New university network in the field of engineering to be established in Finland
A new university network in the field of engineering, FITech Turku, will be established in Finland. The purpose of the network is to attract more experts with an academic degree in the field of engineering to Southwestern Finland through concrete measures. The objective is to ensure that the supply of educated experts in the field of engineering meets the demand for these experts in the growth sectors in Southwestern Finland. The working group having prepared the establishment of the university network submitted its plan to Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen on 21 August.
The seven participating universities have signed a letter of intent for the establishment of the network. The participating universities are Aalto University, Lappeenranta University of Technology, University of Oulu, Tampere University of Technology, University of Turku, University of Vaasa, and Åbo Akademi University. In addition to these, Technology Industries of Finland and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) are founding members. Before the official establishment of FITech (Finnish Institute of Technology), the cooperation will be coordinated by Aalto University.
“Preparations for the launch of the university network’s operations have been carried out over a short period of time in well-functioning cooperation, which demonstrates the network’s ability to join forces before large-scale challenges. The network will provide a solution to certain concrete problems that have significance for the national economy and are challenging from the perspective of education. At the same time, the network aims to accelerate students’ transition to working life and help graduates find employment that corresponds to their education,” says Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
The network will immediately launch measures to support the industry growth in Southwestern Finland. The purpose is to offer students of all universities providing engineering studies a wider variety of possibilities to complete their master’s thesis, internships and course projects in companies based in Southwestern Finland. Especially university students of engineering originating from Southwestern Finland but studying elsewhere in Finland are encouraged to return to their home region. Correspondingly, students of engineering and students of mathematics, physics and chemistry at the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University will be provided with the right to complete non-degree studies in the other participating universities. Bachelors of Arts and Science living elsewhere in Finland and abroad are enticed to come and complete the new Master of Science (Technology) programmes addressing the growth challenges prevailing in Southwestern Finland.
The university network will also organise continuing education as well as retraining and upgrading of qualifications for those already holding a degree of Master of Science (Technology) or UAS Bachelor of Engineering both in Turku and in other localities. Moreover, the network will provide doctoral students with opportunities to conduct research on topics related to the growth of business in Southwestern Finland.
One of the most important goals for the cooperation between the universities is to increase the general appeal of Master of Science (Technology) studies. The participating universities will carry out active information campaigns, targeted at young people and girls especially, in order to advertise the possibilities that an academic degree in the engineering field may provide.
These measures are expected to bring new engineering experts to Southwestern Finland already during autumn 2017. It is estimated that the need for experts in the field, both Masters of Science (Technology) and UAS Bachelors of Engineering, will double in the next few years, which means that around 850-900 new employees are needed in the companies based in Southwestern Finland annually.
The working group proposes that the university network apply for subsidies of EUR 12 million at the Ministry of Education and Culture to be able to carry out the planned measures in 2017-2021. The subsidies would cover 70 per cent of the total costs. The participating universities have committed to cover the rest of the costs with their own financing.
Inquiries:
- Mikko Hupa, chairperson of the working group, Rector, Åbo Akademi University, tel. +358 400 630 801, [email protected]
- Hannu Sirén, Director, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 3 30292