Forward together
The past decades
The past decades show a common will to do good for your city and your region. The belief in education and research has been strong, and the University of Vaasa has taken its place in a changing world. 1966 The Council of State decides to establish a School of Economics and Business Administration in Vaasa. 1968 The first students of the Vaasa School of Economics and Business Administration arrive in September to Raastuvankatu and study in the annexe of the Commercial School. The school awards lower university degrees, but it is not possible to pursue higher university degrees or doctoral degrees. Tryggve Saxén acts as rector. 1970 The right to award higher university degrees and the possibility to obtain the title of Doctor of Business Economics. Mauri Palomäki enters the office of rector. 1971 First graduates in business administration and correspondence. 1973 First master's degrees. 1975 The first Licentiate and Doctor graduate. 1980 The school is renamed as Vaasan korkeakoulu (Vaasa School of Economics) when education in humanities begins. Education in social sciences also begins in the early 1980s. 1987 Ilkka Virtanen enters the office of rector. 1988 The first conferment. The first students move to premises located in Palosaari. The programme of studies in industrial economics begins. 1990 The first students of technology start (in cooperation with Helsinki University of Technology). 1991 The University of Vaasa is founded. 1994 The university moves to new premises located in Palosaari, close to Vaasa city centre. Ari Salminen enters the office of rector. 1996 The Technology Research Centre Technobothnia begins operating in the weaving hall of the old cotton mill. 1998 The second conferment. Matti Jakobsson enters the office of rector. 2001 Tritonia, the academic library is completed. 2004 The right to award master’s degrees in technology. 2006 The third conferment of doctoral degrees. 2010 The University of Vaasa begins operations in accordance with the new Universities’ Act. 2011 The fourth conferment of doctoral degrees. 2015 Suvi Ronkainen enters the office of rector. 2017 Jari Kuusisto enters the office of rector. 2018 The fifth conferment of doctoral degrees. 2023 Minna Martikainen enters the office of rector.
Our rectors
The University of Vaasa has had seven rectors. The first one to enter the office of rector was Tryggve Saxén in 1968. He has been followed by Mauri Palomäki, Ilkka Virtanen, Ari Salminen, Matti Jakobsson, Suvi Ronkainen, Jari Kuusisto, and our current rector Minna Martikainen.