Tampere University of Technology will start operating in the form of a foundation from the beginning of 2010 if the Finnish Parliament approves the bill for a new Universities Act.
Rector Markku Kivikoski describes the decision to establish the university foundation as historical. "The process has advanced rapidly in spite of the difficult economic situation. This shows that TUT has strong support from industry and government to go ahead with the foundation". TUT foundation will be the second university foundation in Finland. The other is Aalto University.
According to Rector Kivikoski the bases to establishing a university foundation are first-rate. He believes that the form of a foundation will bring TUT more flexibility in interacting with the rest of society, as well as more freedom to invest in new openings in research and the quality of teaching and to develop more versatile internal incentive schemes.
Kivikoski remarks that it is of great importance to the reform that the foundation model is piloted by more than one university. "The role of a sparring partner suits Tampere University of Technology. The example set by the TUT-sized Chalmers University from Sweden shows that the model works."
Kivikoski is also pleased that the TUT Student Union too supports the university foundation.
Tampere University of Technology (TUT) conducts scientific research in technology and architecture and provides higher education within these fields. Leading-edge fields of research at the University are signal processing, nanophotonics, biotechnology and intelligent machines. Practically all who graduate from TUT find employment, predominantly in the service of business life.
Established in 1965, the University has grown to become a significant influence on technology in Finland and abroad. TUT plays a pivotal role as an advocate of business life, internationalization and well-being in the Tampere Region and western Finland as a whole.
TUT consists of five faculties and 22 departments.
