LIFE IN THE ACADEMIC TURBULENCE EXPERIENCES FROM AN UNIVERSITY RENOVATION Professor Pentti Kareoja / University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH)

Aalto University as part of the Finnish university reform ”Where science and art meet technology and business ”

The concept of Aalto University Merger of three universities (TKK, HSE and UIAH) with a combined history of 400 years; three autonomous schools are formed on the brands of the previous universities. The first academic year will start and the final merger will take place Is the flagship project of the Finnish university renovation. A testbed and pilot project for the best university practises. Vision: a world class university by 2020 in technology, design and business, and as a whole; ”bringing bright people together” Better resources, financial autonomy, strategic council, new structure and management system, highly international, strong horizontal collaboration, new teaching and learning culture.

What is going on? Ministry of Education prepares the new universities act which allows university operations for a private foundation, too. The university foundation was established in June. The key players are the government, private organizations and the three universities with their student unions. The university council (board of trustees) was nominated and the president will be elected ASAP. 700 million EUR is targeted for total fixed capital, 280 million for The state grant for the operating costs will increase up to 100 million annually by 2012 (+60 % compared to 2007); the money will be open for competition gradually from 2015 to Integrating structures and operations are under construction (Design, Media and Service factories; IDBM 2.0, joint research programs,…). 90+ ideas for new cross-disciplinary research topics and courses were collected bottom-up. Three best combinations are under construction.

Size comparison TKKHSEUIAH Money from the ministry Money through competition84115 Balance sheet78193 Number of students69229 Number of staff Master´s degrees Doctorates81154 Universities as percentage of the Aalto University entity (2007 statistics)

Aalto University in numbers Number of students: (international 1140) Master´s degrees: 1626 Doctorates: 201 Number of staff: 4150 (53 % academic staff) Number of professors: 287 Budget: 296 MEUR (61 % from the ministry)

A concept for the ”Design Factory”

Generic road signs to success Attract high level academic staff Generate resources for creating leading research groups Attract more students – select the best Improve your competitive position (”rankings”) Involve the most innovative academics for change Directly involve other innovative cultures Avoid internal bureaucracy Introduce flexible spearhead activities

Potential pitfalls Academic community is conservative, is it able to follow or does it become frustrated? Three schools, three brands, three cultures, three identities: integration challenges (university; student union) Interface between the strategy layer and the academia Academic leadership, a big challenge to the community Long-run resourcing while financing ( ) fluctuates Zillion practical things to be solved within a very short time Public pressure and excessive critique, does it lead to focus on quick wins?