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 2022–31 December 2025. Professor Jyrki Heino is the Chair of the Collegiate Council. Vice Chair is Head of Department Minna Vuorio-Lehti, and the second Vice Chair is Student Kaapo Havuluoto.

Representatives of professors:

• Satu Lahti (Leena Salminen)
• Veli-Matti Kähäri (Klaus Elenius)
• Juri Poutanen (Jukka Lempa)
• Veijo Jormalainen (Petteri Alho)
• Piia Seppänen (Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann)
• Jaakko Ossa (Janne Salminen)
• Benita Heiskanen (Henri Vogt)
• Joel Kuortti (Charlotta Wolff)
• Aino Halinen-Kaila (Luis Alvarez Esteban)
• Jyrki Heino (Antti Salminen) 

Representatives of teaching and research personnel and other personnel:

• Minna Vuorio-Lehti (Tommi Kurki)
• Anna Karhu (Mika Keränen)
• Sanna Kuusjärvi (Minna Ketola)
• Tiina Lintunen (Arto Ryömä)
• Henna Sucksdorff (Jonne Ritari)
• Elina Valovirta (Heli Virtanen)
• Tarja Virta (Matti Rönkä)
• Ari Lehtonen (Jussi Lehtonen)
• Mika Sarlin (Leena Järveläinen)
• Sari Yrjänäinen (Eila Matikainen)

Student representatives 1 January 2024–31 December 2025: 

• Henri Laitila (Hannu Kallio)
• Mari van den Berg (Armi Söder)
• Veikko Pulkki (Juho Perttula)
• Arvi Tolvanen (Jimi Salonen)
• Kaapo Havuluoto (Elisa Hyvärinen)
• Katariina Moilanen (Teemu Kivimäki)
• Tuomas Alm (Atte Leskinen)
• Maria Yli-Jama (Aino Rönkä)
• Jenni Jäntti (Kerttu Hurvi)
• Katie Astin (Julia Siimento)

Development Specialist Susanna Sutinen is the secretary and Development Manager 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.

​Board Members starting from 1 January 2022

The term of the Board is four years but the term of the student members is two years.

• Mayor Ritva Viljanen (Chair)
• CEO Tuuli Kaskinen (Vice Chair)
• Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ilkka Salmi
• Director General Leif Schulman
• Professor Pekka Vallittu
• Professor Suvi Salmenniemi
• Information Security Officer Mats Kommonen
• University Lecturer Elina Pelto 
• Student Joni Järvinen 1.1.2022-31.12.2025 
• Student Camilla Saarinen 1.1.2024-31.12.2025

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

Rector

The Rector implements the University strategy by directing the University. He is responsible for the economic, productive and efficient operations of the University. He 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 Jukka Kola
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 education, research and societal interaction.

Research and the development of research prerequisites

Professor Kalle-Antti Suominen
tel. +358 29 450 2774, kalle-antti.suominen@utu.fi

Education and the development of educational structures

Professor Piia Björn
tel. +358 29 450 3301, piia.bjorn@utu.fi

Partnerships and strategic engagement

Professor Mika Hannula
tel. +358 29 450 4695, mika.hannula@utu.fi

***

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

Educational Affairs are led by Vice Rector Piia Björn. The area of responsibility includes:

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

Research Affairs are led by Vice Rector Kalle-Antti Suominen. The area of responsibility includes:

• Innovation Services
• Research Career
• Research Services

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

The area of responsibility in societal interaction and impact is led by Vice Rector Mika Hannula. The area of responsibility includes:

• Alumni Relations
• International Strategic Partnerships
• Sustainable Development
• Partnerships and Partner Relationship Management
• Fundraising
• Impact Measurement and Reporting
• Business Collaboration and Entrepreneurial University

University Services reporting directly to Rector Jukka Kola 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
• Strategic Planning, Director of Strategic Planning Päivi Mattila-Wiro
• University Communications, Communications Director Anne Paasi