1.2.2022

Focus on flexibility and new ways of working in the new property strategy

To meet the need for more appropriate premises and balance rising property costs, Åbo Akademi University’s property strategy is getting an update.

In line with the property strategy, a long-term property regulation plan with concrete action proposals has been drawn up.

The Åbo Akademi University Board will discuss both the property strategy and the property regulation plan at its meeting on 2 February. The plan has been sent to the faculties and other units on a referral round. Via this procedure all units will be able to give their inputs to the plan. The goal is for a property regulation plan to be approved by the Board later in the spring.

In addition, in the spring an extensive planning project, which will span years, will begin in which staff and students can participate and together plan the future facilities. After that the decision will be made as to where different operations will be situated.

Greater focus on Piispankatu

The proposal for the property regulation plan aims for a greater concentration of campus in both Turku and Vaasa. At the same time, the university will get access to modern, more accessible campus environments that enable community, flexible working methods and self-directed learning, and that will be able to consider new digital ways of arranging teaching and research.

For Turku, the plans contain a greater focus on Piispankatu and on the Stjärnan district (where Gadolinia now stands), which means that the university refrains from some properties that have a historical value but do not meet future needs. The development of the historic quarters will be done in collaboration with the City of Turku, the Åbo Akademi University Foundation and other actors on campus.

In Vaasa, Åbo Akademi University’s operations are concentrated to Academill, while the teacher training school continues in its current quarters, in accordance with the Board’s earlier decision.

According to the proposal the sum total of all property area the university have at its disposal will have shrunk by about 30 per cent by the year 2030. With these measures the university’s property expenditures can be stabilized at the level they were at in 2020.

The property regulation plan will be further presented at a Q&A-session open to everyone at the university on Monday 7 February between 11 am and noon.

Read the draft for the property regulation plan.