University Board Elects Leena Nissilä as Chair

Docent, Doctor of Philosophy Leena Nissilä, an alum of the University of Oulu in Finnish language, currently serves as Director of the Institute for the Languages of Finland (Kotus). Over the course of her career, Nissilä has held leadership and expert positions at the Finnish National Agency for Education and academic and expert roles at the Universities of Oulu, Helsinki and Tallinn. She has led steering groups and working groups focused on educational development in ministries, universities and the Finnish National Agency for Education. She has also served on the Finnish Matriculation Examination Board for 20 years.

“As Chair of the Board, I want to emphasise the importance of trust and open dialogue within the university community and with the surrounding society. The Board’s role is to support the university leadership and the entire university community in their important work. The University of Oulu plays an immensely important role for northern Finland,” says Leena Nissilä, the newly elected Chair of the University Board of Directors.

“In today’s world, safeguarding academic freedom is especially crucial. I also consider it vital to ensure the quality of teaching and to strengthen student wellbeing and their confidence in the future,” Nissilä adds.

Docent, Doctor of Medicine Sakari Karjalainen served as Secretary General of the Cancer Foundation Finland until 2022. Previously, he worked as Director General for Education and Science Policy and as Head of the Science Policy and Health Research units at the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Academy of Finland. Karjalainen has also worked as a researcher at the Finnish Cancer Registry, as Chief Medical Officer at the National Board of Health, and as Senior Assistant and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Tampere.

The Board of Directors is the highest decision-making body of the university. It determines the main goals of the university’s operations and finances, its strategy and steering principles, as well as the operational and financial plan, the budget, and the financial statements.

The University Board of Directors consists of ten members. The professors, other staff and students have each elected two representatives. Four members from outside the university community have been appointed by the University Collegium. According to the Universities Act, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board must be selected from among the external members.

The Secretary of the Board continues to be the university’s Administrative Director, Essi Kiuru.