On 9 November 2024, the Union Meeting, the highest decision-making body of the Union, approved an important update to our English name.
Going forward, we will be known as the Union of Research Professionals, or simply Research Professionals. The Union’s old name, the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT) will be visible in our old materials and guidelines but will no longer be used in our communications and official documents. From 2025 onwards the change to Union of Research Professionals is underway in our website, materials, and communications.
This name change reflects our evolving membership and the diverse roles our members fulfill across various fields. While the previous name, the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, underscored our historical focus on university teaching and research, it no longer fully represents the breadth of professions within our union. Today, our members work not only in universities but also in research, science, scientific support services, and higher education settings. Many are also employed in roles outside traditional academic environments.
The new name captures better the inclusive and dynamic nature of our union, and also better reflects our Finnish name, Tieteentekijät. It reaffirms our commitment to supporting all professionals engaged in advancing research, science, and education. Additionally, this change strengthens our ability to advocate for our members both nationally and internationally.
For more information, please contact:
Union of Research Professionals
Executive Director Nina Hahtela