In research, the largest effort during the year was Tampere University’s international Research Assessment Exercise, TAU RAE. Our faculty achieved excellent results in the assessment. Thanks belong to the units, that took the matter seriously, and all the staff, whose work thus received well-earned recognition.
Based on the results of TAU RAE, the faculty set out a plan to reach an even higher level in research. Feedback was collected from the staff on the measures included in the plan. The need to free up time for research was highlighted as the most important aim according to the feedback. Many of the measures will naturally be included in the faculty’s annual planning, but we are considering even more effective measures for freeing up time.
ENS set out a plan to reach a higher level in research based on the results of the TAU RAE.
Planning of the Research Hub continued
Another significant development project was the Research Hub for experimental research. The needs of research were identified as precisely as possible during the one-year project-planning phase. Building design was started in the end of the year, and a Facilities Coordinator was appointed to ensure transmitting of information between the faculty and the designers.
Funding at a good level, result positive
The Faculty’s external funding has been at an excellent level. After the slump in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, external funding has increased by 10−15% per year and continues to increase. Thanks go to the research groups that are actively applying for funding. The faculty’s financial result from 2022 remained positive. The stable financial situation is also due to the fact that recruitments have been carried out within the frame of our budget.
After 2020 external funding has increased by 10−15% per year and continues to increase.
International interest and national collaboration
The number of applicants in Finnish-language Bachelor’s degree programmes at the faculty remained roughly unchanged, whereas the international Master’s degree programmes saw a significant increase in applicant numbers. International pathway studies in technology were established as a new route in collaboration with Aalto University. The 16 students who were selected in the first admissions round have made excellent progress in their studies.
International Master’s degree programmes saw a significant increase in the number of applicants.
In spring 2022, the Academic Board approved new degree programmes in Robotics and Energy Transition, which will be implemented in collaboration with the ITC faculty. The programmes will strengthen our University’s profile in engineering education and they will be implemented efficiently by mainly utilising existing contents.
The Finnish Institute of Technology FITech network of universities of technology further strengthened cooperation in the field of technology. In the framework of FITech, we participated in education related to hydrogen economy and in the planning of a digitalisation project. The FITech-Turku project came to an end. During the project (in 2017–2022) our University participated in the implementation of 32 course units.
During the year, we returned primarily to contact teaching, which had a positive impact on the well-being of both students and staff. The faculty continued to provide support to students, and regular meetings with student guilds continued. A self-assessment of degree programmes was conducted in autumn, which helped to identify development needs for the curriculum design period of 2024–2027.
Martti Kauranen
Dean
Find out more about the Faculty at our website.
Faculties’ statistics (pdf).
Highlights from 2022
Tampere becomes the first in Finland to start educating Masters of Science (technology) in Robotics.
Arri Priimägi receives major ERC grant to explore materials inspired by biological sensory-motor interactions.
Significant ERC funding for Hao Zeng to develop life-like materials that communicate with each other.
All news items concerning the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences are available here.