The International Advisory Board of the University of Turku gathered for its meeting in Turku on 15-16 April 2024.
The International Advisory Board (IAB) serves as a strategic partner for the University leadership. Its objective is to provide insight and international perspectives on the development of research, education, and societal interaction at the University of Turku.
The Advisory Board is chaired by Professor Eva Åkesson (Lund University) and its members are Rector Alice Gast (Imperial College London), Rector Yves Flückiger (University of Geneva), Vice-Rector Stephan Schröder (University of Cologne) and Vice-Rector Ludovic Thilly (University of Poitiers).
On Monday 15 April, the International Advisory Board met with representatives of the Student Union, Entrepreneurial Society Boost and doctoral researchers. They also visited the entrepreneurial Hub Konttori. The IAB members appreciated the opportunity to have an open discussion with the University students and researchers in order get a realistic and comprehensive picture of the University's activities.
At the meeting held on Tuesday, 16 April, the recommendations put forth by the IAB at previous meetings in the areas of research, education, and social interaction with the University were reviewed. The IAB was impressed by the fact that the University's management has implemented many of the IAB's recommendations and put them into practice in a very short period of time.
“The University of Turku has left a lasting impression on us all, initiating numerous commendable initiatives,” says IAB chair Eva Åkesson.
“External evaluations are useful and necessary for all organisations, including the University of Turku. The IAB has done an excellent job in this task. The recommendations made by the IAB have been quite accurate. Examples of the recommendations and their implementation include the new MSc Signature Programmes,” says Rector Jukka Kola.
The IAB has noted very positive developments in the areas of education, research and societal engagement. The IAB appreciates the Student Union's central role in the University's decision-making and development work. The Board identified a need for further development, in particular regarding the status of doctoral researchers.
In regard to the presentation of the University's strategic work, the IAB stressed the important role of universities as providers of stability and continuity in an increasingly fast-changing and chaotic world. Rector Jukka Kola underlined the role of the IAB as critical friends of the university and thanked the Board for its dedicated work for the University during past two years. The IAB´s term ends by the end of July.
