Pop up points and interviews produce plenty of ideas for facility strategy renewal
Input for facility strategy development has been collected from the university community during the autumn. “The key goals of the facility strategy have been the sense of community and sustainability,” says Henrik Kunttu, vice rector responsible for research and the chair of the Campus Development Group. “The facility strategy aims to create preconditions for good cooperation and multidisciplinarity. Therefore, it is important to genuinely hear the needs of the university community.”
Current situation and future reflected in interviews
Representatives from groups that use JYU’s facilities were selected to express their views on the current state and the development needs of facilities. The interviews focused on four themes: functional facilities that correspond to the users’ needs, resource-wise and efficient use of facilities, vitality of campuses, and responsible and sustainable campus.
- Functional facilities that meet the users’ needs: The interviewed persons found it important that the connections between different campus facilities and functions as well as the connections between the University and the city would be considered in the facility strategy renewal. The functionality of facilities should be developed by prioritising the needs of core activities, so that the implementation of education and research will not paralyse. The renewed library building Lähde was highlighted as an example of a shared facility that considers different needs.
- Resource-wise and efficient use of facilities: The respondents find that JYU facilities are not used efficiently enough at the moment. Some facilities are underused while others are very full at the same time. The interviewees also hoped development in the flexible use of working facilities, facility reservations and teaching planning.
- Vitality of campuses: It came up in the interviews that the campus is more than a place for work, it also is a place where people like to spend time and may stay even late in the evening. Therefore, the vitality of the campus also outside lecture hours should be considered when planning campus services and the use of facilities. On the other hand, too much liveliness could disturb working. In renewals, attention should be paid to that livelier activities are located sufficiently far from workstations.
- Responsible and sustainable campus: Suggestions for the development of ecological, social and financial responsibility on campuses were raised in the discussions. The interviewees wished, for example, support for commuter cycling, development of barrier-free facilities, and solving of indoor air problems.
New ideas at pop up points
At the beginning of November, pop up points were set up in Agora, Lähde and Ylistö. At them passers-by were able to answer the question what would attract them to the campus in the future. Plenty of ideas were collected to the Flinga platform and most of the answers (60%) came from students.
The ideas were quite much in line with the interviews: the respondents especially wished for better working facilities for both groupwork and lecture-oriented work, facilities that support the sense of community and social activities, the development of dining options, and a more functional facility reservation system. In addition, the respondents wanted rooms for resting, bicycle parking spaces and broader opening hours for buildings.
The facility strategy work will proceed next year based on the planning. “The actual facility strategy will be made in 2023 and the community will be engaged even more closely in the creation process,” says Henrik Kunttu. The University of Jyväskylä develops facility strategy in cooperation with the real estate specialist Newsec.
Further information:
Henrik Kunttu, Vice Rector
henrik.m.kunttu@jyu.fi
Päivi Seppä, Finance and Service Director
paivi.seppa@jyu.fi
