The coronavirus pandemic continued to affect the University's operations in early 2022 and the related restrictions were lifted starting 1 March 2022. The recommendation for remote working ended and the restrictions on contact teaching were lifted. Teaching and working continued on a hybrid model.
The exceptional circumstances brought about by the coronavirus pandemic continued to mark the University's activities in 2021. In the spring, we began our second year of working and studying remotely. The autumn ushered in a brighter atmosphere: we were finally able to return to a more free day-to-day life and could work and study on site on the University premises. At the turn of the year, the deteriorating coronavirus situation forced us to return to observing stricter restrictions on operations.
The year 2021 saw changes in the University leadership in accordance with the established order of retirement from duties and their rotation. All 11 faculties selected deans for four-year terms to start at the beginning of 2022. This group of deans includes both new position holders as well as individuals who held the same position during the previous term. A new Board was elected for the University of Helsinki.
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For most of us, the year 2020 boils down to one word: corona. In mid-March, the University’s operations changed radically. The premises were closed, teaching was transferred online and, as a rule, the University community started working and studying remotely. During this exceptional year, much had to be organised in new ways on short notice, including entrance examinations.
The year 2018 was a year of major organisational changes at the University of Helsinki: the new University Board began its term at the beginning of the year, a new 50-member University Collegium was elected in February, and a new rector and vice-rectors took office. Our research results are indisputably of the highest level and our researchers have succeeded well in the European Research Council’s funding rounds: in 2018, seven new projects at the University received ERC funding. In 2018 the University actively lobbied ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections and engaged in the #Researchmatters campaign to communicate to the public and decision-makers alike the importance of research and research-based teaching.
The year 2017 marked the beginning of the University of Helsinki’s new strategy period, which is guided by our vision of global impact in interaction. The University wants to contribute to a better world by taking an increasingly active role in the resolution of global problems. We join forces with partners and stakeholders both in Finland and abroad. In September, the new Think Corner – a meeting place for science and citizens – was opened in the heart of Helsinki.The popularity of Think Corner surpassed all expectations:during the first three months since its opening, over 250 events, with more than 30,000 participants, were hosted.
The University of Helsinki Annual Review 2016 and Strategy Review 2013–2016 describes the operational results of the University of Helsinki during the strategy period 2013–2016. The strategy period 2013−2016 was successful for the University of Helsinki, but it also contained its moments of hardship.
During the strategy period, the University launched an extensive reform of its Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes; this reform is known as the Big Wheel. In autumn 2017, 32 new broad-based Bachelor’s programmes will be launched along with 60 Master’s programmes.