Åbo Akademi University

infobox University
name = Åbo Akademi University
native_name = Åbo Akademi


established = 1918
type = Public
rector = Prof. Jorma Mattinen
chancellor = Christoffer Taxell
staff = 1127
students = 7941
city = Turku
country = Finland
campus = Urban
affiliations = Coimbra Group
website = http://www.abo.fi

Åbo Akademi University is a Swedish language university in Turku, Finland (Åbo is the Swedish name for Turku). The university was founded in 1918, and is the oldest of the three universities in the city, the other two being the University of Turku and the Turku School of Economics. As of 2004, there are 7 941 students and a staff consisting of 1125 people. The university has activities not only in Turku, but also in Vaasa, Jakobstad, Helsinki and on Åland. Åbo Akademi was a private institution until 1981, when it was turned into a public institution.

Åbo Akademi should not be confused with the Royal Academy of Åbo, which was founded in 1640, but moved to Helsinki after the Turku fire of 1827 and is today known as the University of Helsinki.

As the only Swedish university in Finland Åbo Akademi University is responsible for higher education for all of the Swedish-speaking population (there is also some education given in Swedish at the University of Helsinki, but successful studies there require knowing Finnish). This role has many implications, on the education and research as well as on the social environment. As there are few students in most subjects, cooperation between the subjects and with other universities is very important.

A significant minority of the students are Finnish-speaking. While Turku in itself is mostly Finnish, the university provides a strong Swedish environment. Most of the students, regardless of original language, will be functionally bilingual when finishing their studies.

The university has a policy that non-Swedish speaking applicants from the Nordic countries are required to participate in a Swedish language test, in order to prove their ability to successfully study in Swedish. Applicants from non-Nordic countries can, however, choose between Swedish or English language tests.

Organisation

The university consists of seven faculties:
* Arts
* Mathematics and Natural Sciences
* Economics and Social Sciences
* Technology
* Theology
* Education (located mainly in Vaasa, with one institution in Jakobstad)
* Social and Caring Sciences (located in Vaasa)

In addition, there are several other units and joint programs, such as:
* MediaCity (located in Vaasa)
* Language Centre
* Centre for Continuing Education
* Institute of Human Rights
* Turku PET Centre (jointly run by Turku University, Åbo Akademi and the Turku University Hospital)
* Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS) (in co-operation with Turku University, among others)
* Turku Centre for Biotechnology (in co-operation with Turku University, among others)

When the university was turned into a public institution the foundation Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi remained. Besides maintaining many of buildings of the university, it is also a significant donor. The universities in Finland are now going to be turned into private institutions, Åbo Akademi University probably formally into a company.

External links

* [http://www.abo.fi/ Åbo Akademi University]
* [http://www.vasa.abo.fi/vasa/ Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa]