Faculty administration
The two faculties, which are administrative units, are led by deans and faculty boards. The term of office for deans of faculty is five years, and for faculty boards it is three years.
The academic units are led by heads of department and department boards, whose term of office is three years.
The faculty offices have secretarial teams that are coordinated by the heads of the faculty offices.
The Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
Arken
Tehtaankatu 2
20500 Åbo
Dean of Faculty: Malin Brännback
Professor, International Business
Head of Faculty Office: Tiina Heinistö
Contact the faculty administration: fhs@abo.fi
Department of Business and Economics, and Law
Head of Department: Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen
Professor, International Marketing
Department of Humanities
Head of Department: Jan Antfolk
Professor, Psychology
Department of Education
Head of Department: Michaela Pörn
Professor, Pedagogy
Department of Social Sciences
Head of Department: Kim Strandberg
Professor, Political Science
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Aurum
Henrikinkatu 2
20500 Åbo
Dean of Faculty: Reko Leino
Professor, Organic Chemistry
Head of Faculty Office: Heidi Karlsson
Contact the faculty administration: fnt@abo.fi
Department of Engineering and Information Technology
Head of Department: Anders Brink
Professor, Process and Systems Engineering
Department of Natural and Health Sciences
Head of Department: Ronald Österbacka
Professor, Physics
The Faculty Boards 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2028
The Faculty Board is composed of the Dean and, depending on the University Board decision, at least 9 and no more than 18 members, each of whom has a substitute member. Professors, the group composed of researchers, teachers and other personnel, and students have an equal representation on the Faculty Board that is elected to serve a term of three years.
Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
| Professors Members Carsten Anckar Mikaela Pörn Björn Sandvik Björn Vikström | Substitute members Jan Saarela Emmanuel Acquah Annika Laine-Kronberg Patrik Jern |
| Other Staff Members Viljam Engström Tom Gullberg Mira Karrasch Heini Ruohonen | Substitute members Kim-Erik Berts Inka-Maria Nyman Patrik Söderberg Jean-Claude Mutiganda |
| Students Members Artur Ekman Karin Holmberg Adam Lahtinen Aldo Sari | Substitute members Benjamin Björkell Karl Jansson René Närhi Niklas Westerby |
Faculty of Science and Engineering
| Professors Members Niklas Anttu Lisbeth Fagerström Johan Lilius Christian Pansch-Hattich Ron Zevenhoven | Substitute members István Prause Jessica Rosenholm Andreas Lundell Tiina Salminen Martti Toivakka |
| Other Staff Members Robert Lassfolk Annika Meinander Thomas Sandberg Conny Sjöqvist Marina Waldén | Substitute members Jesper Oliver Winsten Johan Lindén Johan Nyman Jessica Hemberg Mikael Kurula |
| Students Members Jenny Ek Jennifer Karlsson Ida Puskala Mikael Tuokko Kim Uotinen | Substitute members Tilde Strömsbäck Åke Härtull Gustav Johnsson Santeri Kylämäki Henrik Ojala |
The Department Councils 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2028
In addition to the Head of Department, a Department Council is composed of 6 to 12 members, each of whom has a substitute member. Professors, the group composed of researchers, teachers and other personnel, and students have an equal representation on the Department Council that is elected to serve a term of three years.
Department of Business and Economics, and Law
| Professors Members Edvard Johansson Henrik Ringbom Sia Spiliopoulou Åkerman | Substitute members Thomas Carrington Charlotta Niemistö Markku Suksi |
| Other Staff Members Johanna Lindström Anna Lönngren Jessica West | Substitute members Jonas Lagerström Johanna Friman Mikaela Heikkilä |
| Students Members Akseli Aaltonen Linda-Maria Frantz Samuel Valjus | Substitute members Oliver Huhtio Lina Hermansson Mikael Lehtinen |
Department of Education
| Professors Members Siv Björklund Mia Porko-Hudd Fredrik Rusk Michael Uljens | Substitute members Ria Heilä-Ylikallio Kristina Ström Katri Hansell Petri Salo |
| Other Staff Members Kim-Erik Berts Anders Fransen Heidi Hellstrand Jenny Teir | Substitute members Ann-Sofie Smeds-Nylund Annika Pastuhov Aida Ohtonen Mikaela Svanbäck-Laaksonen |
| Students Members Adam Lahtinen René Närhi Nea Olli Ida Lindqvist | Substitute members Emilia Grönlund Hannah Geberg Elin Friman Frida Holgers |
Department of Engineering and Information Technology
| Professors Members Jerker Björkqvist Henrik Grénman Carl-Eric Wilén Chunlin Xu | Substitute members Ivan Porres Paltor Cataldo De Blasio Magnus Hellström Martti Toivakka |
| Other Staff Members Mikko Helle Tiina Saloranta-Simell Marina Waldén Maria Zevenhoven | Substitute members Kristian Nybom Jan Gustafsson Jonas Spohr Jan-Erik Lönnqvist |
| Students Members Jenny Ek Åke Härtull Tilde Strömsbäck Adam Söderström | Substitute members Tomas Jakobsson Simon Sundström Mikael Tuokko Tessa Granholm |
Department of Humanities
| Professors Members Jason Finch Johanna Ilmakunnas Cecilia Nahnfelt Anna Soveri | Substitute members Meri Larjavaara Martin Gustafsson Peter Nynäs Viveka Lyberg Åhlander |
| Other Staff Members Ylva Gustafsson Inka-Maria Nyman Stina Sundstedt Topias Tanskanen | Substitute members Malin Ekelund Jenny Skrifvars Petra Grönholm-Nyman Annika Gunst |
| Students Members Wilma Sumelius Elvira Klåvus Melina Lindholm Sam Sågfors | Substitute members Artur Ekman Emilia Lindberg Linnea Andersson Jesper Öhman |
Department of Natural and Health Sciences
| Professors Members Jessica Rosenholm Tiina Salminen Anna Törnroos-Remes Peter Österholm | Substitute members Lisbeth Fagerström Guillaume Jacquemet Kai Lindström Alex Karrila |
| Other Staff Members Anna K. Forsman Jenny Isaksson Johan Nyman Martin Snickars | Substitute members Mikael Kurula Malin Åkerfelt Mattias Eriksson Oscar Henriksson |
| Students Members John-Erik Björnvik Alexandra Obrey Ida Puskala Runa Åberg | Substitute members Liam Söderlund Emilia Lervik – Henrik Ojala |
Department of Social Sciences
| Professors Members Johan Korhonen Lauri Rapeli Nina Tynkkynen | Substitute members Jan Saarela Carsten Anckar Mikko Lagerspetz |
| Other Staff Members Janne Berg Camilla Nordberg Daniel Ventus | Substitute members Vilppu Kuusipalo Sam Grönholm Andreas Häger |
| Students Members Ingrid Geust Karl Jansson Lina Kronström | Substitute members Ines Latvala Ylva Erlin Alexander Kruglov |
Tasks of the Faculty Dean
- overseeing the operational management of the faculty and its administrative functions
- serving as chair of the Faculty Council
- overseeing implementation of the Åbo Akademi University strategy within the faculty and taking implementation measures, in accordance with the agreed objectives and measures
- holding internal faculty discussions on the operational plan (including the personnel plan and budget)
- holding discussions with the Rector on the operational plan (including the personnel plan and budget) after consulting with the Education Council as well as monitoring and taking steps to ensure that the operational plan (including the personnel plan and budget) is implemented
- deciding on the hiring of Senior University Lecturers, University Lecturers and University Teachers
- deciding on the hiring of fixed-term teaching staff
- overseeing general regulatory compliance at the faculty
- ensuring compliance with the Åbo Akademi University model for operational management within the faculty
- deciding on other matters relating to the faculty which are not regulated by law or other steering documents
Tasks of the Faculty Council
- ensuring that operations are organised in a manner that safeguards a high international standard of research, education and teaching, while taking into consideration ethical principles and good scientific practices
- submitting proposals on the faculty operational plan (including the personnel plan and budget) to the Rector
- for the Education Council, submitting proposals for degree structures and learning objectives for degrees, minor subjects and elective studies as well as for other degree provisions, except for doctoral studies
- nominating experts for docent applications, assessing qualifications and recommending the title of docent
- initiating external excellence reviews of the faculty’s degree programmes and other studies for the Management and Quality Assurance Council
- initiating external excellence reviews of faculty research environments for the Management and Quality Assurance Council
- submitting proposals on the recruitment and hiring of professors and tenure track professors to the Rector
- deciding on honorary doctors in connection with the conferral ceremony at Åbo Akademi University.
Tasks of the Head of Department
- overseeing the department’s operations and academic performance (i.e. research and education)
- serving as chair of the Department Council
- overseeing academic personnel
- ensuring compliance with the Åbo Akademi University model for operational management within their own department
- overseeing regulatory compliance within their own department
- hold discussions with the Faculty Dean on the operational plan (including the personnel plan and budget) after consulting the Department Council
- deciding on other matters relating to the department that are not regulated by law or other governing documents
Task of the Department Council
- preparing a draft of the department’s operational plan, including the personnel plan and budget
- appointing the Head of Department from among the department professors. The selection of the Head of Department is decided by the Vice-Rector.
- submitting proposals to the Faculty Dean on the hiring of Senior University Lecturers, University Lecturers and University Teachers
- submitting proposals to the Faculty Council on the hiring of professors
- appointing heads of degree programmes in the department and other responsible persons in education, teaching and research
- submitting proposals to the Research Council for the appointment of heads of doctoral degree programmes
- petitioning the Rector about the establishment and termination of degree programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree, both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree,or a Master’s degree
- submitting proposals to the Faculty Council concerning degree structures, learning outcomes for degrees and other examination requirements, with the exception of doctoral studies
- submitting proposals to the Education Council concerning the annual plan for degree programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree, both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, or a Master’s degree as well as annual plan for doctoral programmes
- submitting proposals to the Education Council concerning admission criteria and number of students to be accepted to degree programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree, both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, or a Master’s degree
- proposing honorary doctors
- deciding on measures updated by overall student and doctoral feedback