The autonomy of Finnish universities will increase with the recently approved "New Universities Act". January 1, 2010, universities will become legally independent; 14 universities will transform into public corporations and the remaining two universities will become foundations under private law. The Finnish government will remain the main funding body for higher education while universities take on a larger decision-making role in the financing and management of the institution. More autonomy will allow universities to
raise funds and potentially charge tuition to non-EU foreign students. In addition, university staff will no longer be state employees, but rather university employees. The governing board will consist of more external members and the rector will be selected by the board and no longer elected by the university community. There will also be three new universities, some of which include the merger of existing universities: Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland and (the new) University of Turku.The Finnish Council of University Rectors supports this reform and has been advocating for the change.
