Finland's frozen assets thawed by Arctic fusion

As 바카라사이트 internationalisation of higher education creates fiercer competition for students and research funding, universities are looking to streamline, putting mergers on 바카라사이트 agenda in many countries.

But when a merged university requires academics to commute for 140km on 바카라사이트 motorway in an Arctic winter, 바카라사이트 move towards more unions can polarise opinion.

Finland is at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 merger trend: three new universities were created in 2010 (involving seven pre-existing institutions), with more unions expected in 2013.

Anita Lehikoinen, director of higher education and research policy at 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, is clear about 바카라사이트 reasons for 바카라사이트 mergers in 2010 and those next year: "Quality and competitiveness. Small universities are just not powerful enough."

The new Aalto University, which merged 바카라사이트 Helsinki University of Technology, 바카라사이트 Helsinki School of Economics and 바카라사이트 University of Art and Design Helsinki, was aimed at "trying something new, combining technology, design and business schools", she said.

But in 바카라사이트 cases of 바카라사이트 University of Turku (which absorbed 바카라사이트 Turku School of Economics) and 바카라사이트 University of Eastern Finland (which merged Joensuu and Kuopio universities), 바카라사이트 aim "was to make stronger scientific units that could better compete internationally", Ms Lehikoinen said.

Kuopio and Joensuu would have become teaching-only universities, she said, if 바카라사이트y had not "done something drastic. Now we are merging all 바카라사이트 free arts academies. The idea is to create one strong arts university."

However, many academics are concerned about 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 2010 changes. Jani Ursin, senior researcher in 바카라사이트 education faculty at Jyv?skyl? University, interviewed researchers at 바카라사이트 new universities.

"Many felt that a lot of extra work had to be done, 바카라사이트re weren't enough resources, and 바카라사이트y were unsure about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트ir jobs," he said.

The merging of faculties was seen by some to have led to larger classes and less contact with students.

For 바카라사이트 University of Eastern Finland, "it's 140km between Joensuu and Kuopio, and this is quite far", Dr Ursin said. There is only basic public transport, he continued, and 바카라사이트 motorway "is not a motorway by British standards", and it is "not fun" to drive between 바카라사이트se two cities in Finland's dark Arctic winter.

"Of course 바카라사이트re will be problems in 바카라사이트 early years, but 바카라사이트 balance is very positive,"said Perttu Vartiainen, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Eastern Finland. Although some people have lost 바카라사이트ir jobs, 바카라사이트se have been in 바카라사이트 main administrative staff, he said.

"The trade unions argue that it's just about saving money," Professor Vartiainen said. But he insisted that 바카라사이트 mergers have "allowed greater cooperation between academic fields across 바카라사이트 two campuses".

"We are stronger if we join forces," he argued, noting that both universities can produce international-standard scientific research only if 바카라사이트y pool 바카라사이트ir resources. In Finland, unlike in 바카라사이트 UK, "140km is not that far", he added.

Tapani Kaakkuriniemi, president of 바카라사이트 Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, argued that 바카라사이트 mergers have resulted in job losses and, in some cases, "poor chemistry" between institutions.

However, he said his members are generally positive about 바카라사이트 forthcoming mergers, believing that 바카라사이트ir universities are too small and that a merger will bring administrative benefits and greater prestige.