Charter of Foundation for Aalto University Signed
Press Release, Ministry of Education, 25 June 2008
Minister of Education Sari Sarkomaa as representative of the state together with the other founders of Aalto University signed the Charter of Foundation and rules of the new university on June 25 in Helsinki. The university will start to operate in August 2009.
According to the charter of foundation, the Finnish Government will contribute EUR 200 million towards the basic capital of the university. In addition, EUR 37.5 million is to be donated by The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, EUR 37.5 million by Teknologiateollisuuden 100-vuotissäätiö, EUR 2 million by Liikesivistysrahaston kannatusyhdistys ry, EUR 1 million by the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers, and EUR 1 million each by the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers and the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates.
The capital of the university foundation will be formed by donations of at least EUR 700 million. This capital will be accumulated in stages during 2008-2010 by a Government donation of EUR 500 million and donations of at least EUR 200 million from Finnish industries and other financiers.
- The commitment of Finnish industries to the foundation of Aalto University and to its future development is unique in the history of Finnish universities and certainly noteworthy even by international standards. The significance of this project to Finnish society is illustrated by the fact that the alumni of three sectors, the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers (TEK), the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates (SEFE), and the Finnish Association of Designers (ORNAMO), strongly support the establishment of the new university financially as well as through their actions, said Sari Sarkomaa, Minister of Education and Science, at the signing of the charter of foundation.
Alongside the importance of financial prerequisites, Ms. Sarkomaa emphasised freedom of science and art and the autonomy of Aalto University.
- The charter of foundation states that the task of Aalto University is to promote independent research, advance science and art culture and education, offer the highest level of evidence-based teaching, and encourage its students to serve their country and humankind. The university is an independent, diverse science and art community, which complies in all its activities with a high international level of ethical standards. In the charter of foundation, the founders express through these sentences their will regarding the new university and its guiding principles, said Ms. Sarkomaa.
Ms. Sarkomaa thanked the university community for its enthusiastic and active participation in the project.
– According to our estimation, over 600 members of the university community formed by Helsinki University of Technology, the University of Art and Design and Helsinki School of Economics have taken part in the preparation of the new university through various working groups. Strengthening interaction within the entire university community is crucial for the success of this process of change.
The aim is to appoint a seven-member board for Aalto University at the beginning of August.
For more information, please contact
- Jari Jokinen, Project Director, +358 400 914839
- Laura Rissanen, Special Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science, +358 41 540 4505
The new Aalto University is formed through the merger of Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics, and the University of Art and Design.
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