The University of Oulu (Finnish: Oulun yliopisto) is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 16,000 students and 3,000 staff. Along with the University of Turku, it is ranked in the Academic Ranking of World Universities as the second best university in Finland and ranked between 201 and 301 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings.
1919 Oulu College Association was founded to manage the establishment of a university in the town1958 Oulu University Act1959 Activities begin. Faculty of Philosophy (programs in biology and mathematics), Faculty of Technology (architecture, civil and industrial engineering) and Oulu Teaching School1960 Faculty of Medicine1965 Teaching begins in humanities1965 Departments of Electrical Engineering and Machine Engineering added to the Faculty of Technology1972 The Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Natural Sciences founded with the division of the Faculty of Philosophy1974 Faculty of Education1985 Professorship in Telecommunications Technology established at the Faculty of Technology1994 Biotechnology, Information Technology and Northern Issues defined as focus areas2000 Founding of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration2006 Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre2007 Oulu Mining School2008 Martti Ahtisaari Institute of Global Business and Economics2009 Center for Internet Excellence (CIE)2010 New University Act, new focus areas2011 Center of Microscopy and Nanotechnology founded by joining the Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre and the Institute for Electron Microscopy2011 University of Oulu Graduate School (from 1.8.2011)2014 Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (from 1.1.2014)2014 Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (from 1.1.2014)2014 Oulu School of Architecture (from 1.1.2014)There are four campus areas:
The main campus is located in Linnanmaa, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north of Oulu city centre. It includes five faculties, Infotech Oulu, Thule Institute, Giellagas Institute, Martti Ahtisaari Institute, Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), Centre for Advanced Steel Research (CASR), Center of Microscopy and Nanotechnology, Botanical Gardens and Museum, Zoological Museum, Geological Museum and two science libraries (Pegasus and Tellus).Faculty of Medicine has its own campus area and it is fully integrated in the regional hospital 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southeast from the city center, Kontinkangas, Oulu. Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Welltech Oulu and the Medical Library are also located there.The third campus area is located in Kajaani, about 185 kilometres (115 mi) southeast of Oulu.Department of Architecture which is located in the center of OuluThe University has a number of research stations and shared locations, most notably:
Kajaani University ConsortiumSodankylä Geophysical ObservatoryOulanka Biological Research Station (Kuusamo)Bothnian Bay Research Station on Ulkokrunni islandOulu Southern Institute (Nivala), Centre for Underground Physics in PyhäsalmiKokkola University Consortium ChydeniusRaahe UnitThe University of Oulu is divided into six faculties (from the biggest to the smallest when measured by the number of students):
Department of ArchitectureDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringDepartment of Process and Environmental EngineeringDepartment of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringDepartment of Telecommunications EngineeringDepartment of Industrial Engineering and ManagementDepartment of BiochemistryDepartment of BiologyDepartment of ChemistryDepartment of GeographyDepartment of GeologyDepartment of Information Processing ScienceDepartment of Mathematical SciencesDepartment of PhysicsInstitute of Biomedicine
Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyDepartment of Pharmacology and ToxicologyDepartment of PhysiologyDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyDepartment of Medical TechnologyInstitute of Diagnostics
Department of Clinical ChemistryDepartment of Medical MicrobiologyDepartment of Forensic MedicineDepartment of PathologyDepartment of Diagnostic RadiologyInstitute of Dentistry
Institute of Clinical Medicine
Department of AnaesthesiologyDepartment of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationDepartment of Dermatology and VenereologyDepartment of SurgeryDepartment of OtolaryngologyDepartment of PediatricsDepartment of NeurosurgeryDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of Clinical GeneticsDepartment of PsychiatryDepartment of OphthalmologyDepartment of Internal MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics and GynaecologyDepartment of Oncology and RadiotherapyInstitute of Health Sciences
Department of Nursing Science and Health AdministrationDepartment of Public Health Science and General PracticeDepartment of EconomicsDepartment of AccountingDepartment of FinanceDepartment of MarketingDepartment of Management and International BusinessMartti Ahtisaari Institute of Global Business and EconomicsOulu Business School is accredited by AACSB International
University of Oulu aims to promote mobility among its students. It takes part in a number of international exchange programmes, such as Erasmus Programme (Europe), Nordplus (Nordic Countries), FIRST (Russia), ISEP and International to International ISEP (USA, South America, Asia), UNC-EP (USA), north2north (USA, Canada, Russia, Nordic Countries), North-South-South (Africa). Besides, University of Oulu has about 50 bilateral agreements with partner universities around the world.
University works in 70 research areas. At the same time, four focus research areas are:
Information Technology (Machine vision and ubiquitous computing technologies, Wireless communications, High-speed electronics and photonics, Biomedical engineering, Information systems and software)Biosciences and Health (Cell-extracellular matrix research, Cardiovascular disease research, Enzyme structure and metabolic research, Genes and the environment)Cultural Identity and Interaction (Cultural Identity and Interaction; Language, education and interaction)Environment, Natural Resources and Materials (Environmental issues, natural resources and energy economy; materials science, properties and behaviour of matter, catalysts and material innovations; modelling and computational science)New initiatives involve advanced steel research, international business, mining and mineral engineering and science-based education.
Martti Ahtisaari, M.Sc., former President of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2008)Jarkko Oikarinen, D.Sc., the developer of Internet Relay Chat (IRC)Leena Palotie, D.Sc., professor, geneticistJussi Pesonen, M.Sc. (Tech.), CEO of UPM-Kymmene OyjSeppo Säynäjäkangas, D.Sc. (Tech.), professor, inventor of portable heart rate monitor and CEO of Polar Electro.Sakari Orava, D.Sc., professor, surgeon specializing in sports related injuries. Famous for operating surgeries on many top athletes such as David Beckham.Lasse Lehtinen, Ph.D., former Member of the Finnish Parliament and former Member of the European Parliament.Pekka Aikio, M.A. (Bio), president of the Sami Parliament of Finland for three terms from 1996 to 2008.Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa, Ph.D. Finnish Minister of Culture (1991-1995), member of the Finnish parliament, from the Centre Party (1983).Tuija Lehtinen, B.Sc., (Stat.), writer, freelance author. Known for Mirkka, Laura and Janne novel series, chief scriptwriter of The Dibidogs animation series.Sami Lopakka, M.A. musician and writer, one of two guitarists for the band Sentenced (1989-2005).Hannu Rajaniemi B.Sc. (Math), author of science fiction and fantasy. Known novel, The Quantum Thief.Ago Silde M.A., Estonian politician, governor of Ida-Viru County 2004-2007.Jari Vilén M.A., politician and a diplomat, served in the Finnish Parliament, representing the National Coalition Party and the district of Lapland(1999–2007).Sauli Vuoti Ph.D.(Chem), musician, chemist, and freelance writer, vocalist and guitarist of the band Kinetik Control, founder of Inferno magazine.University of Oulu alumni body is over 40,000.
Student Union of the University of Oulu (Finnish: Oulun yliopiston ylioppilaskunta; OYY) provides services to and supervises the interests of all undergraduate degree students in the University of Oulu. All bachelor's and master's degree students in the University of Oulu belong to the Student Union. By paying the Student Union membership fee students are entitled for a student card which allows them to get student services and discounts. This way, students get inexpensive or free medical and dental care from Finnish Student Health Services, (Finnish: Ylioppilaiden terveydenhoitosäätiö; YTHS) traveling discounts in trains and buses, student meals reduction etc.
There are a number of students organizations or so called student guilds presented within the university.
Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland (Finnish: Pohjois-Suomen opiskelija-asuntosäätiö; PSOAS) is the leading provider of student accommodation in Oulu. The organization operates on a foundation basis which ensures affordable rents for students. Following its mission, PSOAS offers housing services for people studying in Oulu as cheaply as possible. The residents of PSOAS houses in different areas around the city elect tenant committee for that area, which e.g. organises different activities, maintains club rooms and does other related issues, depending on the active members.
The new international student house, named Aurora, was built next to PSOAS housing office in downtown Oulu. The building was finished during the spring of 2013. The house is supposed to be accommodated both by international degree students and Finnish students. The main purpose of the new building is to support the internationalization of Oulu and give the international students a better access to Finnish culture and local people. The premises will also support these efforts: More space is dedicated for casual get-togethers, as there is a lounge space on every floor and a café of high level will be serving both Finnish and foreign customers on the ground floor.
