Doctor of Law Reino Erma was a rector whose term saw an occupation of the university. In late March 1977, the rector resolved a situation in which 300 students had occupied the Alakuppila café in protest against cuts to student financial aid. During Erma’s term, an administrative reform of the university, a degree reform and issues concerning premises also required the rector’s attention.

As a professor of private law, Erma examined international trade and contractual terms in eastern trade in particular. For his research merits, Erma was inaugurated as an honorary doctor of economics of the University of Tampere in 1992.