HAMK STRATEGY 2020

HAMK STRATEGY 2020 A higher education institution with a high professional profile – Through Actions

HAMK VISIO

2020

HAMK offers the most inspiring higher education and the most customer-oriented applied research.

MISSION Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) has a high professional profile and is the only higher education institution in the region. HAMK performs its statutory duties in a novel and unique way. The student is the centre of all operations and the workplace is the immediate beneficiary. We are near the operations of the sub-region, we internationalise our students and we actively communicate about our operations. We are successful and the region is successful. That is why we put emphasis on our presence in the sub-regions.

We improve Finland’s competitiveness and disseminate our expertise globally and also into the fields of education and research.

CHALLENGES OF STRATEGY PERIOD We are faced with mounting and diversifying employer expectations at a time when public funding for higher education is subjected to significant cuts. This is addressed by maintaining a high standard, making innovative choices, focusing on the essential and finding new areas of operation.

Forward-looking professional higher education is especially important for our region, whose standard of education, rate of internationalisation, growth rate of enterprises and R&D input are still lower than average. We are responsible especially for educating young people and providing them with the capacity for a good life.

The basis of the HAMK strategy is to restructure higher education operations in a manner that ensures success for HAMK and its area of operation, regardless of changes in higher education policy. Students, the workplace and research are at the centre of all operations.

SUCCESS FACTORS We work together with out partners. The key to our success is ensuring that we can achieve our strategic goals through systematic competence development, internationalisation, advanced utilisation of digital tools as well as versatile cooperation with employers.

We seize opportunities and assess our operations, we solve problems and correct mistakes immediately.

We are a community made up of students and staff members.

We work together eagerly, openly, with the strength of diversity, and by being bold

THE FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITIES OF APPLIED SCIENCES (FUAS) In line with the FUAS Strategy, we channel the operations through agreed strategic areas of cooperation: Summer Studies, Graduate School, Virtual Campus and Services to Businesses and Communities.

PRIMARY ASPECTS OF THE HAMK STRATEGY FOR 2020 Education Keeping students central is our principle in everything we do. We offer our students three concepts: 8 – 16:

24/7:

Work week, credits gained weekly, constant guidance, studying is equivalent to working at a job: the student is present and works together with others in a diverse way.

Studies progress quicker than the normal rate. Students plan a great deal themselves and they are very independent.

Individual and diverse opportunities and needs of the workplace are taken into account in the best way possible.

18-100: A way of studying that makes the most of learning at the workplace.

Common features in all the concepts are a caring approach to guidance, building a student’s personal career path, a coaching approach to teaching as well as a communal way of working and strong utilisation of the virtual campus.

The models support multidisciplinary student groups in the whole operating area irrespective of the field of study. The integration of the research units into studies is further systematised and there are always projects available to the students. Students can use the expertise of HAMK’s wide network of partners.

The “Take action” principle that promotes entrepreneurship is part of our educational programme.

Students are encouraged to seize upon good ideas, which are then developed into new business ideas.

We are a solid part of the national and international higher education community.

Digitalisation User-friendly and rapidly deployable digital services can be used regardless of time or place. Digitalisation enhances competitiveness, boosts and renews activities and serves the needs of business and industry and internationalisation.

Customer-oriented applied research HAMK has four research units that support customeroriented approach to studies. These research units are: • Bioeconomy • Smart Services • Professional Excellence • Sheet Metal Centre (since 1998)

The research units cooperate with diverse national and international networks. In particular, internationalisation is promoted by working together with strategic partners. The operations of the research units are expanded in a goal-oriented manner. We actively publish the results of our research.

Regional influence and Business Services HAMK’s presence throughout the entire region is the basis for regional influence. We take the policies and focus areas of sub-regions within HAMK’s operating area into consideration. In particular, we are building up our regional cooperation with secondary level education.

HAMK services are easily available. Business Services is a contact point at HAMK. We construct a simple model, where learning projects commissioned by the workplace can be implemented at any location within our area.

Internationalisation Research units and teams function in important research projects with our international strategic partners (Feevale University, Brazil and VIA University College, Denmark).

All student, teacher and researcher mobility in all fields of study is systematic and directly supports our operations.

Degree programmes taught in English are linked to the internationalisation of the region.

The export of expertise has become a central part of our operations. It has also expanded and become digital, and it is cost-effective.

Personnel and management Willpower, competence and leadership are essential in order to achieve the set aims. The work is well lead, the competence of the staff is ensured and everyone takes responsibility for their own work. We put emphasis on joint operating methods.

Leadership structures are well defined and staff members have various growth and career paths.

Finances and facilities We safeguard a healthy, sustainable economy. The resource planning system produces up-to-date information to support operations. We are building stronger campuses. Our facilities support learning and are adaptable and pleasant. We maintain our facilities responsibly and according to sustainable development.

Häme University of Applied Sciences PO Box 230, Visamäentie 35 A FI-13101 HÄMEENLINNA tel. +358 3 6461 www.hamk.fi

Cover photo (Marjo Kilgast): Julie Fewster’s work of art at the Lillefestival in Tallinn, Estonia.

Photo on 2nd page (Ville Salminen): Students from the Degree Programme in Biotechnology and Food Engineering doing laboratory work in microbiology.

Back cover photo (Taina Lehtomäki): students at the Visamäki Campus

HAMK strategy confirmed: 17 September 2013: Board of Häme University of Applied Sciences Ltd 30 September 2013: Board of the Häme Municipal Federation of Professional Higher Education 28 September 2015: Updated by the Board of Häme University of Applied Sciences Ltd