The Ministry of Education and Culture has authorised the University of Turku to expand its technology education. The University will widen its educational range by adding Master’s Degree Programmes in Mechanical Engineering and Material Technology to its pre-existing Degree Programmes in Biotechnology and Information Technology. In addition, the University of Turku was granted educational responsibility in the Chinese language.
Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko has decided to grant the University of Turku the right to expand its educational range with Master’s Degree Programmes in Mechanical Engineering and Material Technology. The University also received educational responsibility in the Chinese language.
For several years now, the University of Turku has pursued the expansion of its educational range with a view to creating a sustainable solution for supporting the ongoing positive structural change and resolving the current expert shortage.
– Expanding the educational responsibility has long-term effects. The research conducted at the University and the graduating experts will promote the competitiveness of the region and create well-being for the entire country. I am especially pleased that this common wish of the operators in this region now comes true in the final moments of my Rector’s term, says Rector Kalervo Väänänen from the University of Turku. Väänänen ends his Rector’s term at the end of July.
– The decision to expand the educational responsibility of the University of Turku supports the ongoing positive structural change in Southwest Finland in the best possible way. Research, product development, and the experts graduating from the University of Turku all contribute to increasing the vitality and attractiveness of the region, says Mayor of Turku Minna Arve.
– This is a justified and sustainable solution, not only for this region, but also for the positive economic development of the whole of Finland. It is predicted that during the next ten years, more than half of the country’s GDP and export growth is generated in Southwest Finland. The availability of labour force and potential for innovation are crucial for the business sector, says Matti Rihko, Chairman of the Turku Chamber of Commerce.
According to Rector Väänänen, the University of Turku is ideally positioned to implement the new degree programmes.
– We work in exceptionally close and well-functioning co-operation with other universities, particularly Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences. By utilising this collaboration and the multidisciplinary education of our University, we can create competitive and innovative degree programmes that tackle the current shortage of experts. For example, we can utilise in our education the infrastructure of Machine Technology Center Turku Ltd, a common technology centre for all operators in the region. We are also open to collaboration with other technological universities, says Väänänen.
Granting the University of Turku the educational responsibility in non-European languages (Chinese) complements the University’s versatile range of language teaching programmes even further. In addition to the new Master’s Degree Programmes in Mechanical Engineering and Material Technology, the University of Turku already has educational responsibility for Master’s Degree Programmes in Biotechnology and Information Technology.
Text: Tuomas Koivula
Photo: Hanna Oksanen