Yesterday, we opened the new academic year at the University of Turku with the entire university community and our stakeholders. The beginning of an academic year is always an opportunity for the academic community to review the direction of our extensive community, even as the long-term work progresses steadily.
In the new academic year, we as a university community will be guided by our sense of community, critical thinking, and academic freedom. These three themes are closely intertwined in the academic community. The themes are also relevant to wider society, and we as a university want to be a stabilising force in times of turbulence.
Research is always conducted together, in one way or another. Research and the teaching that builds on it are born out of interaction, in nearly countless discussions and reviews. Asking questions and seeking answers is at the heart of the academia. Learning and thinking have been based on discussion, collaboration and interaction since the early centuries of the academia, when understanding was essential but discovery was not yet the guiding star of this interaction.
Of our University’s values, critical thinking is based on the age-old interaction between teacher and student. It is one of the fundamental principles of the academia. Academic criticism is not about expressing opinions, it is about peer review, and about science and scholarship correcting and renewing themselves. As the value of our University, critical thinking refers to responsible criticism that is constructive discussion based on researched knowledge. As a university, our role is not to take a stand on political issues. Our tool is research – our researchers take a position based on the research they have conducted.
Academic freedom means independent research that is never subject to political control. Research has its own rules, and we are not prepared to give them up.
Despite the fact that research is critical in its nature and at its core, and that one of the central premises of research is its self-correcting nature, the academic freedom is strongly challenged. To some extent, the meaning of academic freedom has been somewhat misunderstood in public debate. It does not mean that there are no limits. Academic freedom means independent research that is never subject to political control. Research has its own rules, and we are not prepared to give them up.
The university communities have always promoted the well-being and security of their members, but also of their surroundings. As a university, it is clear that our role is to look after the well-being of our community. Together with other universities, we are participating in a joint campaign by the Finnish Education Employers, the Union of Research Professionals, and the Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities Unifi to promote an inclusive and diverse university. We universities want to highlight that every member of the university community has the right to be treated equally, regardless of their background, status or identity. We all have a responsibility to foster an operating environment where diversity is seen as an asset and a strength and where discrimination, bullying, harassment or racism are not accepted in any form. Our sense of community is based on mutual respect. Respectful and appreciative interaction enables open debate, inspiring learning and new scientific thinking.
Universities offer concrete tools and operating models for preventing any inappropriate treatment. These include equality and non-discrimination plans, whistleblowing channels in case of harassment, and training and guidelines that support responsible operations everyday. The supervisors’ and doctoral dissertation supervisors’ competencies are being developed, and the results of the well-being surveys are used to continuously develop our operating culture across the board.
At the University, we all – whether a student, teacher, researcher, or other specialist and support personnel or university management – have a role to play in fostering our community and interaction with each other. We want to follow these principles in the collaboration with our friends and partners.
The author is the rector of the University of Turku. This writing is based on a speech Kaartinen gave at the Opening Ceremony of the academic year.
