The duty of the administration staff at the university is to create and maintain the operational framework for the basic duties – research, instruction, studying, and societal interaction. The ever changing work environment affects the operations of the university, and constantly creates new challenges and demands for changes in the administration. As the university is preparing for pinched resources, the administration is one of the university bodies that has to strive for more efficiency without endangering its professional support services.
In the report Sirpaleisuudesta kokonaisuuksiin (From fragmentariness to completeness), the investigator, Administrative Director Antti Savolainen looks into the improvement of administration from the viewpoint of administrative organisation, i.e. the viewpoint of administrative managers and steering structures. Changes to these bodies does not mean the same as developing the operational units structurally. One campus may contain several units, for example, even if the administration is one body. When the report speaks of administration, it refers to the support of decision-making, not the decision-making itself. A faculty, for example, may give up its independent department administrations, even if the departments still remain the decision-making level.
The report describes various alternatives for the present situation, evaluating them and their pros and cons. The report contains a suggestion for a more appropriate solution for the university. It presents the thoughts and comments gathered from campus staff. It also contains a compilation of administrative solutions from other Finnish universities and some foreign universities.
Administrative Director Antti Savolainen has delivered his report to the Rector on 31 August. The report has been discussed in the university steering committee and with the dean. The issue will be further processed after the university board has outlined the measures resulting from the government platform.