Organisation and Management of the University of Turku

The University Collegiate Council consists of 30 members who all have their personal substitute members. Ten of the members represent the University’s professors, ten other teaching and research personnel as well as other staff, and ten represent students. The term of the Collegiate Council is four years but the term of the student members is two years.

​​The remit of the University Collegiate council is to

1. decide the number of University board members, the length of the term of office for both the Board and its members, as well as decide on the salary of the Chair of the Board and its members
2. select the members to the University Board who do not represent the University’s personnel or students
3. validate the selection of the University’s representatives as members of the Board as intended in Subsection 2, Section 15 of the Universities Act
4. release a member of the Board from their duties according to the Board’s motion
5. select the University’s auditors
6. approve the University’s financial statement and annual report, as well as decide on granting an exemption from liability to the Rector and the members of the Board
7. decide on filing an action for damages against a member of the Board, the Rector, and auditor
8. decide on releasing a member of the Board from their duties according to Subsection 3, Section 65 of the Universities Act
9. if necessary, meet and discuss significant issues that apply to the entire University.

The University Collegiate Council selects among itself a chair and vice chair.

Members and substitutes of the University Collegiate Council

The following members and vice members (vice members in brackets) have been selected to the Collegiate Council for the term 1 January 2026–31 December 2029. 

Representatives of professors:

• Veli-Matti Kähäri (Noora Kotaja)
• Riitta Suhonen (Satu Lahti)
• Heikki Kauppi (Ulla Hytti)
• Jukka Lempa (Seppo Mattila)
• Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann (Tero Järvinen)
• Jaakko Suominen (Veronika Laippala)
• Jyrki Heino (Jussi Kantola)
• Benita Heiskanen (Henri Vogt)
• Jaakko Ossa (Mika Viljanen)
•  

Representatives of teaching and research personnel and other personnel:

• Satu Alanko (Tiina Lintunen)
• Mika Keränen (Katja Haapanen)
• Anna Karhu (Kimmo Peltola)
• Elina Valovirta (Antti Pajala)
• Sanna Hirvola (Laura Kopu)
• Jussi Lehtonen (Otto Tarkka)
• Minna Ketola (Sanna Kuusjärvi)
• Henna Sucksdorff (Jonne Ritari)
• Tommi Kurki (Arto Ryömä)
• Sari Yrjänäinen (Tytti Kim)

Student representatives 1 January 2026–31 December 2027: 

• Mari van den Berg (Pimali Wijerathna)
• Sanna Lahtinen (Marko Mäkinen)
• Iiro Myllymäki (Markus Miilunpalo)
• Joni Järvinen (Sylvi Moshnikoff)
• Anu Kirjonen-Silvo (Fatemeh Naderipalangi)
• Niilo Peräaho (Emil Jacobsson)
• Katie Astin (Aleksi Suro)
• Vilppu Tolvi (Kari Jakobsson)
• Henri Laitila (Riku Tissari)
• Tuomas Alm (Ossi Ryynänen)

Development Specialist Susanna Sutinen is the secretary and Petteri Sinervo acts as the legal councel for the Collegiate Council.

The University Board is the highest decision-making organ in the University. The Collegiate Council decides on the number of the Board members, the members to the University Board who do not represent the University’s personnel or students, and the length of the term of office for both the Board and its members.

The duties of the University Board are outlined in Section 11 of the University of Turku Rules of Procedure.

​​University of Turku Board Members 2026-2029:

Mayor Laura Leppänen

Senior Vice President Veli-Pekka Nurmi

Deputy Director-General​ Ilkka Salmi

Managing Director​ ​​​Anne-Mari Virolainen

Professor Luis Alvarez Esteban

Professor Klaus Elenius

University Lecturer Elina Pelto

Head of Faculty Development​ Eeva Rainio ​

Student Camilla Saarinen (1.1.2026–31.12.2027)

Student Akseli Tiitta (1.1.2026–31.12.2027)​

The secretary of the Board is Director of Management Support Services Eeva Ryödi.

Rector

The Rector implements the University strategy by directing the University. The Rector is responsible for the economic, productive and efficient operations of the University. The Rector prepares matters for the discussion and decision for the University Board meetings and implements the decisions of the Board.

The Rector of the University of Turku

Professor Marjo Kaartinen
tel. +358 29 450 5050
fax. +358 29 450 5040
rehtori@utu.fi

***

Rector's assistant:
Jaana Fieandt, tel. +358 29 450 3002, jaana.fieandt@utu.fi

Vice Rectors

The vice rectors assist the Rector in their duties. The vice rectors' remit includes responsibilities in research, education and strategic engagement and impact.

Research

Professor Piia Seppänen
tel. +358 29 450 3695, piia.seppanen@utu.fi

Education 

Professor Tapio Salakoski
tel. +358 29 450 2708, tapio.salakoski@utu.fi

Strategic engagement and impact 

Professor Maija S. Peltola
tel. +358 29 450 2605, maipie@utu.fi

***

Assistant to the vice rectors:
Päivi Seppänen, tel. 029 450 3862, paivi.seppanen@utu.fi
 

Educational Affairs are led by Vice Rector Tapio Salakoski The area of responsibility includes:

• Open University and Continuous Learning
• Educational Support Services
• Global Educational Services
• Admission Services
• Student Support Services

In addition, Turku University Library is part of Vice Rector Salakoski’s area of responsibility.

Research Affairs are led by Vice Rector Piia Seppänen. The area of responsibility includes:

• Research Services
• Research Career
• Innovation Services

The area of responsibility in strategic engagement and impact is led by Vice Rector Maija S. Peltola. The area of responsibility includes:

• Local and international impact
• Partnership engagement
• Strategic partnerships

In addition, Peltola's area of responsibility includes:

• University Consortium of Pori and stakeholder collaboration and impact in the Satakunta region
• Centre for Language and Communication Studies
   

University Services reporting directly to Rector Marjo Kaartinen include:

• Digital Services, Chief Digital Officer Jani Leino
• Financial Services and Facility Services, Chief Financial Officer Siru Helminen
• HR and Study and Work Well-being Services, Human Resources Director Sanna-Mari Tammilaakso
• Management Support Services, Director of Legal Affairs Eeva Ryödi
  • Document Services
  • Internal Audit
  • Legal Affairs
  • Steering Unit
• University Communications, Communications Director Anne Paasi