Students and teachers at threatened Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences demonstrate against cuts by staging a necktie slashing operation

print this

By Marjukka Liiten
     
      In the northern towns of Kemi and Tornio a campaign was organised on Wednesday of last week against the centralisation of higher education services in general and in particular the services of the universities of applied sciences, the former polytechnics.
      The campaign culminated in the cutting in half of a couple of hundred neckties.
      The stunt organised by students and teachers was also joined by some local decision-makers and entrepreneurs from the area.
      Plans have been set out to cut the student intake of the Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences by 40 per cent as a cost-saving measure (see earlier article).
     
“This would lead to a lack of professionals in the area”, reckons Anu Grönlund, who is about to begin her stint as the chairwoman of Entrepreneurs in Kemi at the turn of the year.
      Kemi-Tornio UAS appears to be the educational establishment that will be hit hardest by the government plans in relative terms.
      Nationwide, just over 2,000 student places will have to go by 2013, and in Kemi-Tornio the cull will be around 180 places.
      In all, more than 200 neckties, symbols of power, were cut in half during the course of the demonstration.
      A couple of scarves also met their end in the process.
     
The operation was recorded for posterity and is also featured on Facebook, but the severed ties were also collected for later use.
      Kemi-Tornio UAS Course Director Mirva Juntti plans to turn the severed ties into "a provocative skirt".
      She will wear it when Minister of Education Jukka Gustafsson (SDP) comes to inaugurate the university's new building in Kemi on December 12th.
     
Gustafsson presented the reform dealing with the country’s universities of applied sciences at the government’s evening meeting on Wednesday.
      The government decided that with a new law the universities of applied sciences will be turned into independent not-for-profit limited liability companies in 2014.
      The responsibility for the basic funding of the universities of applied sciences will be transferred from the local authorities entirely to the state.
      The licencing of these establishments is determined by the government, the regulations of which list each one of the institutes and their educational responsibilities.
      The reform's financial requirements will be decided on separately by the economic policy cabinet committee.
     
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 17.11.2011


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ministry of Education promises rectors of universities of applied sciences no relief from upcoming cost-saving measures (19.10.2011)
  Drastic cuts to funding for further education may result in dismissal of 2,000 polytechnic teachers (17.10.2011)

Links:
  Facebook: Katkaise kravattisi (Cut Your Tie)
  Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences

MARJUKKA LIITEN / Helsingin Sanomat
marjukka.liiten@hs.fi