Building the status of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs)

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1 Building the status of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) Vuokko Kohtamäki Dr University of Tampere School of Management/ Higher Education Group International Forum and Seminar on Regional University Transformation: Training in Kunming, China 3-6 November 2014

2 UASs status as 1) HEIs and 2) part of the HE system Foundation of UASs Upper secondary vocational institutes Mission of UASs UASs as 1) HEIs and 2) part of the Finnish HE system Governance and funding of UASs

3 Functions of UASs: piloting act on teaching of UASs 1991, permanent act 1996, first institutional act 2003, new act 2014 Incremental legislative changes from 1991 onwards Experiment phase Legitimisation process: operating licences, Vuokko Kohtamäki national and international evaluations, strong regional linkages. A question of research? Transition from teaching-only institutions to teaching and R&D institutions Growth strategy 1990s and 2000s New sub-campuses, new study programmes, increasing student enrolment

4 HE system in Finland Universities: Legislator lists all the institutions to which the governmental regulations apply in law (Universities Act 2009) UASs: UASs and universities shall together constitute the system of higher education. (Polytechnics Act 2003)

5 System level status-related differences Foundation Mission Finnish UASs State Council/by operating licence Regional, applied research, practical orientation Governance Stipulated in law since 2003, not earlier Finnish universities State Parlament/list in the Universities Act Academic research orientation, research-based education, doctoral degrees Stipulated in law Public funding Own public funding model Own public funding model Vuokko Kohtamäki - UASs: Incremental changes in legislation (piloting act on teaching of UASs 1991, permanent act 1996, first institutional act 2003, new act 2014) - UASs: institutional autonomy in internal issues (stipulated in law 2003) - Universities: institutional autonomy (stipulated both in constitutional law and in Universities Act)

6 System level status-related similarities Foundation Finnish UASs Cannot be founded without the state Finnish universities Cannot be founded without the state Mission Governance All UASs have the same public mission Operates under the MoE s steering, performance agreements All universities have the same public mission Operates under the MoE s steering, performance agreements Public funding Performance-based Performance-based Quality assurance Required in law Required in law

7 Challenges in development Vuokko Kohtamäki UAS organisation UAS operations Lack of unity of a UAS organisation Strong former administrative cultures and professional identities Continuous structural development Diversification of funding Survival in future Extended socio-economic expectations Lack of strategic direction and profile Strong teaching orientation R & D activities are fragmented and the definition of R & D activities is not clear (international evaluation 2012) Commitment to R & D function varies (Kohtamäki, 2012)

8 New students and total number of students in UASs from 1995 to 2013

9 New students in UASs by fields of study in 2012 and 2013 Vuokko Kohtamäki

10 Declines in number of UAS students in 2013 Culture - 28% Tourism, catering and domestic services - 27% Natural sciences 8%

11 New students in universities by fields of study in 2013 Humanities and education Culture Health and social services sector Administration and commerce sector Technology and transport sector Renewable natural resources sector Women Men

12 Completed UAS degrees by fields of study and gender in 2013

13 Completed university degrees by fields of study and gender in 2013 Humanities and education 28% Culture 3% Health and social services sector 11% Administration and commerce sector 28% Technology and transport sector 18% Renewable natural resources sector 13% Women Men

14 Completed UAS degrees by gender from 2006 to 2013

15 Employment and drop outs Vuokko Kohtamäki UASs Fulltime employment after graduation 78% (2011) High unemployment rates in certain study fields Average drop out rate 8.8% High drop out rates linked to low attractiveness of study programme Median time to complete a degree is 4 years (bacherlor s degree) Universities Fulltime employment after graduation 52% (2011) High unemployment rates in certain study fields Average drop out rate 6.5% Median time to complete a degree is 6.5 years (master s degree)

16 Employment rate of those with tertiary degree

17 Employment rate by study field (both sectors) Vuokko Kohtamäki

18 Student feedback: Employment after graduation in UASs

19 Expenditure of education system (2012) Type of expenditure EUR million % Pre-primary education 1) 342 2,8 Comprehensive school education Upper secondary general education , ,0 Vocational education ,3 Apprenticeship training 171 1,4 UAS education 928 7,6 University education and research 2) ,3 Other education 478 3,9 Administration 227 1,9 Financial aid for students 837 6,9 Total ,0 Vuokko Kohtamäki

20 Operating costs/student at UASs (2011) Education R&D Regional development Real estates Other costs Administration