Åbo Akademi University
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Åbo Akademi University (Template:Langx Template:IPA, Template:IPA) is the only exclusively Swedish language multi-faculty university in Finland (or anywhere outside Sweden).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is located mainly in Turku (Åbo is the Swedish name of the city) but has also activities in Vaasa. 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.
Åbo Akademi was founded by private donations in 1918 as the third university in Finland, both to let Turku again become a university town and because it was felt that the Swedish language was threatened at the University of Helsinki. The Finnish University of Turku was founded in 1920, also by private donations and for similar reasons. Åbo Akademi was a private institution until 1981, when it was turned into a public institution.Template:Infobox university rankings
As the only uni-lingually Swedish multi-faculty university in the world outside Sweden and consequently the only one in Finland, Åbo Akademi University is responsible for higher education for a large proportion of the Swedish-speaking population. This role has many implications for education and research as well as for the social environment. As there are few students in most subjects, cooperation between faculties and with other universities is very important.
A minority of students are Finnish speakers who have passed a university entrance Swedish language test. While Turku itself is a bilingual city, the university provides a strong Swedish environment. Most of the students, regardless of their original language, will be functionally bilingual when finishing their studies.
Organisation
After reorganization approved in February 2025,<ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/news/abo-akademi-universitys-board-approved-organizational-restructuring-and-cost-saving-measures/</ref> the university consists of two faculties:
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, with departments:
- Business and Economics and Law (Turku) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-human-and-social-sciences/department-of-business-and-economics-and-law/</ref>
- Humanities (Turku) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-human-and-social-sciences/department-of-humanities/</ref>
- Education (Vaasa) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-human-and-social-sciences/department-of-education/</ref>
- Social Sciences (Turku) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-human-and-social-sciences/department-of-social-sciences/</ref>
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, with departments:
- Natural and Health Sciences (Turku) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-science-and-engineering/department-of-natural-and-health-sciences/</ref>
- Engineering and Information Technology (Turku) <ref>https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/faculties/faculty-of-science-and-engineering/department-of-engineering-and-information-technology/</ref>
In addition, there are several other units and joint programs, such as:
- Language Centre
- Centre for Lifelong Learning
- Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 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)
- Vasa övningsskola, located in Vaasa, is the normal school of the teacher training programme.
While the university turned into a public institution, the foundation Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi remained. Besides maintaining many of the university buildings, it is also a significant donor.
Rectors
The following people have served as rectors of Åbo Akademi:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1918–1921: Edvard Westermarck
- 1921–1929: Template:Ill
- 1929–1936: Otto Andersson
- 1936–1942: Template:Ill
- 1942–1950: Template:Ill
- 1950–1957: Lars Erik Taxell
- 1957–1962: Template:Ill
- 1962–1966: Template:Ill
- 1966–1969: Template:Ill
- 1969–1975: Template:Ill
- 1975–1978: Template:Ill
- 1978–1982: Template:Ill
- 1982–1988: Template:Ill
- 1988–1997: Template:Ill
- 1997–2005: Template:Ill
- 2006–2014: Template:Ill
- 2015–2019: Template:Ill
- 2019–1 November 2021: Moira von Wright
- 2022–4 April 2025: Template:Ill
- 4 April 2025–present: (Acting Rector) Template:Ill
See also
References
External links
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