Personnel transfer

I wish to respond to an important issue that has been raised spontaneously.

It has been enquired as to why all personnel are not directly transferred to Aalto’s new career systems already this year, as is done with permanent professors.

I understand the situation, but it is highly important that we have adequate time to examine each person’s work situation before the transfer. This requires individual development discussions with the supervisor. We wish to ensure that supervisors are up to date with the essentials of the new career system and we are therefore organizing management-level trainings this fall to discuss the essentials of the career system and the Aalto University strategy.

The first draft of the strategy has been completed, and the schools must be given the opportunity to discuss it. According to my estimation, the planning of school- and department-specific strategies cannot begin until at the turn of the year. A key element to this work are the results of the research evaluation, which were finalized a couple weeks ago.

The transfer of professors is the only thing that can be done immediately. Professors are already in the Tenure track and have been evaluated within the new career system. We still need instructions that determine on what grounds other personnel will be transferred to the new career system. Similarly, we need school- and department-specific strategies that can be utilized in the relocation of personnel.

One of the most important aims of the career system is that the university commits to the development of its personnel and thus breaks away from the cycle of continuous fixed-term employment contracts. Unfortunately, implementing this change requires so much time that we will not be able to complete it before the end of the year. After that, we can prioritize transfers so that the work situation of those on fixed-term contracts can be handled first.

So to clarify: although we do not have the time to transfer all personnel to new career systems by the end of the year, all employment contracts will be transferred to Aalto with the existing terms. So we are not planning to implement any “trial periods” or give notices in any personnel group.

Best regards,
Tuula

Time for serious action

As the Implementing Act of the new Universities Act came into force, we have moved several steps forward toward the launching of the new university. The Boards of the three universities reappointed the Board of Aalto University on August 14, in accordance with the Universities Act, and my own role as President was reaffirmed in the Aalto University Board meeting on August 17.

Now that we are fully authorized, we can continue our planning with renewed force and can soon begin to realize our plans. The first draft of Aalto University’s strategy was formulated as a result of months of preparation by the change teams and the Board. During the spring, several parts of the strategy were opened for public feedback, generating valuable ideas, criticism, and encouragement. I myself became involved in the preparations on April 1 and in July I compiled the first draft of the strategy, based on the final reports presented by the change teams. This draft has now been discussed by the Aalto University Board, the rectors, the students, the Boards of the three universities, and the cooperation councils for the first time. The strategy will be further refined throughout the fall. We have also launched discussions concerning the first draft of the ordinance and the new university’s organization.

So the preparations are gradually moving on toward implementation and we are now more ready to also make decisions. First priority is given to issues that must be ready by January 1, 2010, such as the transfer of contracts and insurances to Aalto University, as well as the transfer of academic personnel to new career systems. The specially appointed preparation teams began to plan these issues Friday, September 4. We now possess a large number of competent people at Aalto University to support concrete decision-making.

The aim is to finalize preparations for the transfer of permanent professorships by the end of the year. All other personnel will be transferred to Aalto in accordance with the existing contracts at the turn of the year and their relocation into the new career system will be carried out during the year 2010.

The confirmation of Aalto’s organization will be followed by the recruitment of university administration, vice rectors, and other administrative personnel. I am currently in the process of conducting interviews with, for example, candidates appointed by the university rectors as vice rectors. This process will continue at least until the end of September, after which I will invite proposals for suitable candidates also from other parties within the university. As for administrative personnel, we will consider all internal candidates, but will also seek for necessary expertise outside the university, if necessary.

I wish You a good fall!
Tuula