{{Short description|University in Finland}} {{advert|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox university | name = University of Eastern Finland | native_name = Itä-Suomen yliopisto | image_name = | image = University of Eastern Finland logo.png | motto = | vision = | established = {{Start date and age|2010}} | total_staff = 3200 | type = Public | endowment = | rector = [[Jukka Tapio Määttä]], Jussi Pihlajamäki and Laura Hirsto (Vice Rectors) | city = [[Joensuu]], [[Kuopio]] | state = [[Eastern Finland]] | country = Finland | coordinates = {{coord|62.8925|N|27.6783|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:FI|display=inline,title}} | campus = Campuses in [[Joensuu]] and [[Kuopio]] | students = 16,000 (2023) <ref>{{cite web |title=University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.uef.fi/en |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> | undergrad = | postgrad = | nickname = UEF | website = [https://www.uef.fi/en/etusivu www.uef.fi] }} [[File:UEF Carelia.jpg|thumb|''Carelia'' building in the university's Joensuu campus]] The '''University of Eastern Finland''' ({{langx|fi|Itä-Suomen yliopisto}}) is a university in [[Finland]], which was founded in 2010 and has campuses in [[Joensuu]] and [[Kuopio]].
==History== The [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]] passed the Universities Act on June 16, 2009,<ref>[http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Koulutus/koulutuspolitiikka/Hankkeet/Yliopistolaitoksen_uudistaminen/?lang=en Ministry of Education and Culture website on university sector reform in Finland]</ref> which, among other things, extended the autonomy of Finnish universities by giving each university an independent [[legal personality]], as a public corporation or a foundation. Also, universities’ management and decision-making systems were reformed.
===Merger=== '''2006 -''' The University of Joensuu and the University of Kuopio decided to intensify their mutual cooperation as part of the Ministry of Education program addressing the structural development of Finnish higher education institutions. The project for the University of Eastern Finland was selected as one of the Ministry of Education spearhead projects. The project formed a working group led by Professor Reijo Vihko.<ref name="uef.fi">[http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227111005/http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa|date=2013-02-27}}</ref>
'''2007 -''' Professor Reijo Vihko's working group submitted a report proposing that cooperation between the two universities be further intensified. The two universities' senates formally agreed to merge, thereby forming a new university, deciding on its name, the University of Eastern Finland,<ref name="uef.fi"/> a few weeks later.
'''2008 -''' The organization structure and strategy of the University of Eastern Finland were completed. The University of Joensuu and the University of Kuopio received a joint right to confer degrees in Economics and Business Administration.<ref name="uef.fi"/>
'''2009 -''' The first joint student admissions to the University of Eastern Finland were carried out in Economics and Business Administration and in Social Sciences in 2009. In May 2009 '''The Sino-Finnish Environmental Research Centre''' ('''SFERC'''), a collaborative undertaking of the University of Joensuu, the University of Kuopio, and the [[University of Nanjing]],<ref name="ci">{{cite web |date=2009-05-20 |title=Opening Ceremony of the Sino-Finnish Environmental Research Centre (SFERC) and the Scientific Conference on "Challenges of Environmental Research and Management" on May 18-20, 2009 at Nanjing University, China |url=http://www.uef.fi/english/sferc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810201927/http://www.uef.fi/english/sferc.html |archive-date=August 10, 2009 |access-date=2009-06-18 |publisher=University of Eastern Finland}}</ref> focused on higher education and research addressing forestry, energy and environmental issues, opened in [[Nanjing]], [[China]], the first such unit established by a Finnish university in China.<ref name="ci" /> SFERC operates at the University of Nanjing campus as a permanent satellite campus for the University of Eastern Finland.<ref>{{cite news |title= Kiinan etäkampus avataan|work= Savon Sanomat |page= 6|date= 2009-05-16|language=fi}}</ref>
'''2010 -''' The University of Eastern Finland formally began operations in January 2010, which formally ended the operations of the University of Joensuu and of the University of Kuopio.<ref name="uef.fi" /> The University of Eastern Finland began offering dentistry education in 2010.<ref name="uef.fi" />
'''2020 -''' In 2020, the University of Eastern Finland was granted the educational responsibility in logopedics (speech therapy)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-23 |title=Muutoksia korkeakoulujen koulutusvastuisiin – tavoitteena osaajapulaan vastaaminen - OKM |url=https://okm.fi/-/muutoksia-korkeakoulujen-koulutusvastuisiin-tavoitteena-osaajapulaan-vastaaminen |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö |language=fi-FI}}</ref> and in 2022 in engineering.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title=Korkeakoulujen koulutusvastuita laajennetaan - OKM |url=https://okm.fi/-/korkeakoulujen-koulutusvastuita-laajennetaan |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö |language=fi-FI}}</ref>
==Locations== [[Image:Kuopion yliopisto canthia.jpg|thumb|200px|One of the main buildings, ''Mediteknia'', on the Kuopio campus]]
The University of Eastern Finland has two campuses, one in [[Joensuu]] and the other in [[Kuopio]], which are approximately {{convert|130|km|mi|-1}} apart.
==Administration== The administration of the University of Eastern Finland is overseen by its Board, the Rector and the Academic Rector, its Collegiate Body, and its Faculty Councils and their Deans. The university's practical administrative tasks fall to the staff of University Services.<ref>[https://www.uef.fi/en/node/3424#paragraph-1376 UEF's administration and organisation]</ref>
'''Board'''
The Board of the University of Eastern Finland is the university's highest executive organ. The Board of the University of Eastern Finland is composed of a total of 10 members, four of whom are external members. Board members serve terms lasting three years.
'''Rector and Academic Rector'''
The University of Eastern Finland has a Rector and an Academic Rector. The rector and academic rectors are chosen by the board. In 2019, the board led by Lea Ryynänen-Karjalainen appointed Jukka Mönkkönen unanimously as rector for a second five-year term, starting in 2020. The board was composed of 10 members: Jaakko Kiander (Vice Chair), Jari Jolkkonen, Jukka Pelkonen, Erkki Pesonen, Juho Pulkka, Jaana Rekolainen, Tomi Rosti, Olli Siirola and Matti Tolvanen. Tapio Määttä was chosen as the Academic Rector. The University of Eastern Finland will reform its rector model by appointing a rector and two vice rectors for the term of office beginning in 2025. The current terms of office of the Rector and the Academic Rector will end on 31 December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=The University of Eastern Finland will reform its rector model for the term of office beginning in 2025 – the recruitment process will start in January {{!}} University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.uef.fi/en/article/the-university-of-eastern-finland-will-reform-its-rector-model-for-the-term-of-office-beginning-in |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.uef.fi |language=en}}</ref> The Board of the University of Eastern Finland elected Academic Rector, Professor, LLD Tapio Määttä as the new Rector of the university for the five-year term beginning on 1 January 2025. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Tapio Määttä elected as new Rector of University of Eastern Finland {{!}} University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.uef.fi/en/article/tapio-maatta-elected-as-new-rector-of-university-of-eastern-finland |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.uef.fi |language=en}}</ref> The Board of the University of Eastern Finland has elected the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, MD Jussi Pihlajamäki, as the Vice Rector for Research <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-29 |title=Jussi Pihlajamäki elected as Vice Rector for Research of University of Eastern Finland – Vice Rector for Education will be elected in June {{!}} University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.uef.fi/en/article/jussi-pihlajamaki-elected-as-vice-rector-for-research-of-university-of-eastern-finland-vice-rector |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.uef.fi |language=en}}</ref> and the Vice Dean of the Philosophical Faculty, Professor of Educational Sciences, DEd Laura Hirsto to the post of Vice Rector for Education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=Laura Hirsto elected as Vice Rector for Education – the new Rectors of the University of Eastern Finland will start their term of office at the beginning of 2025 {{!}} University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.uef.fi/en/article/laura-hirsto-elected-as-vice-rector-for-education-the-new-rectors-of-the-university-of-eastern |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.uef.fi |language=en}}</ref>
'''Collegiate Body'''
The Collegiate Body of the University of Eastern Finland consists of 24 members, eight each representing the university's professors, its teaching, research and general staff, and its student body. Members serve 4-year terms, except for those representing the student body, who serve 2-year terms.<ref>[https://www.uef.fi/en/university#accordion-1380 UEF Collegiate Body]</ref>
'''Faculty Councils and Deans'''
The University of Eastern Finland has four faculty councils: 1) the Philosophical Faculty, 2) the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, 3) the Faculty of Health Sciences, and 4) the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, each headed by a dean.
==Research and education== [[File:AuroraJoensuu.jpg|thumb|The main building of the Joensuu campus]]
The University of Eastern Finland is a multidisciplinary university. The four faculties of the UEF offer teaching in nearly 100 major subjects and degree programs. The university's annual student intake is approximately 3,300 and the university attracts nearly 31 000 applications for admission every year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Itä-Suomen yliopistoon yli 3300 uutta opiskelijaa syksyllä 2023 |url=https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/ita-suomen-yliopistoon-yli-3300-uutta-opiskelijaa-syksylla-2023 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Itä-Suomen yliopisto |language=fi}}</ref> The university offers Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral level education in 12 fields of study: medicine and pharmacy, humanities, education, economics and business administration, natural sciences, forest sciences, psychology, theology, health sciences, social sciences, law and engineering.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opiskelijaksi |url=https://www.uef.fi/fi/opiskelu |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Itä-Suomen yliopisto |language=fi}}</ref>
==Profile areas in research== The profile areas in research of the University of Eastern Finland are built around four global challenges: * Ageing, lifestyles and health * Diversifying learning and interaction * Cultural encounters, mobilities and borders * Environmental change and sustainable use of natural resources.
The University of Eastern Finland approaches the above-mentioned challenges through research carried out within its interdisciplinary Research Communities (RCs). The university's Research Communities are:<ref>[https://www.uef.fi/en/strategy-2030#paragraph-2088 UEF's profile areas in research]</ref><ref>[https://www.uef.fi/en/research#paragraph-1321 UEF's Research Communities]</ref> * Basic, Translational and Clinical Cardiovascular Medicine * Borders, Mobilities and Cultural Encounters * Climate Forcing, Ecosystems and Health * Drug Discovery and Delivery Technologies * Effectiveness of Social and Health Services * Forests and Bioeconomy * Learning in Digitalized Society * Metabolic Diseases * Multidisciplinary Cancer Research * Musculoskeletal Diseases * Neuroscience * Photonics * Sustainable Co-management of Water Resources and Aquatic Environments * Sustainable Resource Society: Circular Economy, Energy and Raw Materials
==International cooperation== The University of Eastern Finland is an international research university with an extensive network of foreign partners. The university has concluded bilateral agreements on cooperation with approximately 70 universities abroad. Furthermore, the university is involved in several international networks and discipline-specific projects, and the university's teaching and research staff and students are active in participating in various mobility programmes.<ref>[http://www.uef.fi/uef/kansainvalisyys UEF International cooperation]</ref>
The university is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.<ref>https://www.uarctic.org/</ref>
The university participates in UArctic's mobility program north2north. The aim of that program is to enable students of member institutions to study in different parts of the North.<ref>{{cite web | title=Where Can I Go | url=https://www.uarctic.org/activities/north2north/where-can-i-go/ }}</ref>
==Statistics== The University of Eastern Finland has a total staff of about 3,200 and 16,000 students.
The Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture granted the University of Eastern Finland the right to confer degrees in the field of law as from 1 August 2013, expanding the university's fields of study to a total of 13, and making the university the most multidisciplinary university in Finland.<ref>[http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Tiedotteet/2012/06/itasuomi.html?lang=fi Ministry of Education and Culture press release ] {{in lang|fi}}</ref>
==Rankings== {{Infobox university rankings | ARWU_W = 701–800 | ARWU_W_year = 2024 | ARWU_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024|title=ARWU World University Rankings 2024|website=www.shanghairanking.com|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> | QS_W = =604 | QS_W_year = 2026 | QS_W_ref = <ref name=":QSW2026">{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings|title=QS World University Rankings}}</ref> | THE_W = 501–600 | THE_W_year = 2024 | THE_W_ref = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024|title=World University Rankings|date=6 August 2023|website=timeshighereducation.com|access-date=26 August 2023|archive-date=19 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919095416/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> | USNWR_W= =487 | USNWR_W_year = 2023 | USNWR_W_ref=<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/finland| title = U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2022-23| access-date = 23 November 2023}}</ref> }}
Since launching its operations in 2010, the University of Eastern Finland has appeared frequently, indeed annually, in several rankings listing the world's leading universities although losing position at almost every ranking in the last years. In the rankings of the world's top universities under 50 years of age published by QS World University Rankings and [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]], the University of Eastern Finland was ranked #71-80 by QS (2021), and 49th by THE (2019).
In 2012, the University of Eastern Finland was ranked among the leading 300-350 universities in the world by Times Higher Education. In 2023, the University of Eastern Finland was ranked in the 601-800 universities in the world, with all indicators reflecting a poorer performance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title=University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-eastern-finland |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref> Similarly, in 2012 it was ranked the 302 in the QS World University Rankings, a position that has been down to the 551-560 universities in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Eastern Finland |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-eastern-finland |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> This trend started in 2015, overlapping in time with the mandate of [[Jukka Mönkkönen]] as rector of the university. In that year the university scored the 267 in the QS World University Rankings, its highest score, and it has descended positions since then. Similarly, in the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University of Eastern Finland was ranked among the leading 501–600 universities in the world, a position that has been reduced to the 601-700 in 2023. <ref>[https://www.uef.fi/en/university UEF in international rankings]</ref>
==See also== * [[Kuopio University Hospital]]
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|University of Eastern Finland}} *{{official website|https://www.uef.fi/en/etusivu}}
{{Finnish universities}} {{Kuopio Cityscape}} {{EPUF}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Eastern Finland}} [[Category:University of Eastern Finland| ]] [[Category:Universities and colleges in Finland|Eastern Finland]] [[Category:Joensuu]] [[Category:Kuopio]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in North Karelia]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in North Savo]] [[Category:2010 establishments in Finland]] [[Category:Universities and colleges formed by merger in Finland]] [[Category:Organisations based in North Savo]] [[Category:Organisations based in North Karelia]]