Higher Education in Finland

Orientation Program for American Fulbright GranteesAugust 30, 2012

Senior Adviser Eeva Kaunismaa

HEIs and Sectoral Research Institutes

Universities (blue) Polytecnics (green)Public research institutes (red)

The Finnish Higher Education System• The Finnish higher education system comprises two parallel

sectors:– University sector

• 16 research universities, including 3 Universities of Arts• Student enrollment 114 000, annual intake ~ 20 000• Independent legal persons with majority of funding through State

budget

– Polytechnic sector (established in the mid-1990s)• 25 institutions• Student enrollment 113 500, annual intake ~ 26 500 • Institutions partly funded by the state, partly by municipalities• Regional development tasks• Bachelor degrees (vocational and professional degrees)• (Professional) Master’s degrees in selected fields

• The whole HE system provides study places for 65-70% of an age group

Cohorts Entering (Upper) Secondary Education and the First Cycle of

Tertiary Education in 2007 - 2025

52000

54000

56000

58000

60000

62000

64000

66000

68000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Cohort, 19-21years Cohort, 16-18 years

Structural Development of Higher Education

Vision 2020• Maximum of 18 polytechnics

– Intake in youth education of 22,500 students (in 2009 ~26 500)– Flexible and profiled higher education units and structures– Strong and dynamic interaction with the region and its employers– Well-established, high-quality R&D in priority areas

• Maximum of 15 universities– Intake of 17 500 students (in 2009 ~19 500)– Strong units and profiles; clear priorities in research– Internationalisation and world-class research

• Four to five strategic university-polytechnic alliances– Secured access to education and diverse education provision in the

area– Joint R&D and stronger (regional) impact

PM Jyrki Katainen's Government Program Priorities

General• Reduction of poverty, inequality and social exclusion• Consolidation of Public finances• Enhancing sustainable economic growth, employment and competitiveness

In education• Finland the most competent nation in 2020• Reduction of gender differences in learning outcomes, participation and

completion of education• Equal opportunities and rights to free quality education• To ensure the availability of the workforce, especially in key educational,

health and welfare services• Guidance and counselling at all levels of education• All primary school leavers will be guaranteed a study place• To adapt the network of educational institutions to demographic trends

Government Programme on Higher Education and Science

• Quality, efficiency and internationalisation of HE

• Polytechnic Reform (legal status, funding, administration)

• Each province in Finland will have at least one higher education institution.

• The establishment of a university for the arts will be promoted.

• Access to higher education studies will be made smoother for example by reforming student selection.

• Policy on the national research infrastructure will be promoted.

Photo: Sara Djupsund