The Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies is an independent institute of the University of Helsinki.
The Collegium’s mission is to
1) offer scholars a state-of-the-art research environment that is attractive and international for conducting research in the humanities and social sciences
2) reform research in the humanities and social sciences and to promote interdisciplinary research
3) collaborate with the University faculties and engage researchers to participate actively in the researcher education offered by the University.
The Collegium is governed by its Executive Board and Director. The Executive Board represents various academic constituencies of the University of Helsinki, and the Director is an active scholar with an international orientation. Dr. Hanne Appelqvist began her term as the director of the Collegium in January 2024.
The Collegium also has a deputy director, whose responsibilities include developing programs with external funding as well as the Collegium's publication series, in addition to doing active research as university researcher. Dr. Svetlana Vetchinnikova has held the position of deputy director at HCAS since September 2024.
In addition, the Collegium organizes regular staff meetings and has an Internal Committee for Academic Affairs that assists the Director, the Deputy Director, and the Research Coordinator in planning the academic program of HCAS.
The Collegium may have committees and other forums appointed by the director to support them in academic decision-making.
The Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies has a Board entrusted with the following duties in addition to those stipulated in the Regulations of the University of Helsinki:
Vice Rector Hanna Snellman (Chair) / Director Ritva Dammert
Vice Dean Terhi Utriainen / Dean Petri Luomanen
Vice Dean Sakari Melander / Vice Dean Dorota Gozdecka
Vice Dean Krister Lindén / Vice Dean Tiina Airaksinen
Dean Markku Jahnukainen / Vice Dean Auli Toom
Vice Rector Elina Oinas / Professor N/A
Vice Dean Timo Kaartinen / Vice Dean Jari Eloranta
University Researcher Katja Kujanpää / Postdoctoral Researcher Kerkko Nordqvist
Doctoral Researcher Eero Karjalainen / Doctoral Researcher N/A
(Member / Deputy Member)
The Board of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies comprises nine (9) members, each of whom has a deputy. Of the members, seven (7) represent the research fields and academic leadership of the City Centre Campus. The Collegium staff elects one member and their deputy from among themselves. The University of Helsinki Student Union elects one postgraduate student member and their deputy from among themselves for a term of two years.
The Rector of the University appoints the members of the Board. The Board elects a vice chair from amongst its members.
The Helsinki Collegium has an international Academic Advisory Board, whose members are appointed by the Rector of the University. The Collegium’s Academic Advisory Board includes five (5) members who are distinguished scholars in the fields represented at the Collegium. The rector of the University invites, on the proposal of the Board, the members to serve on the Academic Advisory Board for a term of three years.
Ann Phoenix, Professor of Psychosocial Studies, University College London
Camilla Serck-Hanssen, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oslo & Director of the Center for Advanced Study, Norway
Balázs Trencsényi, Professor of History, Central European University & Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at CEU
Peter Holquist, Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania
Jo Shaw, Professor of Law, University of Edinburgh
The duty of the Academic Advisory Board is to, together with the director and Board: