University of Jyväskylä


The University of Jyväskylä is a research university in Jyväskylä, Finland. It has its origins in the first Finnish-speaking Teacher Training College, founded in 1863. Around 15,000 students are currently enrolled in the degree programs of the university. It is ranked as the second largest university in Finland when measured according to the number of master's degrees conferred.

History

Founded in 1863, the university has its origins in the first Finnish-speaking teacher training college, the so-called Teacher Seminary. Uno Cygnaeus was enthusiastic to educate the people and created a programme for organising primary school education in Finland. Cygnaeus' plan was realised in 1863, when a teacher seminary was established in Jyväskylä, on the current university campus. Based on the town's central location, the first Finnish-medium secondary schools for boys and girls were also established in Jyväskylä. The foundation of the world-famous school system was created at the University of Jyväskylä. The teacher seminary evolved into the College of Education in 1937, at which time it was given the authority to grant doctorate degrees. In the 1960s, the college started teaching and researching in the sciences and in 1967 was renamed the .
Today the University of Jyväskylä is a nationally and internationally significant research university with expertise in education and a focus on human and natural sciences. The University is Finland’s leading expert in teacher training and adult education, as well as a major exporter of education. The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is the only one of its kind in the country.
The university offers a wide range of study programmes for master's degree conducted in English, many of which are unique in Finland. Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, Sports and Health Sciences as well as Teacher education are the university's areas of special expertise.

Size

The University has 15,000 students in addition to its adult education students, representing 40,000 students in total. Each year over two thousand new students are admitted and generally only a seventh of applicants are accepted; this makes University of Jyväskylä one of the most popular and selective universities in Finland. Measured according to the number of master's degrees conferred, the University of Jyväskylä is ranked as the second largest university in Finland.

Organisation

The University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, teacher training programmes and over 120 subject area disciplines.
The university is currently divided into six faculties:
Independent institutes in addition to faculties:
Centres of Excellence in Research nominated by the Academy of Finland:
2018-2025
2014-2019
2012‒2017
The University of Jyväskylä aims to offer its students the opportunity to study abroad and internationalisation at home. Therefore, the University of Jyväskylä is active in a variety of international programmes, such as the Lifelong Learning Programme, Nordplus, North-South-South Higher Education Exchange, FIRST and ISEP. The University has also concluded bilateral agreements on student exchange with 25 universities around the world. Altogether, the University is involved in student exchanges with more than 360 universities worldwide.

Campuses

The faculties and departments are mainly located on three campus areas: the Main Campus area in the city centre - where the original Teacher Seminary has first started - as well as Mattilanniemi and Ylistönrinne Campuses on opposite shores of Lake Jyväsjärvi, united by a bridge, some 10 minutes walk from the Main Campus area.
Several buildings in the main campus area were designed by famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Aalto received the commission to design the College of Education campus following a competition held in 1951. Aalto played on the idea of Jyväskylä's image among the town's inhabitants as it being the "Athens of the North", and layout of the campus reflects principles of Greek acropolis layouts. His scheme even included a Greek-style open-air theatre, though executed in minimal form.
Buildings in the campus area designed by Alvar Aalto:
In 1969-70 an architectural competition was arranged for the design of new university campus sites at Mattilanniemi and Ylistönrinne. The competition was won by architect Arto Sipinen, who had previously worked in Aalto's office. Sipinen also designed new buildings for the main campus, including a new main library.
The three campus areas of the university - Seminaarinmäki, Mattilanniemi and Ylistönrinne - constitute a multifaceted cultural and natural environment.
The Seminaarinmäki area is of particular interest as it depicts over 100 years of history of this institute of higher education. The three distinct eras in the history of the University, first as a Teacher Training College, then as the Jyväskylä College of Education, to its present-day university status are reflected in the buildings dating from the different periods.
The Teacher Seminary complex comprised five red brick buildings from 1879 to 1883 by architect Constantin Kiseleff. The old Seminar buildings and the college buildings designed by Alvar Aalto are all listed as buildings protected by the law.
Because of the need to build more facilities for the University, new buildings have been designed, many of them by achitect Arto Sipinen. The Faculty of Education and Psychology has the most recently designed facility, Ruusupuisto by SARC Architects Ltd. The building got its name from a former park from the beginning of the 20th century. It was named after the many luxuriant rosebushes planted on its southern hill.

Other institutes

Student Union

The Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä is the students’ very own organization. The basic task of the Student Union is to represent its members and protect their interests and rights at the University as well as in the surrounding society. All degree and exchange students enrolled in the University of Jyväskylä become members of the Student Union.

Accommodation

Kortepohja Student Village

Student Village is owned by the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä. Kortepohja, located about 2.5 kilometres from the Main Campus and city centre, housing approximately 1900 students.

Central Finland Student Housing Foundation, KOAS

KOAS offers ca. 3900 apartments all around the Jyväskylä town area. The apartment buildings are conveniently located in the suburbs of Jyväskylä.

Notable people and alumni