University Of Helsinki Board Welcomes Nine Applicants To First-round Interviews For The Rector’s Position

A total of 19 individuals applied for the position of rector of the University of Helsinki.

The Board of the University decided to invite the following individuals to an interview for the rectorship:

Jari Kinaret, PhD
Professor of Physics Jari Kinaret is the Head of the Condensed Matter and Materials Theory Division at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

Sari Lindblom, PhD
Psychologist and Professor of Higher Education Sari Lindblom is the Rector of the University of Helsinki.

Jukka Mähönen, LLD
Jukka Mähönen is Professor of Cooperative Law at the University of Helsinki.

Johanna Mäkelä, DSocSci
Professor of Food Culture Johanna Mäkelä is the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki.

Kai Nordlund, PhD
Professor of Computational Materials Physics Kai Nordlund is one of the Vice-Rectors of the University of Helsinki.

Kimmo Nuotio, LLD
Kimmo Nuotio is Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Helsinki and heads the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy.

Sami Pihlström, PhD
Sami Pihlström is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Helsinki.

Kalle-Antti Suominen, PhD
Professor of Physics Kalle-Antti Suominen is the Vice-Rector for research at the University of Turku.

Mari Walls, PhD
Professor Mari Walls is the President of Tampere University and the managing director of the Tampere University Foundation.

The Board of the University selects the rector for a fixed term of up to five years starting on 1 August 2023. After the first interview round, the Board will shortlist the top applicants, who will be interviewed by the University Collegium on 9 March 2023 in the second round. The aim is to appoint the rector by the end of March 2023.

In accordance with the Universities Act, the rector is responsible for the economical, efficient and effective discharge and further development of the University’s duties. Among other things, the rector is required to have a doctoral degree, a broad knowledge of the academic world as well as a vision for research and education policy, a collaboration network extending to a range of stakeholders, and solid leadership experience.