Jari Ojala starts as Rector of the University of Jyväskylä

“Even though I am very familiar with the University, the first weeks and even months will be spent getting to know the operations and discussing them with the members of the community and stakeholder representatives,” says Rector Ojala. “The Government’s higher education and science policy will also begin to take shape in the autumn.”

Ojala, a professor of comparative business history, was the dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä from 2022. Ojala worked as the vice dean responsible for the faculty’s research between 2018 and 2021 and as the head of the Department of History and Ethnology between 2008 and 2017.

Ojala has led several research projects related to economic and business history as well as maritime history. Ojala is the Chair of the Consultative Committee of the National Archives and has been a member of the Board of the Finnish Academy of Science between 2020 and 2022. Jari Ojala completed his doctoral degree at the University of Jyväskylä in 1999 and his professorship started in 2009.

Marja-Leena Laakso and Henrik Kunttu will continue as the vice rectors of the University of Jyväskylä.

Professor Marja-Leena Laakso, responsible for education, acts as the rector’s first deputy. Professor Laakso worked earlier as the dean of the Faculty of Education and Psychology. She is a professor of child and developmental psychology.

Professor of physical chemistry Henrik Kunttu, vice rector responsible for research and innovations, was previously the dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. Kunttu is a renowned expert of low temperature chemistry and physics and nanophotonics.

Further information:

Rector Jari Ojala, tel. 0400 247 387, jari.ojala@jyu.fi