New facilities for the International School have been sought after since the amount of students is expected to increase from 230 to 450 students. This number of students will not fit in the current premises in Varissuo. Since the students attending the International School come from different parts of Turku as well as neighboring municipalities, the aim is to find facilities with good traffic connections.
– In the City of Turku Strategy, internationalization is one our focal points. City of Turku considers the Turku International School very important, and the city has a strong will to increase the number of students and find facilities that are suitable for the school’s future needs. Cooperation with the University of Turku has progressed well and we hope to make the most of this cooperation also in the future. Currently, we are searching for the most functional and cost-effective solution, says Mayor of Turku Minna Arve.
A potential location for the Turku International School is in conjunction with the community centre that is to be established in Itäharju. According to Timo Jalonen, Director of the Education Division, the Turku International School could start operating in the new premises in 2024.
– University of Turku’s aim is to continue the cooperation and planning together with the City of Turku in order to secure high quality and functional facilities with as accessible location as possible, says Rector of University of Turku Jukka Kola.
Currently, the Turku International School is located in Varissuo in two addresses. The primary school operates mainly in the premises of the Varissuo youth club in the address Kraatarinkatu 4. Tuition for subjects in the primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school are carried out in Turku Teacher Training School, in the address Annikanpolku 9. The Varissuo youth club is situated in the adjacent piece of land next to Turku Teacher Training School.
University of Turku is in charge of producing and organising the tuition of the Turku International School.
– At present, the tuition in the Turku International School continues in its usual manner in the current premises, says Vesa Valkila, Head Principal of Turku Teacher Training School.
Procurement of the International School was put out to tender and by the deadline at the end of August, two applications had been submitted. One application was suspended due to the lack of applicability requirements, and the procurement process was carried on as a custom negotiations procedure with the University of Turku. The University Properties of Finland takes part in the negotiations in the role of the University’s renter.
The procurement concerned the International School’s education services, preschool education, early childhood education in support of preschool education, as well as morning and afternoon services including the facilities.
The University of Turku and the University Properties of Finland proposed that the Turku International School would be placed at the Sirkkala barracks in the address Kaivokatu 12. The barrack buildings are owned by the University Properties of Finland, and they will be available due to other changes in facilities in the University. After renovation and extension, the barrack buildings would enable the tuition, preschool education and other required services of the International School.