As part of this summer's discussion on the rental of Kaisa House premises, attention has been given to how the University's values are realised. One key concern has centred on whether the decisions leading to the change of tenant align with our core values of Bildung - a holistic concept of education - and inclusivity.
In seeking to answer this fundamental question, the University's friends and supporters have engaged with important issues.
At the University we carry out research, provide teaching and take on new ideas almost every day of the year. Yet the commitment to advancing Bildung goes further still. It also manifests in the popularisation of science and research, as seen on the University's social media, coverage across traditional media channels, inspiring discussions at Think Corner, articles in Yliopisto magazine, non-fiction works published by Gaudeamus, and academic outreach programmes targeting children and adolescents. Contemporary operations at universities naturally include a broad range of commercial activities too, such as research commercialisation, business collaboration and the rental of commercial premises.
As stated in our strategic plan, Bildung guides us on the right path, serves as our moral conscience and cultivates stability. For me, it means acting with integrity and honesty within our own community, and equally towards all stakeholders and partners. It also means ensuring the operational stability and continuity of our 385-year-old institution for generations to come. It is wonderful to get to work in a community passionately dedicated to upholding these values.
To ensure Bildung can continue to flourish in the future, the University of Helsinki must support it through its other operations. Among these is business activity, which has expanded significantly following the 2010 university reform. Finnish universities are now independent and responsible for the profitability of their operations. This requires strict financial management.
As rector, my main focus is to guarantee that the University has sufficient financial resources for its core duties so that researchers, teachers and other staff can do their work, and students can continue to learn. The sufficiency of this funding has long been under serious threat. From 2013 to 2023 the University's core government funding decreased by over 18%, and the prospect of additional cuts looms. Prudent asset management, including the rental of commercial premises and the income this generates, can help mitigate shortfalls in our core funding during difficult periods.
Business operations are governed by rules distinct from those applicable to other University operations. For example, we manage the rental of our commercial premises on the free market in line with recognised good practices and applicable legislation. We currently have 125 tenants.
The University of Helsinki considers sustainability and responsibility in all its operations, including asset management and investment; after all, these are essential aspects of Bildung today. In this area too, the University faces numerous expectations, and we do our utmost to meet them.
I fully understand that the University community and others following our daily operations have been dismayed by the changes to our rental arrangements. The Rosebud bookshop has served as a key meeting point for supporters of research and culture, and its leaving Kaisa House represents a great loss for many. It is regrettable for the University too that discussions and negotiations with Rosebud did not lead to a contract extension at Kaisa House. Our collaboration will continue at Think Corner.
I warmly thank everyone who has contributed to the discussion. We have learned valuable lessons from it. Going forward, the University must be able to better justify its business operations both publicly and to its own community. We will also continue the discussion internally among the University's senior leadership and the Board.
