Centre for Parliamentary Studies
In February 2002, the University of Turku founded a Research Centre for Parliamentary Studies under the auspices of the Department of Contemporary History. The fundamental aim of the Centre is the promotion research on the Finnish Parliament and democracy and on parliamentarism in general. The Centre is situated in the building of the Department of Contemporary History at Arwidssonkatu 1.
The Centre also serves as a documentation library for the above-mentioned fields. It will organize training-courses in these fields and, ceteris paribus, will try to provide information and other services in the fields appropriate to the work of the Centre. Provision will be made, too, for public discussions. In addition to these basic functions, the Research Centre for Parliamentary Studies will endeavour to organize and ensure funding for specific research projects. In this way, it will be offering scholars opportunities to undertake research work and gain experience in the relevant fields. At the same time, the Centre will serve as a channel for university researchers and for those writing master`s theses to undertake paid research studies and reports commissioned either by Parliament or by other organizations with interests in the fields covered by the Centre`s work. The researchers also may be employed to give expert opinions.