Aalto University

Aalto University
Aalto-yliopisto Aalto-universitetet
Established	2010
Type	Public Foundation
President	Tuula Teeri
Staff	4317
Students	16472
Location	Helsinki and Espoo, Finland
Campus	Urban
Budget	€318 million per year [1]
Website	www.aaltoyliopisto.info

Aalto University (Finnish: Aalto-yliopisto, Swedish: Aalto-universitetet) is a Finnish university to be established in January 1, 2010, when the Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and University of Art and Design Helsinki are merged.

Aalto University is creating a new science and arts community by bringing together three existing universities of technology, economics and art. The combination of three universities opens up new possibilities for strong multi-disciplinary education and research. The new university’s ambitious goal is to be one of the leading institutions in the world in terms of research and education in its own specialised disciplines.

History behind Aalto University

In 2004, a workgroup led by Anne Brunila of the Finnish Ministry of Finance concluded that Finnish universities and other institutes of tertiary education were too many in number and in need of consolidation. Following this, Yrjö Sotamaa, president of the University of Art and Design Helsinki at the time, proposed the merger of Aalto University's founding schools in his president's opening speech in 2005.

The idea received attention within the Finnish Ministry of Education, which appointed Raimo Sailas, a leading official at the Ministry of Finance, to investigate the possibility of a merger. After Sailas' group reported that it considered the merger to be beneficial to the Finnish academic world and economy, the Finnish government decided to go on with the project on November 11, 2007.

On May 29, 2008, it was announced that Aalto University would be named after the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in recognition of his achievements in technology, economics and art. The Finnish Minister of Education at the time, Ms. Sari Sarkomaa, together with representatives of Finnish industries and professional organisations, signed the Aalto University charter on June 25, 2008 in Helsinki. On December 19, 2008, Prof. Tuula Teeri was selected by the Board to be the first President of Aalto University.

Administration and organization

The University is governed by the seven-member Aalto University Foundation Board, currently consisting of^[2]:

• Dr. Matti Alahuhta (CEO, Kone Corporation)
• Dr. Robert A. Brown (President, Boston University)
• Dr. Anne Brunila (Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations and Sustainability, Fortum Oyj)
• Prof. Bengt R. Holmström (MIT)
• Prof. Marja Makarow (Univ. Helsinki, ERC)
• Prof. Saku Mantere (Hanken School of Economics)
• Dr. Anna Valtonen (Rector, Umeå Institute of Design )

The Board decides on the Foundation's strategy, operation and financial issues, is responsible for any far-reaching plans and appoints the University president and vice rectors. The first President of Aalto University, serving since December 19, 2008, is Tuula Teeri, a molecular geneticist and former deputy president of the Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan.

The university is organized into three schools: School of Science and Technology, School of Economics and the School of Art and Design, each governed by a Dean. The Aalto University Student Union (AUS) is the student government of Aalto University and all registered students are members. Its elected leadership consists of a Representative Council elected by the student body and a Board selected annually by the Representative Council.

Factories

Three interdisclipinary factories: Design Factory, Media Factory, and Service Factory are part of the Aalto University organization. The first novel student-run organization related to Aalto University, Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, was founded and operates at the Design Factory.

References

External links

• Aalto University
• Charter of Foundation for Aalto University Signed
• Merger with innovation at its heart - An article in Financial Times (published March 29, 2009)
• Doors of Perception weblog: Aalto University
• Aalto University Student Union