The year of donations 2024
Donation funds have been used effectively for the projects aligned with the university's strategy. The funds are used to support research and education initiatives and the development of new technologies. Supported projects are usually multiannual. Here are some examples of projects made possible by donations that were started or continued in 2024:
- Establishment of the GeroNursing Center (GNC) in the Faculty of Medicine. The GNC researches nursing work that promotes the rehabilitation of older adults and develops online training in this area, both nationally and internationally.
- Launch of the Civil Engineering Unit, the recruitment of professors and the renewal of the necessary teaching and research equipment in recent years.
- Establishment of the Advanced Intelligence Center Lab (AIC Lab) and procurement of equipment. The AIC Lab provides an environment for innovation, new technologies, idea development and testing, and teaching and science.
- New Innovation Initiatives -support for researchers to promote the development and productisation of energy and health applications utilising 6G technology.
- Development of new digital GNSS remote sensing technology for snow and ice measurement.
- The development of globally innovative artificial intelligence -assisted teaching applications and related international research collaboration.
- The development work of waterproof, more efficient and completely new types of perovskite solar cells. Our researchers have developed a unique double-sided solar cell that can generate electricity from both sunlight and indoor lighting.
- Development of a new treatment for blindness in premature babies.
The University of Oulu has an increasing number of professors and researchers working in positions that are fully or partially funded by donations. The establishment of a new professorship is an investment in advancing the research field. In 2024, the following professorships were supported by donation funds:
- Assistant Professorship in Micro Entrepreneurship
- Assistant Professorship in Snow-covered Area Hydrology
- Professorship in Information Security
- Professorship in Industrial Management
- Professor of Practice in Industrial Engineering
- Professorship in Organic Chemistry
- Assistant Professorship in Vehicle Engineering
- Professorship in Printed and Hybrid Electronics
- Professorship in Business Ethics
- Professorship in Financial Economics
- Professorship in Building Health
- Professorship in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering
- Professorship in Geotechnical Engineering
Donations play a significant role in the establishment of professorships. Many professorships were initially funded by donations and are now supported by university core funding after the first five-year period.
Research requires perseverance, and the uncertainty of funding is particularly emphasized in the early stages of a researcher's career. Donations have been instrumental in supporting several promising researchers in the early stages of their careers.
Donation funds have supported PhD research on topics such as:
- utilisation of industrial mineral by-products as alternative materials to replace cement
- water management challenges in Northern Finland's agriculture
- business ethics
- body image in women with PCOS
- activin receptor as a target for treatment of metabolic heart disease
Research infrastructures enable high-quality research and the associated teaching, promote research collaboration, and strengthen research and innovation capacity and expertise. Donated funds have facilitated the acquisition of several equipment in 2024:
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- Investment in the APT (Atom Probe Tomography) microscope for the university's Centre for Material Analysis. APT technology is new in Finland and enables new innovations in material research, especially in steel research, battery research, catalyst, semiconductor and hydrogen technology, nanomaterials and coatings, and mineralogy.
- The Oulu Mining School´s laboratory foaming machine, which has been a very significant for the increased education and research activities.
- Research equipment for the field of Psychology. Psychology is a new field of research and education at the University of Oulu, making the need for equipment acute.
Promoting the well-being of students and the development of education have played a key role in the allocation of donations in 2024. Here are some examples of how donations have been used:
- As a new study psychologist was recruited with donation funds, the waiting times for the study psychologist's services have shortened, and the services have also been targeted more at promoting the well-being of doctoral researchers.
- International students have been offered tailored workshops and employment-promoting training as well as walk-in guidance.
- A new course in business ethics has been planned at the Oulu Business School for students at the master's level.
- The new Responsible Economics and Finance Master's Programme will start in autumn 2025.
- Students’ diploma theses work has been supported by grants in the field of technology.
- In the field of technology, students have been awarded internship grants to complete mandatory internships.
- The IT education infrastructure has been updated with modern equipment.
Support research and education!
New researched knowledge and expertise are vital in a changing world. Donations enable the university to invest in new initiatives. Together with our donors, we are building a sustainable future!