Over 80 academic leaders and deputy leaders will be elected at the University of Eastern Finland during 2025. In addition to Deans and Vice Deans, Heads and Deputy Heads of departments and schools will be elected for the term of office that starts at the beginning of 2026. As part of the process, UEF is also reforming the management of its departments and schools significantly.
– We wish to be profiled as a pioneer in the development of academic leadership among Finnish universities. Better management is reflected in the entire academic community through the well-being of our staff and students, says Rector Tapio Määttä.
According to Määttä, the most significant reform is that clearly defined working hours will be allocated to the duties of academic leaders at schools and departments. This makes it possible for them to focus on their leadership role without having to compromise on other duties. As a rule, leaders will use 50% – 80% and deputy leaders 30% – 50% of their working time for the duties of the leadership role depending on the size of the unit and the scope of the activities.
– We have also decided to compensate the working time used and the salaries related to leadership roles to the departments. This is necessary for the teaching and research duties of the leaders to be reassigned, e.g., through substitution arrangements. Next year, we are prepared to invest over 4 million euros at university level in the development of leadership, says Määttä.
The return of leaders to an academic role, such as a professor, after their term of office will be supported by means of a transition period. During this period, the person can focus, e.g., on research, networking, acquisition of funding or development of education.
The duration of the transition period is based on the duration of the term as a leader. After a four-year term of office, the maximum duration of the transition period is six months. When the term of office has lasted more than four years, the maximum duration of the transition period is 12 months.
UEF will also significantly develop the support services available to leaders to enable professional management of leadership duties. Comprehensive support will be provided to academic leaders, including leadership training, mentoring and peer support networks.
– I hope that clarifying the role and duties of academic leaders and developing the available support and orientation will make leadership positions more interesting than before. We need motivated leaders who are committed to the working community of 3,400 employees and 17,000 students at all levels of the organisation, says Määttä.
An internal call for applications for the posts of Heads of Departments and Schools of the university was launched in May. Two deputy heads will be selected to work with each head, one of whom will be responsible for education and one for research.
