1. Sino-Finnish Learning Garden:
“University of Applied Sciences in Finland and China:
What the two countries can learn from each other"
Seppo Hölttä
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
Polytechnic sector, Universities of Applied Sciences (established in the mid 1990s)
24 institutions
Student enrollment
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 European Educational Area and European Research Area
Bologna process -- Harmonisation of degree and credit systems, QA framework
Changes in Government – Universities relationship
Performance contracting
Formula funding (goals and outputs in the terms of Master and Phd degrees and research output)
National evaluation system
FINHEEC (Finnish HE Evaluation Council)
Shared responsibility with HEIs
Deeper linking HE education policy to innovation policy
Further development of the polytechnic system (universities of applied sciences)
Increase autonomy 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