Turku and Jyväskylä universities appeal rejected research funding

Turku University and the University of Jyväskylä will appeal to the administrative court against research funding decisions rejected by Social Affairs and Health Minister Wille Rydman, Yle reports.

The universities’ rectors, Marjo Kaartinen of Turku and Jari Ojala of Jyväskylä, confirmed the plans to Yle.

Ojala said the University of Jyväskylä was preparing its appeal.

“We are acting as one front with the other universities. Of course, each university is examining the legal grounds, but we are moving forward,” he said.

In June, Rydman decided not to grant funding to nine social work research projects. One project from the University of Turku and three from the University of Jyväskylä were rejected.

The universities whose applications were denied filed requests for rectification with the ministry, but those requests were rejected.

Several universities then said they would review the decision before considering appeals to the administrative court. The universities of Tampere, Eastern Finland and Helsinki have already announced that they will appeal.

Kaartinen described the situation as exceptional.

“It is exceptional that a funding decision disregards, for example, expert statements or peer reviews,” she wrote to Yle by email.