History of the University of Eastern Finland

2010
The University of Eastern Finland begins operations on 1 January 2010.

2009
First joint student admissions to the University of Eastern Finland in Economics and Business Administration and in Social Sciences.

In spring 2009, the University of Eastern Finland was granted permission to organise dentistry education, which will begin in 2010.

The University of Joensuu celebrated its 40th anniversary, which culminated in the fifth doctoral promotion ceremony organised on 27–29 August.

2008
The organisation structure and strategy of the University of Eastern Finland were completed.
The Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio received a joint right to confer degrees in Economics and Business Administration.

2007
A working group led by Professor Reijo Vihko submitted its report on 19 February on intensifying the cooperation between the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio. On 2 May, the University Senates of the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio approved a mutual agreement on forming a federal university. 26.9. the University Senates decided on the official name of the new university, i.e. the University of Eastern Finland.

The BioCenter Kuopio (BCK) was founded.

A report on the provision of dentistry education was completed and it proposed that the University of Kuopio be given permission to launch dentistry education. This permission, however, was not granted.

2006
The Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio decided to intensify their mutual cooperation as part of the Ministry of Education programme addressing the structural development of Finnish higher education institutions. Indeed, the project for the University Federation of Eastern Finland was selected as one of the Ministry of Education spearhead projects.  The project was appointed a planning group led by Professor Reijo Vihko. As the project proceeded, the term “university federation” was abandoned and the term “University Federation of Eastern Finland” was adopted for the time being.

2003
The InFotonics Centre Joensuu was founded.

2001
It became possible to complete the degree of Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration) at the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio through collaboration with Lappeenranta University of Technology.

1999
The Kuopio University Pharmacy was founded.

1998
The Department of Public Law launched operations at the University of Joensuu.

1997
The Degree Programme in Western Theology was launched at Joensuu.

1993
The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Kuopio was shut down.

1989
A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences was founded at Kuopio.

1988
The Finnish Orthodox Priest Seminary was closed and the Department of Orthodox Theology was established at the University of Joensuu.

1985
Folklore studies were launched at Joensuu with the help of an endowed professorship.

1984
The University of Joensuu changed its Finnish name from Joensuun korkeakoulu to Joensuun yliopisto, and adopted a faculty structure.

The Univeristy of Kuopio changed its Finnish name from Kuopion korkeakoulu to Kuopion yliopisto.

The Department of Clinical Nutrition was founded at the University of Kuopio and Social Services education was launched.

1982
Forestry education was launched at Joensuu.

1981
The Savonlinna Language Institute was closed and replaced by translation studies organised at the University of Joensuu.

1979
The University of Kuopio was the first in Finland to launch nursing science education.

The Department of Health Administration was founded.

The University of Joensuu held its first doctoral conferment ceremony.

1978
The University of Kuopio held its first doctoral conferment ceremony.

1977
The foundation stone of the first permanent department building (Natura) on the Joensuu Campus was laid.

1976
The foundation stone of the first building (Canthia) on the Kuopio Campus was laid.

1973
The University of Kuopio launched dentistry, pharmacy and environmental hygiene education.

Resulting from the new teacher training act, the Department of Teacher Education was founded at Joensuu and the Savonlinna Seminary became a part of the University of Joensuu under the name Savonlinna Department of Teacher Education. At the same time, the teacher training schools became a part of the university.

The University of Joensuu purchased the Mekrijärvi elementary school in Ilomantsi to be used as a research station.

1972
The University of Kuopio began operations. In the first year, a total of 100 medical students and 30 natural sciences students started their studies in temporary study locations.

The Central Hospital of Kuopio became the Kuopio University Hospital.

1970
The operations of the University of Joensuu divisions, excluding the modern languages division, were launched in the fall of 1979. The university had a total of five divisions: education, Finnish studies and history, modern languages, biology and geography, and mathematics, physics and chemistry.

The operations of the Karelian Institute were launched.

1969
The University of Joensuu began operations. The first year of operation primarily focused on the continuing education of elementary school teachers.

1966
The legislation on the establishment of the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio was ratified on 25 March 1966.

Sortavala Seminary
The Sortavala Seminary was founded in 1880. Resulting from the wars with Russia, the seminary was first relocated to other Finnish seminaries and, in 1953, it was finally relocated to Joensuu.  In 1974, the name of the Sortavala Seminary was changed to Eastern Finland Seminary. The seminary was closed in 1970 and its remaining students, staff members, premises and movables became part of the University of Joensuu.