Finland - Jyvaskyla Region - Final Self-Evaluation Report.pdf

increase knowledge in the region, and focuses on defining the framework for relevant project activities. Therole of the State Provincial Office is highlighted more at the lower level of education than in highereducation.The Regional Council of Central Finland is a joint municipal authority that works to promote the prosperityof the region. It takes charge of regional development including long-term planning, rapid reactions oncurrent affairs and the creation of a development strategy for Central Finland. The regional plan setsguidelines for regional development over the long term (20-30 years). The drafting of this plan, in 2002,involved the participation of state and local government officials, the business sector, establishmentsproviding education and training, a variety of organizations, and individual citizens. The cooperativecommittee of the province of Central Finland (MYR) is responsible for the implementation of EUprogrammes in Central Finland. MYR combines the regional plan, implementation of special programmesand funding, and reviews the implementation document of the regional plan. It handles supra-provincialprojects and other projects with a special regional importance and / or with a budget exceeding one millioneuros. The committee consists of members representing the Regional Council, municipalities, nationalauthorities responsible for the funding of programmes, and labour and industry organizations. Although theHEIs are not participating in the committee, they frequently act as experts for it.Entrepreneurship and its promotion have been prominent topics of social discussion recently. To respond tothe challenges of creating an entrepreneurial atmosphere, several Central Finnish actors started a Y4-entrepreneurship process “Appreciation of Entrepreneurship Up through Cooperation” in 2002. Its objectiveis to develop Central Finland to be the most vital province for business in the world by appreciating,motivating and encouraging people to be innovative, work with an entrepreneurial spirit and to beentrepreneurs. The Y4-process has created resources, methods and a way to work. In addition, the JyväskyläPolytechnic and University of Jyväskylä have signed the agreement.Reviewing and evaluating the impact of HEIs on regional developmentThe contribution of HEIs to regional development is not systematically evaluated by the regional authorities.The TE-Centre of Central Finland produces information on the local employment of HEI students and this isa frequently used to measure the regional effects of the HEIs. Besides these statistics, the informationgathered by regional opinion and attitude surveys provides information on the regional relevance of HEIs. Itmight be important to consider whether new, more systematic, means of reviewing the HEIs’ impacts onregional development such as an annual evaluation panel or progress report would be needed in the region.7.3 Institutional level: The University of Jyväskylä and Jyväskylä PolytechnicUNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄInstitutional capacity building for regional involvementThe overall strategy of the University of Jyväskylä includes the relationship with the regional community asone of the key challenges it seeks to address. The strategy highlights the role of regional developmentprojects, the contribution to the regional innovation system, the dynamic ability to react to changes in privateor public sector needs, and collaboration between other educational institutions and regional actors.The vice-rector of the university is responsible for promoting regional cooperation and monitoring thedevelopment of innovation activities. To promote the regional collaboration, a new permanent post of seniorcoordinator focusing on the coordination of regional operations, was created in the administration branch in192005 (the post will be filled later on ). Moreover, the temporary posts of project personnel are numerous atthe University of Jyväskylä. The faculties and departments can rather autonomously define the level andprinciples of their regional orientation. The main channels of communication between the regionalstakeholders and the University include networks based on joint project activities, joint strategy work and19 At the moment, due to the national productivity programme the new posts cannot be fulfilled until the national policylines for the future will be settled.101