The Student Union of Tampere University is grateful for the opportunity to provide students’ views regarding the preparation of the second phase of the Tampere University facilities programme 2026–2030. In accordance with our previous statements, we are examining the facilities programme especially from the point of view of facilities relevant to studying, laboratory and teaching facilities, and student association facilities. We still consider it important that the actual users of the premises are actively involved in the planning and implementation of the measures of the facilities programme, as has been done now with the renovation of Sähkötalo. In the implementation of the facilities programme, we consider it essential that the facilities are further developed in a direction that better serves their purpose and serves the community’s activities, listening to the needs and wishes of those who use the facilities in their everyday life.
In the preparation for the renovation of Sähkötalo, the University has genuinely consulted and included students and student associations, the actual users of the premises, in the planning work. We are very grateful for this operating model, and we feel that Sähkötalo serves as a model example of genuine community participation and the direction we want the implementation of the facilities programme to go.
When giving up the Virta building, we consider it important that the special facility needs of the Faculty of Education and Culture (EDU), such as subject-specific teaching spaces for student teachers, are taken into account when looking for and developing new spaces. We hope that the wishes and needs of those studying and working in the Virta building will be listened to carefully.
Regarding Konetalo, we consider it important that “kiltakäytävä”, the guild corridor, and other association facilities located in Konetalo remain in their current locations, as they are located in the areas that will be staying in the University’s use in the future. If it becomes necessary to move the association facilities, the associations located in Konetalo must be consulted about their needs before making change plans, and they must be actively involved in the planning work. By planning together, we can reach the best results that serve the users of the space.
The plans for Päätalo, the city center main building, are welcome. The plans communicate a desire to develop the space in a direction that enables community encounters. We see an opportunity here to examine the suitability of the main building as a provider of student association spaces, as well. The review of association facilities on the city center campus and the development of spaces that serve student associations is on a good path, and we hope that when developing city center campus spaces, the central role of associations in our student community is remembered.
We hope that in connection with the implementation of the second phase of the facilities programme, the equal treatment of the campuses will also be considered in terms of the availability of facilities available 24/7 on different campuses. All university campuses should equally support flexible studying and association activities, taking into account the diverse life situations of students.
We hope that the actual users of the facilities, whether they are university staff, students or student associations, will continue to be consulted in the implementation of the second phase of the facilities programme. As building-specific plans progress, it is in everyone’s common interest that the users themselves get involved in the planning of practical measures, and that they have the genuine experience of having had the opportunity to influence solutions that significantly affect their everyday life.
Tampere 3.11.2022
Aleksi Niemi, chair
Lassi Vuotari, vicechair
More information on the comments:
Otto Haarala, board member in charge of campus development