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Opening of the academic year 2025–2026: Knowledge is the path to a better world

Åbo Akademi University kicked off the 2025–2026 academic year with festive ceremonies in Vaasa and Turku, marking the start of the autumn term.

In her address, Acting Rector Gunilla Widén emphasised the importance of continuity, a willingness to embrace change, and collaboration. She emphasised the university’s long-standing tradition of facing challenges – and overcoming them.

“Åbo Akademi University has always faced challenges – and we have always overcome them. Our work is never truly finished; it demands continuous development, the ability to adapt, and the courage to constantly challenge ourselves. Change is a constant necessity.”

Widén highlighted the university’s strategic direction, we care for the society of today and of the future, as the guiding theme for the year ahead.

“We are living in a time of increasing global uncertainty on many fronts. We face tensions, conflicts, growing polarisation and unrest. The challenges before us are vast and complex, but we know – and research confirms – that education, research, and innovation form the foundation of long-term prosperity and economic sustainability.”

She expressed concern about the decline in funding for higher education in Finland and stressed the importance of raising the level of education among young people.

“The national goal is to raise the proportion of people with higher education to 50 %, yet progress has stalled, remaining at around 40 % throughout the 2000s. At the same time, university funding per degree awarded has fallen by over 30 % since 2010. We cannot continue to do more with fewer resources indefinitely.”

Widén also underlined the need for Åbo Akademi University to prioritise and develop its research activities, while calling for sustained national investment in knowledge.

“It is essential that the parliamentary agreement is upheld to increase universities’ resources for research, development and innovation.”

She also acknowledged the organizational changes carried out at Åbo Akademi University during the spring, which resulted in a simpler structure with fewer units, and expressed her appreciation for the considerable work involved in implementing these changes.

“I am deeply impressed and humbled by all the change efforts that have taken place since the spring term. Development and change require both courage and collaboration.”

Together, we can show that “education, learning, and research are the path to a better world,” Gunilla Widén concluded her greeting

Staff recognised for contributions to teaching and research

During the opening ceremony, several members of staff at Åbo Akademi University were recognised for their outstanding contributions to teaching, supervision, and research.

The award for promoting a positive working environment was presented to Peter Nynäs, former Dean and Professor of the Study of Religions.

The teacher of the year award was granted to Jerker Björkqvist, Acting Professor of Computer Engineering. The supervisor of the year awards were presented to Maria Dahlberg, University Teacher in Developmental Psychology, and Henrik Serup Christensen, Senior University Lecturer in Political Science.

The award for pedagogical visionary and developer of the year was presented to Petra Grönholm-Nyman, University Lecturer in Psychology.

Two research awards were presented to Jiaqi Yan, PhD (Pharm.), and Aleksandra Ianchenko, PhD in English Language and Literature, while the prizes for outstanding doctoral supervision were awarded to Hongbo Zhang, Professor of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials, and Jason Finch, Professor of English Language and Literature.

Senior Lecturer in Cultural Policy Analysis Blanka Henriksson and Professor of Nordic Ethnology Fredrik Nilsson were recognized in acknowledgment of their notable popularization of research.

Read more about the awards and the recipients.