NEWSLET TER 3– 13 FROM HANKEN SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS
Quality and Focus Hanken’s strategy is based on a strong orientation towards research, internationalisation, and good corporate connections. According to our long-term strategy, our research should be at the absolute forefront: internationally respected and relevant for the business sector. This applies particularly to research conducted within the School’s areas of strength. According to the external panel that evaluated Hanken’s research in 2012, we have come a long way. Not only does our research in the four new areas of strength comply with the highest current international standards - we also have other areas where we come close to the top. For a small business school, focus is of the utmost importance. Although good coverage of a wider area is needed for teaching, in research focus is an absolute necessity. While small schools can’t compete with large research units in all
areas, a strong focus on a few chosen areas enables us to attract top researchers from specific fields Hanken’s recent success in international recruitments supports this theory. We have to further this strategy, remembering that each new recruitment is an important long-term investment and should thus be properly prepared.
E VA L I L J E B L O M REC TOR
REINFORCEMENT AND NEW TERRITORY This summer Hanken has reinforced its academic staff with five professors. The latest recruitments strengthen Hanken’s international research network, expanding into new territory by appointing the School’s youngest female professor ever, Gyöngyi Kovács, to a new position as Professor in Humanitarian Logistics. -I’m very happy we have had the opportunity to retain and attract a number of high-profile researchers at Hanken. The recent appointments show that Hanken is on the right track and that high-quality research is conducted in several areas, Rector Eva Liljeblom concludes. Dr Gyöngyi Kovács, director of the HUMLOG institute at Hanken, was appointed Erkko Professor in humanitarian logistics in June. Professor Kovács is a well-known expert and one of the most cited researchers in her field. She is also the first Professor in Humanitarian Logistics in the world. The department of Finance has further strengthened its expertise by appointing two prominent professors. Dr Paulo Maio has been appointed professor in Finance with special emphasis on Asset Pricing and Dr Timo Korkeamäki as Pentti Professor in Finance. Dr Niklas Bruun, appointed Professor in Commercial Law in July, has returned to Hanken. Professor Bruun has been a driving force in introducing intellectual property rights as a discipline at Hanken. In August Dr Minna Martikainen was appointed Professor in Accounting. Professor Martikainen’s research interests are profitability and growth of SMEs, ownership structures and corporate governance.