Twenty candidates had sent in their applications to the post of Vice-Rector of the University of Helsinki by the deadline. The applicants are Pekka Aula, Kurt Fagerstedt, Ulla-Maija Forsberg, Kaarle Hämeri, Keijo Hämäläinen, Leena Krokfors, Liisa Laakso, Sari Lindblom-Ylänne, Anna Mauranen, Henrik Meinander, Jari Niemelä, Kimmo Nuotio, Jussi Pakkasvirta, Petri Pellikka, Leif Schulman, Jan Sundberg and Markku Wilenius. Three of the candidates did not want their names published.
The vice-rectors are academic leaders, whose duties consist of supporting the Rector as head of the university. The vice-rectors will start their terms - which will last five years at the most – on 1 January 2014.
The Rector will make a proposal to the Board of the university on which of the applicants would be most suitable to work part-time or full-time in the posts of vice-rectors, and how to divide their duties among the vice-rectors. Based on this proposition, the university Board will determine the number of vice-rectors, select the vice-rectors for terms of five years at the most, and allocate their duties to them.
According to the university legislation, one of the vice-rectors at the University of Helsinki should be a professor appointed for teaching in Swedish, unless such a person is Rector.
Text: Tiina Palomäki
Translation: Marina Kurtén