The Department of Computer Science was founded in 1967 when the first full professorship in computer science was established at the University of Helsinki. It is within the Faculty of Science, along with the departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and others.
Our current teaching faculty (January 1996) comprises 43 full time teachers. It can be categorized using American academic terminology: 4 full professors (Mannila, Tienari, Ukkonen, one vacant position), 5 associate professors ( Mäkelä, Orponen, Paakki, Sippu, one vacant position), 20 assistant professors (6 research oriented ``senior assistants'' and 14 teaching oriented ``lecturers''), 14 teaching assistants. We also employ approximately 25 of our students in teaching on a part-time basis. Nine senior experts are also associated with the department. These so-called ``docents' work mainly outside the university but occasionally give courses or supervise theses in the area of their speciality. Approximately 30 research positions are financed from outside sources. We also have a staff of 10 persons.
The department annually admits 200 students to major in computer science. The students are selected according to their standing in a national student examination. The number of completed M.Sc. degrees (5 year degree) was 37 in 1993, 46 in 1994, and 44 in 1995. The study time for a M.Sc. degree ranges from five to eight years. Many of our students work in industry, which slows down or stops the progress of their studies. Fairly frequently our students, after having acquired the basic skills in computer science, redirect their studies by transferring to the Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, or some other educational institution. Many students study computer science as a minor while pursuing a major in another subject, such as mathematics, physics, economics, psychology, or social sciences. We offer two curricula for students minoring in Computer Science. In 1995 our ``approbatur curriculum in Computer Science'' (15-25 credit units) was completed by 164 students and our ``cum laude curriculum in Computer Science'' (35-60 credit units) was completed by 133 students.
There are two graduate degrees in Finland: the Ph.Lic. (3 years) and Ph.D. degree (4 years). The latter has higher quality requirements. Both build upon the M.Sc. degree (5 years). The high demand for our M.Sc. graduates to fill well-paid jobs in industry is a fact which has hampered our Ph.D. education. Our department granted three Ph.D. degrees and ten Ph.Lic. degrees in the three year period 1993-95. In postgraduate education we cooperate with the Helsinki University of Technology within a framework called HeCSE (Helsinki Graduate School in Computer Science and Engineering).
Two principal sources provide funds for computer science research in Finland. The most important one for us is the Academy of Finland under the Ministry of Education and Science. The other important research financier is the Technology Development Centre (TEKES) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Lately European ESPRIT, ACTS etc. financing has also become possible for us.
The department maintains jointly with the University Computing Centre a good computer science library. It subscribes to most major international journals in computer science and related fields and acquires a majority of the most important computer science books and conference publications. The library maintains publication exchange with approximately 130 other research institutes in various countries. The library is run by a librarian and a secretary.
The University Computing Centre Maintains a communication backbone network and offers UNIX and PC services. In addition, the department maintains its own network of approximately 180 workstations (SPARCstations and Linux PCs) and about 10 servers. Classrooms with workstations, X-terminals and PCs are available. Each office of the department has a workstation or terminal.
The department has three informal sections that are used in the planning of the curriculum and in administration. The division is not strict, and several research projects span two sections. The sections cover roughly the following subject areas:
The University of Helsinki has many diverse teaching and research offerings related to computer applications. At the Department of Mathematics there is an active group in mathematical logic, numerical analysis and symbolic computation as well as some interest in theoretical computer science. Our students also benefit from the hardware-oriented teaching (e.g. electronics, digital electronics, microcomputers, interface electronics) given at the Department of Physics. In the Faculty of Social Sciences some teaching and research is devoted to computational statistics, administrative information systems, and the social effects of data processing. In the Faculty of Arts there is a research unit in computational linguistics and a degree program in linguistic theory and cognitive science.