Prime Minister Juha Sipilä
Address on behalf of the Government at the University of Helsinki opening of the academic year on 31 August 2015
(subject to changes)
Chancellor,
Rector,
Comissioner,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Academic Community,
It is a great honour to stand in one of Finland’s most prestigious rooms! This particular Great Hall has been the venue for notable patriotic celebrations, high-quality concerts and important conferences. And most importantly: in this building, in this hall, the very idea of Finland was created. University activity in Finland is older than most state functions. The University of Helsinki’s 375-year history covers a significant period of our country’s history. At the same time, I am delighted that the University of Helsinki also fares so well in university ranking surveys. It shows that the work done here has produced results that stands up to international comparison.
Finland’s political and economic success story has been a story of education and everyone’s equal opportunities to influence issues. Parties outside the universities have always shown great interest in the highest education and research. In the 19th century, these changes related to building the idea of a nation. During the last century, universities have been needed to produce the welfare state and for the needs of different areas. In Western countries, the universities’ task is also to provide research data as a basis for political decision-making, to educate, and to increase students’ social capital and know-how.
A great past creates pressures on the universities – and the entire school system. Finland’s Universities Act of 2009 sets higher education establishments a strong national mission. They must “promote free research and academic and artistic education, provide higher education based on research, and educate students to serve their country and humanity”. In carrying out their mission, the universities must promote lifelong learning, interact with the surrounding society and promote the societal impact of research findings and artistic activities. The Act also states that the universities must arrange their activities so as to assure a high international standard in research, education and teaching in conformity with ethical principles and good scientific practices.
Every autumn, thousands of young people start their studies in the universities. For a long time now, a strength of Finnish society has been that any one of us has been able to study to the limit of our knowledge, skills and motivation. This has not been dependent on students’ or their parents’ wealth or social status or place of residence. This equality of opportunities must also be maintained in future.
Although, in Finland, universities are viewed today as “universities of science and research”, it must be remembered that the universities continue to have an important educational function: a rapidly internationalising world needs young people’s knowledge, skill and courage to take their place in society. In law, the university is defined as an educator, but equally important are the students’ own organisations, such as student unions, nations and societies as well as faculty and subject bodies. The sufficiency of the content of knowledge, the objectives of education and the goals of teaching are topical issues. They require a vision of the future. What kind of Finns do we wish our young people to become through education? I hope that the universities still take seriously this mission to educate, at a time when broad and responsible thinking, an ability to work for the good of their community, and optimism in the future are required. The universities must continue to encourage critical thinking and creativity. University-based start-up activity and increased academic entrepreneurship are examples of this. Universities that compete internationally still have a role to play in their local settings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are currently experiencing one of the weakest periods of Finland’s economic history. If the forecasts for this year’s economic growth are realised, at the end of this year our economy will be around five per cent smaller than before the start of the international financial crisis in 2008.
Our economic development has been clearly weaker than in the rest of the euro area or in our peer countries Sweden and Germany. Finland’s growth prospects have become gloomier while elsewhere in the euro area rapid growth has already been achieved in some places. As a consequence of poor competitiveness, unemployment rose in June to ten per cent. Compared with June the previous year, growth of unemployment in Finland was the fastest in the euro area. This a structural crisis for the Finnish economy, not a temporary setback or cyclical downturn.
The funding of the welfare society is not on a sustainable foundation. There is a sustainability gap in public finances. Even in normal conditions for the development of the economy and employment, fiscal revenue will not be sufficient to finance public spending as defined by current criteria. If the structural imbalance of revenue and expenditure is not corrected, public debt threatens to grow uncontrollably. By opposing the proposed savings, one supports continued living on debt. The only way to save the Finnish welfare society is to cut expenses, implement structural reforms and improve competitiveness and other prerequisites for growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As a result of this serious economic situation, I challenge and encourage you. The Government cannot allow our country to continue living beyond our means. This means cuts in benefits and beyond. Our economy will not improve significantly for some time. In future, we must be able to do more and better with fewer resources. It is often possible to achieve greater effectiveness with less money. I know from my own experience that scarcity may also bring about creativity. It is, to a great extent, a question of attitude.
I urge you to seek creative solutions and new ways to safeguard the level of high-quality research and teaching. In you, the academic community, we will find the ability, knowledge and skills for this.
We must boldly renew ourselves, dare to give up old operating practices, and change our way of thinking. Renewal must be a continuous process and state of mind.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
What is the university’s mission today and in the future? More information is being produced than ever before. Research is carried out in the different administrative branches, in cities’ information centres and in labour market organisations as well as in bank and business research institutions and think-tanks. At the same time, social media is spreading messages more widely and in real time. The fragmentation of information underlines the importance of universities’ high-quality, independent and critical research.
The Government is committed to implementing a structural policy programme aimed at reforming Finnish society in its entirety. I hope for my part that the universities, its researchers and students will give their support to the joint structural measures that must now be launched immediately. Seven lean years must be endured so that fat years can be enjoyed once again.
In the future, we must have the courage to focus on implementing the reforms that are most important for the future and the sustainability of the welfare society. Identifying these changes will require broad-based and profound expertise. Impact assessments must be done properly. Stronger overall control must be exerted beyond administrative branch boundaries. For this task, we need the support of the universities and other higher education establishments.
Allow me, for myself and on behalf of the Government, to congratulate the country’s oldest university in its anniversary celebrations, and to wish it the strength to build a better future – in Helsinki, in Finland and worldwide.