Kalervo Väänänen is the new Rector of the University of Turku
Professor Kalervo Väänänen will begin his term as Rector on 1 August 2012.
Professor Kalervo Väänänen
The University Board decided to appoint Professor Kalervo Väänänen the new Rector of the University of Turku in their meeting on 15 February 2012. Currently the Academic Rector of the University of Eastern Finland, Väänänen was selected for the five-year term beginning on 1 August 2012. There were ten applicants for the position.
Kalervo Väänänen (born 1952) worked as Associate Professor in the University of Oulu between 1983 and 1997. He has been Professor of Cell Biology in the University of Turku since 1998. Additionally, Väänänen has acted as the Head of the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Turku, the Scientific Director of BioCity Turku, and a member of the Academy of Finland. He has also worked as a visiting researcher in the University of Kansas and as a visiting professor in Uppsala University.
- I accept the position of Rector in very positive yet humble spirits. The work will certainly be rewarding and challenging. The University of Turku is an important actor whose strength is based on high-quality research and education on many fields. In addition to this strong base, the University has many national and international areas of excellence, says Professor Väänänen.
Väänänen operates in several national and international expert positions and positions of trust. He has received many recognitions and scientific awards. Väänänen has actively developed business applications for research innovations and participated in the founding of research-based businesses.
- Kalervo Väänänen has extensive experience of the different sectors of the University. He has operated as a researcher and a teacher as well as in the administration of the University. The Board firmly believes that under Väänänen’s direction the University will be able to realise its new strategy and thus strengthen its position in the national and international competition, says Hannu Kokkonen, Chairman of the Board.
The Rector realises the university strategy by directing the University. He is responsible for the economic, profitable and efficient function of the University. He prepares the matters discussed in the Board meetings and implements the decisions of the Board.
The University's current Rector Keijo Virtanen has a remarkable career as the longest-standing Rector of the University of Turku. He has been appointed Rector five times, and by the time his term ends on 31 July 2012, he will have acted as Rector for 15 years.