Jukka Mönkkönen Explained

Jukka Mönkkönen (born 16 August 1959 in Kuopio, Finland) is a Finnish Professor of Biopharmacy and Rector of the University of Eastern Finland. Jukka Mönkkönen served as the Academic Rector of the University of Eastern Finland in 2012–2014,^[1] he was then elected Rector for a five-year term in 2015 and re-elected for another five-year period starting on 1 January 2020. The decision was taken unanimously by the board of the University of Eastern Finland on 21 May 2019.^[2]

Jukka Mönkkönen obtained his master's degree in pharmacy from the University of Kuopio in 1986, and his doctoral degree in pharmacy in 1991. He has held several research and teaching positions and, since 1998, he has been Professor of Biopharmacy. Mönkkönen has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Kuopio, as the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Eastern Finland, and as the Academic Rector and Rector of the University of Eastern Finland.

His scientific research has focused on the molecular pharmacology of drugs affecting bone metabolism, and on the mechanisms of drug absorption.^{[3] [4]}

Legacy

Jukka Mönkkönen was the academic rector of the University of Eastern Finland during the period 2012-2014, and the rector during the period 2015-2023. During his mandate, the University of Eastern Finland lost relevance in all international rankings. In the Times Higher Education rankings, the university descended from the position #300-350 in 2012 (#3 in Finland) to the position #600-800 in 2023 (#10 in Finland).^[5] Similarly, in the QS World University Rankings, the university ranked #302 in 2012, to be downgraded to the position #548 among all universities in the world in 2023.^[6]

The management style of his mandate often conflicted with the rest of the academic community, as it was reflected in the regular well-being surveys performed during his period as a rector. In the 2015 survey on occupational well-being, staff reported some of the lowest satisfaction scores among the 13 Finnish universities surveyed, across nearly all categories.^[7] These poor results were repeated with no significant improvements in the surveys in 2017,^[8] 2019,^[8] 2021^[9] and 2023.^[10] On the other hand, the financial situation of the university was in balance after his mandate, and the university was considered as being successful in implementing its strategy.^[11]

External links

• Jukka Mönkkönen's CV
• Jukka Mönkkönen’s research articles and expert positions

Notes and References

1. Web site: 13 June 2014 . Dr Jukka Mönkkönen appointed as Rector of the University of Eastern Finland . 16 June 2015 . University of Eastern Finland.
2. Web site: 2019-05-21 . Jukka Mönkkönen reappointed as Rector of University of Eastern Finland . 2023-05-19 . University of Eastern Finland . en.
3. Book: Choi. Yongwon. Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Immune and skeletal systems II. 18 November 2009. Springer. New York. 978-1-4419-1049-3. 11.
4. Web site: University of Eastern Finland. Bone-Net: European Training Network on Cancer Induced Bone Disease. 16 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150811165440/http://bonenet.eu/en/consortium/university-of-eastern-finland.html. 11 August 2015. dead.
5. Web site: 2021-11-02 . University of Eastern Finland . 2023-05-19 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
6. Web site: University of Eastern Finland . 2024-03-21 . Top Universities . en.
7. UEF yliopistojen vertailussa, 2015. VARMA:n toimittama vertailu.
8. Yliopistojen työhyvinvointikysely 2019 Itä-Suomen yliopisto.
9. Tutkimukse raportti, työhyvinvointikysely, 2021. Itä-Suomen yliopisto. In Finnish.
10. Tutkimuksen raportti. Työhyvinvointikysely, 2023. Itä-Suomen yliopisto. eezy Flow. In Finnish.
11. Web site: 2023-04-13 . UEF’s result from ordinary activities for the financial year 2022 was balanced University of Eastern Finland . 2024-03-21 . www.uef.fi . en.