The board
The Board is the highest decision-making body at the University. The University also has an international advisory board, which supports the Board and rector in research issues related to strategy, research policy, the University’s profile and the assessment of the quality of research in various fields.
The Board

The Board is the supreme decision-making body of the University of Helsinki. The tasks of the Board include:

  • deciding on the central objectives of the university’s operations and finances, the strategy and steering principles
  • deciding on the university's operative and financial planning as well as on the budget, and prepare the financial statements
  • controlling the university's asset management and use, unless the Board has transferred the authority to the Rector
  • organising accounting and asset management monitoring
  • approving agreements that are significant or principled for the university, and issuing statements on major university-related matters of principle
  • on behalf of the university, approving a performance agreement with the Ministry of Education
  • appointing the Rector(s) and deciding on their work distribution, and discharging the Rector if there is an acceptable and justified reason for that, taking into account the nature of the assignment
  • approving the University Statutes and other regulations for general organisation, and deciding on the university's operational structure
  • making a proposal to the Ministry of Education on changing the university's educational responsibility
  • deciding on the number of students accepted to the university.

The Rector is responsible for the preparation, presentation and implementation of matters processed by the Board.

The Board of the University of Helsinki 2022-2025

The chairman of the University Board is Niklas Bruun and the vice-chairman is Ilona Herlin

Professors

Markku Kulmala
Henrik Meinander
Risto Renkonen​​​​​​​

Researchers, teachers and other staff

Marja Mikkola
Timo Valtonen

Students (term from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023)

Paula Karhunen
Sebastian Österman

External to the University

Niklas Bruun
Ilona Herlin
​​​​​​​Sanni Lehtinen
Ilona Riipinen
Mari Pantsar

Contact information

Secretary of the Board of Directors
Minna Frimodig
tel. +358 2941 22799
hy-hallitus@helsinki.fi
PO Box 33 (Yliopistonkatu 4)
00014 University of Helsinki
The University Col­legium

The Helsinki university collegium has 48 members: professors have 16 members, the university's education and research staff and other staff have a total of 16 members, and students have 16 members. The term of the university collegium is 4 years; however, the student members are chosen for a two-year term. Provisions on the election of the members of the university collegium are laid down in the election statutes.

The tasks of the university collegium include:

  • deciding on the number of Board members, and the term of office duration of the Board and its members
  • appointing members from outside the university community to the university Board
  • confirming the university community groups' selections as Board members
  • releasing Board members from their positions based on a proposal by the Board
  • appointing the university auditors
  • confirming the university's financial statements and annual report, as well as decide on granting a discharge from liability for Board members and the Rector
  • deciding on filing an action for damages against a Board member, the Rector, and the auditor.
  • appointing the Chancellor
  • convening at least twice a year to discuss significant matters dealing with the entire university

Con­tact infor­mation

Secretary to the University Collegium
Juha Hurme
Tel. +358 2941 22021
juha.hurme@helsinki.fi
P.O. Box 3
00014 University of Helsinki
In­ter­na­tional Ad­vis­ory Board

The University of Helsinki has an international strategic advisory board appointed by the Board. The mission of this advisory board shall be to support the University Board and rector in research issues related to strategy, research policy, the University's profile and the assessment of the quality of research in various fields. (Regulations of the University of Helsinki, 12 §)

The Board of the University of Helsinki has confirmed the following to members of the International Advisory Board of the University of Helsinki:

  • Professor Milena Žic Fuchs, Full Professor at University of Zagreb, Member of the Scientific Council of the ERC, Croatia
  • Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott, Vice President, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
  • Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, past president of the ERC, France
  • Professor Felix Dapare Dakora, President, the African Academy of Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
  • Professor Peter Gruss, President/CEO, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan
  • Professor Kohei Itoh, President, Keio University, Japan
  • Dr Peter Riedler, Rector, University of Graz, Austria
  • Professor Eva Åkesson, Professor at Lund University, past vice-chancellor of Uppsala University, Sweden

In all IAB matters please contact the Head of Planning Dr. Markus Kajanto.