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Seppo Hölttä seppo.holtta@uta.fi Higher Education Group School of Management University of Tampere

Sino-Finnish Learning Garden: “University of Applied Sciences in Finland and China: What the two countries can learn from each other" 13.8.2014. Seppo Hölttä seppo.holtta@uta.fi Higher Education Group School of Management University of Tampere FINLAND. The Finnish HE system.

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Seppo Hölttä seppo.holtta@uta.fi Higher Education Group School of Management University of Tampere

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  1. Sino-Finnish Learning Garden: “University of Applied Sciences in Finland and China: What the two countries can learn from each other" 13.8.2014 Seppo Hölttä seppo.holtta@uta.fi Higher Education Group School of Management University of Tampere FINLAND

  2. The Finnish HE system • University sector • 14 research universities, including University of Arts • Student enrollment 164 000 • Polytechnic sector, Universities of Applied Sciences (established in the mid 1990s) • 24 institutions • Student enrollment 118 000 • Regional development tasks • Bachelor degrees (vocational and professional degrees) • (Professional) Master’s degrees on selected fields • Governed by separate laws

  3. GDP share of R&D expenditure in certain countries Source:OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators

  4. International Influence • Academy of Turku (Currently University of Helsinki) established in 1640 by King of Sweden • Deep Humboldtian roots (German/Nordic) • Connection between research and teaching • Role of government • Academic autonomy of universities, academic freedom • Nordic connections • History • E.g. connection between HE policy and regional development policy since the 1960c • Nordic Welfare Society • International influence to the Finnish HE policy through • Influence of the main (European) national models of professional and vocational institutions in te polytechnic reform in the 1990s • Influence of the European Union • HE policy connected to the innovation policy and competitiveness of Europe • Globalisation and HE (policy) - Markets

  5. Characteristics of Finnish Higher Education Policy • Social values – Nordic welfare society • Extensive provision of HE • Tuition free system • Broad understanding of diverse functions of HE • Social, economic and cultural functions of HE • Long term perspective and commitment of Government • Stable growth of funding since the 1960s • Education and research are regarded as the main resources of the nation • Connections between HE policy and other policies • Regional development policy since 1960s • National Innovation Policy since the early 1990s • Globalisation

  6. Developments of the Finnish HE System 1960s – mid-1980s: Establishing the structures – start of massification • Expansion of the system • Regionalisation – regional development • Democratisation of universities • Modernisation of curriculum (study programmes, measuring students’ work load) • Planning and control of government Mid-1980s – mid-1990s: Modernisation - massification • Transfer towards extended institutional autonomy • Establishment of the vocational and professional oriented HEIs (Polytechnics = Universities of Applied Sciences) • Innovation system framework for HE and research policies • Higher priority for research and funding of research

  7. The Polytechnic Reform • From an elite system to a mass HE system • Upgrading the level of vcational education • Response to technological development and changing labour markets • Strong regional orientation (and regional ownership) • Limited research (benefitting regional companies) • Mergers of the former colleges and to create HEIs • ”Equal but different” compared to universities • Challenges • Organisational reform / mergers • Governance and management • Multidisciplinary / adaptation of field based cultures • Training of teachers • Pedagogical training • Public image as HEIs

  8. Late 1990s - 2000s: Internationalisation • Establishment of the EuropeanEducational Area and EuropeanResearch Area • Bologna process-- Harmonisation of degree and creditsystems, QA framework • Changes in Government – Universitiesrelationship • Performancecontracting • Formula funding (goals and outputs in the terms of Master and Phddegrees and research output) • National evaluationsystem • FINHEEC (Finnish HE Evaluation Council) • SharedresponsibilitywithHEIs • Deeperlinking HE educationpolicy to innovationpolicy • Furtherdevelopment of the polytechnicsystem (universities of appliedsciences) • Increaseautonomy of institutions

  9. Since 2010: Adaptation to the system for Global Market Economy • New legal status for universities and Universities of Applied Sciences • Universities • Legal public entities • Separated from government budget • Foundation universities • Initial capital from governemt and private companies • Universities of Applied Sciences • From diverse ownership/maintenance models to a Company Model • Increase of international programmes • Mainly Master Programmes • Experimentation with tuition fees • Only for non-European students • Scholarship funds required • Sharper profile of institutions • Reseach universities, regional iinstitutions • Better fit with industry • Government subsidies have remained as before • Institutional mergers at both sectors • Innovative collaboration models among institutions (universities and UASs) • Different functions and tasks of universities and UASs have been remain

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