New union presidents: Fix university core funding

Text katja alaja images miika kainu Translation Marko Saajanaho

When considering the academic environment and how to improve it, the new union presidents immediately highlight university funding. According to The Finnish Union of University Professors’ Teija Laitinen and The Union of Research Professionals’ Antti Pajala, the share of core university funding should be larger in comparison to outcome-based funding, which should be relatively smaller. The current Finnish approach, focusing on outcome-based funding, has received international criticism.

“With the core funding at an adequate level and sustainable, research projects could be planned in the longer term. The universities could also make more new initiatives, like funding quality projects left without Academy of Finland funds”, says Laitinen, Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Vaasa.

Pajala adds that all fields in Finland are key fields, and the country stands or falls with its higher education sector. Multi-disciplinarity is a necessity. “I certainly do have this dream of core funding reaching across government terms. That would facilitate professors and researchers and teachers being able to do what they do best”, Pajala says.

”I thought I would have something to give as the President because I understand university politics and have also served as a shop steward since 2010. I am motivated by learning new things.” – Antti Pajala

Pajala serves as the Head of Division and University Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Turku. Stuck in his mind is a comment by a staff member of his division about the zigzagging funding as resources get moved from continuous to open education.

“The unions have good influencing capabilities”

According to Laitinen and Pajala, the unions have good influencing capabilities in the current scientific environment. Pajala counts The Union of Research Professionals, The Finnish Union of University Professors and The Union for University Teachers and Researchers in Finland (YLL) among the most major unions in the university sector.

“They do listen to us quite intently because the universities control the whole chain of education in Finland”, Pajala says.

According to Pajala, an important factor of influencing is continuous social discourse between different parties, although the most significant moment precedes each government term. Pajala, for instance, has discussed the vision for higher education with a Ministry of Education and Culture official, and Laitinen has met with Business Finland and Academy of Finland representatives regarding research-related questions. The list includes meetings with e.g., financiers and politicians, especially Education and Culture Committee members, which result in referrals.

”In our proposals, we always consider how to improve the status of our members and sponsors. That is not setting anyone against anyone else, that is working to make Finland more competitive” – Teija Laitinen

”In our proposals, we always consider how to improve the status of our members and sponsors. That is not setting anyone against anyone else, that is working to make Finland more competitive”, Laitinen emphasises.

Improving multi-language practices

Pajala’s list of issues to improve also includes international staff and their position. For example, 17% of the University of Turku’s staff already consists of international workers.

“One reason our universities are increasingly international is their inability to attract Finnish employees any longer. For example, our Masters of Science in Engineering find employment in industry, where they can earn a couple thousand euros more. This is starting to become noticed”, Pajala highlights.

Pajala adds that the unions must continue pursuing pay raises because wages are important to international experts too.

At this point, Laitinen reminds us that professors should also make sure the demands and performance category of their contracts match their job description.

”Balanced finances make effective advocacy work possible, something the Union does for its members at the personal, local, national, and international levels.” – Teija Laitinen

It is also important to establish strong multi-language practices at each university, something The Union of Research Professionals has insisted on. Pajala tells us the University of Turku is working on language guidelines – the meeting documents of the Board, the Collegiate Council, and Faculty Councils will be translated into English.

At the union level, both The Finnish Union of University Professors and The Union of Research Professionals are constantly joined by new international members, so improving member services will remain a focus. Of The Union of Research Professionals current members, as many as one in four already have foreign backgrounds.

“Our union also has members on the professor tenure track, whose questions regarding employment are different to full professors. We provide tailored advice and assistance to our members in different situations”, Laitinen concludes.