University of Turku investigates the possible transfer of Turun normaalikoulu school to campus
During the spring, a working group will investigate whether Educarium, located on the University's lower campus, could function as a school building and whether the University's teacher training school, Turun normaalikoulu, could be transferred from Varissuo to the campus.
In its meeting on 26 January 2024, the Board of the University of Turku discussed the University’s plans to investigate whether Educarium could function as a school building. The suitability of the building, currently used by the Faculty of Education, for the purposes of a school will be investigated for the possible transfer of Turun normaalikoulu school to the University campus.
“A working group appointed by the Rector of the University of Turku will investigate whether the operations of the Turun normaalikoulu school could be operationally and spatially transferred to Educarium, so that the school facilities at Varissuo could be relinquished. The investigation is part of the University's broader Facility Programme, which aims to reduce the total floor area used by the University and reduce facility costs,” says Vice Rector Kalle-Antti Suominen who chairs the Facility Programme Working Group.
During the spring, a working group appointed for investigating whether Educarium could function as a school building will examine the transfer of the school as a whole. It will assess not only the usability of the facilities, but also whether it is appropriate to transfer the school to the University campus and what the transfer would require in terms of facilities, for example, from the perspective of facility modifications and renovation needs. The group is chaired by Vice Rector Piia Björn of the University of Turku. The term of the working group lasts until 31 May 2024. At the same time, the University is investigating the more efficient use of the facilities located on the lower campus.
The investigations are part of realising the objectives of the University’s Facility Programme. The University Board approved the Facility Programme in its meeting on 26 January 2024.
Turun normaalikoulu is the teacher training school of the University of Turku. Both primary school and subject teacher trainees complete their practical teacher training at the school as part of their pedagogical studies. The Turun normaalikoulu school and Educarium buildings are owned by the Finnish University Properties Ltd and the University of Turku is a tenant.