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How to join?

Any individual engaged in working life or studying within higher education is welcome to join an Akava affiliate union. The unions welcome students, employees, self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs. The jaseneksi.fi service will help you in finding a suitable union on the basis of your field of education or your degree.

If you are in working life, you can contact the shop steward or representative of Akava unions at your workplace and they will assist you in selecting a suitable union.


The Finnish Union of University Professors

The Finnish Union of University Professors (Professoriliitto) represents a profession that is of key significance to the success of universities and research institutes. The Union supervises and promotes the interests of its members in matters related to pay, employment relationships, job descriptions and duties. We negotiate on the terms and conditions of employment relationship for professors and exert major influence on university and science policies.

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Tehtävä ja toiminta

We advocate the freedom of research and education, lobby for better general conditions for research and education, and contribute to the continuous development of universities and research institutes. We are engaged in regular dialogue with policymakers, university management and other influential parties within the science, research and innovation sector. Through the solid competence and distinguished status of its members, the Union is an important player in society.

The Union is networked both nationally and internationally, being a member of numerous international organisations in the field of education and research.

Who can join

You can join the Union if you are a university professor or a researcher or teacher in a comparable position. An individual in a fixed-term employment relationship is eligible as a member.

Those recruited to a tenure track position and aiming at full professorship may be approved as Union members once they have reached the second last stage of their tenure track. In most cases, their title is then associate professor (tenure track).

Professors and research professors working at State research institutes are eligible for membership. Typically, election to these positions is based on an advance assessment of the individual’s scientific qualifications and merits. The individually awarded honorary title of Professor does not entitle to membership in the union.

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