The organisation and strategy of the University of Helsinki

Organisation and management system of the University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki (UH), founded in 1640, is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. The UH is bilingual in accordance with the Universities Act, meaning that teaching and degrees are given in Finnish and Swedish. The UH consists of 11 faculties, nine independent institutes steered by the rector, the Swedish School of Social Science and University Services. The University Board is the highest decision-making body. The Board’s members from outside the UH community are appointed by the University Collegium, which also confirms the UH’s financial statements as well as decides on discharging the Board members and the rector from liability.

Administrative and support services are provided by the University Services unit or independent institutes that offer services (libraries, Centre for Information Technology, UniSport, etc).

The University of Helsinki Group consists of the UH and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, the University of Helsinki Funds and its Group, Helsinki University Properties Ltd and its Group, as well as two foundations.

The organisational structure of the University of Helsinki includes the University Collegium, the Board, the Rector, the Chancellor, University Services, the faculties, joint operational units and indept institutes. The Swedish School of Social Science is a special unit of the University of Helsinki. Moreover, various networks and campus units operate at the university.
Figure 1: Organisation chart of the UH

Degree education is organised into degree programmes, which may include studies in one or more disciplines.

Degree programmes at the UH:

  • 33 bachelor’s programmes
  • 63 master’s programmes
  • 32 doctoral programmes in four doctoral schools.

The UH’s management system is based on the Universities Act and the regulations of the UH which define, for example, the UH’s administrative bodies, leaders and directors as well as their duties and responsibilities. The Regulations of the University of Helsinki set out the operational and unit structure as well as the organisation of operations and administration.

Number of different kind of students (Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, Doctoral degrees, international degrees), completed degrees, credits, applicants, members of staff (also international staff).
Figure 2. Key figures for education and staff 2020

Strategy

The Strategic Plan of the University of Helsinki 2021–2030 outlines the UH’s objective to be one of the leading universities in the world and a nationally and internationally recognised stronghold of ’Bildung’ by 2030. The UH’s vision is ’With the power of knowledge – for the world’. The UH will pursue the following strategic focus areas to implement its vision:

  1. Knowledge and learning are for everyone.
  2. Openness enhances scientific research and collaboration.
  3. Our University is the best place to study and work.
  4. Our University is a leader in responsibility and sustainability.

The strategy is based on common values. Our values are truth, Bildung, freedom and inclusivity. These values constitute the core of our identity, the basis of our objectives and our value judgements between good and bad. Our values must be concretely visible in our everyday activities. The meanings of our four values do not remain unchanged, but rather constantly evolve through discussions within the University community. There are as many ways of perceiving our shared values as there are members in the University community.

Figure 3. Strategic Plan of the University of Helsinki 2021–2030 

To put the strategic plan into effect, the UH and its units have drawn up implementation plans for years 2021–2024. These plans can be found in the Suunta system, which is used to monitor and update the plans regularly as part of the UH’s operations management process. In addition, the strategic indicators defined by the UH itself are monitored.

Degrees completed in the target duration (Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, Doctoral degrees, international degrees), increase in research funding, high-quality and international open-access publications, share of international staff, share of student feedback respondents.
Figure 4. The UH’s strategic indicators 2021–2030

When writing its strategic plan in 2018–2019, the UH reviewed its values, eventually selecting the following: truth, ’Bildung’, freedom and inclusivity.