The Rectors of the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University support the organisation of the demonstration that started in Aurum on Wednesday, 20 September. The University of Turku and Student Union of the University of Turku organise discussion events for the students participating in the demonstration.
A demonstration started in the Aurum building co-owned by the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University on Wednesday afternoon, 20 September. Around 20 students from the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University are participating in the demonstration. The students in the demonstration are criticising, for example, the Finnish Government's plans for cuts to financial aid.
Rector of the University of Turku Jukka Kola and Rector of Åbo Akademi University Mikael Lindfelt have given their support for organising the demonstration, and the students participating in the demonstration are allowed to stay over night in Aurum with the condition that the demonstration will be peaceful and will not disturb other use of the building.
“The University of Turku wants to support the development of study opportunities and open discussion. Both the University and the Student Union have emphasised the significance of high-quality and versatile higher education for the success of the entire nation. We need more highly educated experts from Finland and abroad to produce new thinking and new solutions,” says Rector Jukka Kola.
The Rectors’ Council of Finnish Universities UNIFI issued a statement just recently: universities do not accept discrimination or racism.
The University of Turku and the Student Union of the University of Turku organised a discussion event on 22 September for the students responsible for organising the demonstration. Vice Rector Mika Hannula and Chair of the Student Union’s Executive Board Akseli Tiitta were present at the event among others.
On 25 September, the University also organised a discussion event for the students responsible for organising the demonstration where Vice Rector Piia Björn participated in the discussions.
The University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University organised a discussion event for the students responsible for organising the demonstration on Thursday, 28 September. Director of Study and Work Well-being Tom Riski and other experts from the Study and Work Well-being Services attended the event.
Rector Jukka Kola was on a business trip abroad at the time of the discussion events.
Updates:
26 September 2023: Information about the discussion event on Thursday, 28 September added.
27 September 2023: Information about Åbo Akademi University's participation in the discussion event on 28 September added.