 3 rose to 1,548. The number exceed-ed even the target set for 2016.

Original articles in scientific journals 2,329Reviews in scientific journals 198

Part of a book or another compilation 355Articles in conference publications 217

Peer reviewed 3,099

Original articles in scientific journals 446 Part of a book or another compilation 197Articles in conference publications 25

Non-peer reviewed 668

Published scientific monographs 51 Edited books, compilations, conference publications or a special issue of a journal 77

Scientific books 128

Articles in professional journals 272 Articles in professional guides or professional data systems, or textbook materials 72Articles in professional conference publications 13 Published development or research reports 104Textbooks, professional manuals and guides, or dictionaries 19

Publications for professional audiences 480

Popularised articles, newspaper articles 505 Popularised monographies 6

Publications for the general public 511

IN TOTAL

4,886

Publications


Societal Interaction ExpandedTHE UNIVERSITY EDUCATED new experts and advanced re-search for the needs of future society. The goal is to support regional, national and international development.

THE UNIVERSITY MADE two strategic co-operation agree-ments in 2015, one with Åbo Akademi University and the other with the Universities of Eastern Finland, Oulu and Tampere, later joined by the University of Jyväskylä. The goal of the agreements is to find influential and cost-effective courses of action both regionally and nationally.

THE UNIVERSITY IS A PARTNER in the Turku region’s growth agreement that aims at strengthening the competitiveness and social unity as well as the sustainable development of social structure in the Turku city area. The University is particularly committed to strengthening the position of Turku as a student city perseveringly and comprehensively with joint measures.

THE UNIVERSITY STRENGTHENED its co-operation with local and national higher education institutions in promoting en-trepreneurship, start-ups and start-up accelerators. In 2015, the University of Turku left seven project applications to the New knowledge and business from research ideas pro-gramme of Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innova-tion, and funding was granted to all the projects. In the New knowledge and business from research ideas projects, the research idea is developed in order to increase its commer-cialisation potential, and prepared for the market as a new business.

TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION picked up steam in 2015. The University realises transnational education through its trans-national education companies, Finland University and Nor-dic Institute of Dental Education. In 2015, the University made 15 transnational education agreements.

INNOVATION PROPOSALS

89INVENTION

DISCLOSURES

38NEW PATENT

APPLICATIONS

10TRANSNATIONAL

EDUCATION AGREEMENTS

15

Initiatives


Graduates Have Good Employment ProspectsTHE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION is better for university gradu-ates than for job seekers with other levels of education. Of the University of Turku 2014 graduates, 89 % were employed.

THROUGH ALUMNI ACTIVITIES, the University wants to ensure that the education corresponds to the needs of current work-ing life. 1,758 new alumni registered during 2015. Altogether 56,000 students have completed a higher academic degree in the University of Turku and in the formerly independent Tur-ku School of Economics.

94 % EMPLOYED IN A FIELD

CORRESPONDING TO THEIR EDUCATION

99 % FIND THEIR

EDUCATION TO BE OF A HIGH QUALITY

Employment Situation (for the 2014 graduates in autumn 2015)

Correspondence between Work and Level of Education (for the 2014 graduates in autumn 2015)

Faculty of Humanities Faculty of Humanities

Faculty of Education Faculty of Education

Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Faculty of Law Faculty of Law

Turku School of Economics Turku School of Economics

Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences

79 % 60 %25 %

0 % 0 %20 % 20 %40 % 40 %60 % 60 %80 %

1 %

1 %

4 %

5 %

5 %

3 %

5 %

5 %

3 %

2 %

5 %

80 %100 % 100 %

11 % 10 %

7 %

7 %

92 % 75 % 14 %

16 %

11 %

7 %

7 %

10 %

9 %

96 % 71 %8 %

88 % 70 %18 %

93 % 76 %11 %

93 % 61 %23 %

90 % 61 %23 %

Work is significantly less demanding than level of educationEmployed

Unemployed

Other

Work is somewhat less demanding than level of education

Work corresponds well to the level of education

Work is more diffiult than the level of education


AT THE END OF 2015, the University of Turku employed 3,319 people. In addition, 3,268 person-years were completed last year. The number decreased by nearly three percent. The big-gest reason for the decrease in personnel was the transfer of UTULab from the Faculty of Medicine to the Public Utility Tyks-Sapa.

DURING THE YEAR, the number of teaching staff grew with almost 15 person-years and the number of research staff was reduced by 26 person-years. For other personnel the figure was 83 person-years.

Number of Personnel Decreased

18 % OF RESEARCHERS

6 % OF TEACHERS

TOP 2 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN Russia and India

TOP 2 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN Germany and Great Britain

EMPLOYEES FROM ALTOGETHER

58 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

8 % OF THE

PERSONNEL COME FROM ABROAD

Percentage of international personnel:

PERSONNEL

3,319

University teachers, lecturers

528

Other teaching staff

179

Researchers 659Doctoral candidates

365

Teaching and research support

personnel 392

Library and IT personnel

168

Administrative and

office personnel625

Other personnel 98

Professors 305

THE UNIVERSITY RESTARTED ITS OPERATIONS in two large buildings that underwent renovation: the Feeniks library was reopened at the beginning of the year and Agora, previ-ously the Natural Science Building II, at the end of the year.

TOGETHER WITH TURKU UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION, the Uni-versity built a residential building for researchers, staff and individual customers to Vähä-Hämeenkatu 1, right next to the campus. In addition, the University and Turku Univer-sity Foundation established a mutual real estate company when they acquired the Maaherran makasiini building.

THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO INVESTING IN new projects. The construction of the new Medisiina D building started in 2015 by the University Properties of Finland Ltd. Medisiina D will house the University, Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku University of Applied Sciences and the Na-tional Institute for Health and Welfare. The new building supports the University Health Campus Turku collabora-tion that was established at the end of the year.

THE UNIVERSITY PURCHASED the buildings and the ground used by the Archipelago Research Institute at the island of Seili. At the same time, the University initiated a develop-ment project on the use of the area.

Renewed and Compact Facilities



Eventful 2015january

RENEWED LIBRARYThe University Library has centralised its operations into six units, whose operations and technology were modernised. The reform also had an effect on the services: Library’s experts have now more time to customer service as borrowing is automated.

march

UNIVERSITY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP The University composed a strategy for entrepreneurship whose guiding principle is to increase entrepre-neurial attitudes and practices that support entrepreneurship in the entire community.

may

CEREMONIAL CONFERMENT OF DOCTORAL DEGREES CELEBRATED ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS12 honorary doctors and 110 doctors were conferred in the three-day event.

april

APPLICANTS’ CHOICE: 2ND MOST POPULAR UNIVERSITY IN FINLANDThe University of Turku was the second most popular university in the 2015 joint application round.

june

THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED IN TAIGA TICK STUDYResearchers of the University of Turku mapped the geographical distribution of taiga tick in Finland with the help of the public.

february

ALUMNI OF THE YEAR MATTI ANTTONENUnder-secretary of State Matti Anttonen received the recognition for his achievements in promoting the success of the University of Turku and Finnish society.


september SIRPA JALKANEN APPOINTED AS ACADEMICIAN OF SCIENCEThe Professor of Immunology, Academy Professor Sirpa Jalkanen was appointed as Academician of Science. There can only be 16 Finnish academicians of science at the same time.

october

TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION TOOK OFFThe joint transnational education company Finland University of the Universities of Turku, Tampere and Eastern Finland made its first large-scale contracts.

july

HISTORY IS REVEALED ONE SCOOP AT A TIMEArchaeological digs at the oldest church site in Finland reveal new information all the time. In 2015, the researchers discovered that, in all likelihood, the church has not rotted in place but been pulled down and the materials reused.

november

SUPPORTING THE REFUGEESVolunteers from amongst the Uni-versity community taught Finnish to refugees and organised health centres. In addition, the University organised the Children’s University at two reception centres as well as other free-time activities.

december

PROMOTING FINNISH SCIENCEThe Universities of Turku, Eastern Finland, Oulu and Tampere initiated a strategic co-operation. In 2016, the University of Jyväskylä joined the collaboration.

august

UNIVERSITY EMPLOYED 50 DOCTORAL CANDIDATESDespite a tighter budget, the University is investing in research.


The conferred doctors walked in an academic procession to Turku Cathedral

as part of the Ceremonial Conferment

Looking to the Future

IN 2015, THE UNIVERSITY strongly focused on the future and took measures to achieve the desired goals.

DURING THE YEAR, the University community devised a new Strategy for 2016–2020 by hearing its partners, stakehold-ers and interest groups. The University Board approved the Strategy and policy programmes in December 2015. The main strategic goals of the University of Turku are effective research, responsible education, a catalyst for social well-be-ing and the economy, and community well-being.

TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH, the University carried out a Research Assessment Exercise in 2015. Major part of the University’s quality system was approved in an interna-tional audit, but three areas will be re-audited in 2017.

THE DECISION OF THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT to cut the fund-ing of higher education institutions compelled the University to continue its financial adjustment programme that began in 2012. The Reform of Administrative Services programme continued with the Financial Adjustment and Structural De-velopment Programme (SoKe). In addition to savings, the University aims at renewing and developing its operations with the programme.

WHEN DECIDING ON THE SOKE PROGRAMME, the Board also extended Rector Kalervo Väänänen’s term to the end of 2019. With the extended term, the Board wanted to ensure that changes in the rectorate would not affect the realisation of the adjustment programme.

THE NEW STRATEGY defines that the University of Turku is an internationally competitive university whose operations are based on high-quality, multidisciplinary research. The University promotes education and free science and provides higher education based on research. The University is part of the international academic community. It collaborates closely with the Finnish society and participates actively in the de-velopment of its region.

20 • ANNUAL REPORT 2015 201

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