Rector Jari Ojala’s opening address: Universities under intense external pressure

“Today, the security debate is at the forefront, but from a very one-sided perspective. Education and research are central components of Finland’s overall security as well as for the strengthening of society and the economy.” 

Ojala sees that open hostility to science has intensified in public discourse and academic freedom has been challenged: 

“Criticising university research appears to be politically profitable nowadays. Inflammatory rhetoric is wielded in an attempt to divide us into different camps – into ‘good’ fields and ‘bad’ fields – both between and within universities. We at the University of Jyväskylä will not go along with such divisions.” 

In reflecting on economic policy, Rector Ojala identifies a tendency to manipulate funding indices: 

“Freezing university funding indices undermines Finland’s future. The estimated impact of an index freeze on the whole university sector would mean a reduction of about 800 person-years or more than 6,000 student spots. These cuts would contradict the parliamentary consensus that education and research goals should be significantly raised. 

“We at universities are aware of the economic challenges facing Finland’s economy, especially since that is one of the areas we study. We do not downplay the problems and are doing our part to resolve the situation.” 

The upcoming academic year will be marked by the formation of the Jyväskylä Higher Education Group together with Jamk. 

“Centralising the ownership of the higher education institutions will strengthen the vitality of Jyväskylä and its surrounding area. This has clear points of convergence both with the Jyväskylä model currently under development in the city and the regional development needs. However, the University of Jyväskylä is a national and international actor whose scope extends beyond the city and the region. Science knows no boundaries – be they municipal, regional or national.”