Policy lines

The operations of the Finnish Virtual University are based on an Agreement establishing the Consortium of the Finnish Virtual University (FVU) signed by all Finnish Universities on January 18, 2001, on an agreement signed on November 24, 2006 on the revision of the Rules and Regulations of the FVU Consortium and the establishment of the FVU Service Unit as an independent institute, as well as the strategy approved by the annual consortium assembly on March 8, 2005.

The Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is the highest decision making body. Member universities, the Ministry of Education and the National Union of University Students in Finland have each appointed one member and one deputy member for the term 2007-2009. The task of the Advisory Board, which mainly consists of the top management of Finnish universities, is to decide on the strategy of the consortium and on the focal points of the activities. It also selects the consortium representatives and expert members for the Executive Board of the consortium.

Members of the Advisory Board

The Executive Board

The Executive Board draws up the agenda for the meetings of the Advisory Board and wields executive power between meetings. It also directs and oversees the activities and finances of the FVU Service Unit. The Executive Board includes four members nominated by the Advisory Board as well as one representative of the FVU Service Unit appointed by the administrative home university (the Helsinki University of Technology 2007-2012). The Ministry of Education and the National Union of University Students in Finland both have the right to nominate one expert member to the Executive Board.

Members of the Executive Board 

The Issue Groups

The Issue Groups (IG) are preparatory groups for the implementation of the FVU strategy. They consist of experts from the FVU member universities whose daily work is closely linked to the implementation of each strategic goal.

• IG1 - Issue Group on Flexible Studies and Electronic Access
• IG2 - Issue Group on Promoting Online Studies and Shared Use of Educational Materials
• IG3 - Issue Group on Commonly Produced ICT Training Services and ICT Support Services
• IG4 - Issue Group on International Co-operation
• IG5 - Issue Group on the FVU Organization, Operations, Governance and Finances

Members of the Issue Groups

Funding

Since the establishment of the FVU operations on a permanent basis as of 2007, the universities took on more responsibility for funding the operations. Part of the FVU operations are financed through a consortium fee, which member universities contribute to in relation to their staff and student numbers. Moreover, a number of development projects to implement the strategy are still operated with project funding awarded by the Ministry of Education grounded in the performance contracts between the Ministry of Education and the FVU member universities. The Ministry of Education also supports the startup of the Service Unit with information society programme funding. The virtual university support units within universities are financed with budget funding from the universities.