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

and finding synergy between the other educational institutions and actors in the region are consideredimportant and necessary for the future (for example in the search of funding).Areas of strength and prioritising of activitiesAs promising areas of development the Vocational Teacher Education College sees further development ofteacher education and investments in recognising and giving recognition to university and polytechnic levelcompetence. It is also important to secure the education of competent teachers for polytechnics.School of Information TechnologyRoleThe School of Information Technology provides degree education in engineering, professional specializationstudies and continuing education in the ICT field. It also carries out research and development activities forindustry and business. The main operation area of the school is the Jyväskylä region.Starting points and channels of regional effectivenessThe school has a significant effect on employment in the region as approximately 80% of the students findjob in the region after graduating. Active work in regional networks and advisory boards binds the schooltightly to the Jyväskylä region. The possibility for students to carry out their practical training and graduatingthesis projects in local enterprises or in co-operation with them also increases knowledge and awarenessabout the activities and know-how of the school.The international student exchange in the region should be increased and its significance forinternationalization of enterprises should be emphasized. The aim is also to further develop the teachers'knowing how of working life by providing them opportunities to work part-time in projects (for part of theyear). From a financial point of view, it is considered necessary that projects became more lucrative. Movingof jobs and large enterprises away from the region is considered the biggest threat in the future.Regional co-operation and the division of tasksThe School of Information Technology has co-operation with the region’s public actors (e.g., the RegionalCouncil of Central Finland) and intermediary organizations (e.g., Jyväskylä Regional DevelopmentCompany Jykes Ltd. and Jyväskylä Science Park) in team and strategy work and funding. The school’s cooperationwith the region's enterprises consists of planning of teaching and education, graduating thesisprojects and shared use of equipment. In the future, the project work with regional enterprises is consideredmore and more important, because it would increase possibilities for continuing and direct funding fromcompanies.The School of Information Technology has good relations to the Faculty of Information Technology of theUniversity of Jyväskylä. The division of tasks is based on open co-operation between the institutions and onavoiding overlapping activities. The university’s role is to focus on high-level research, whereas the role ofthe polytechnic is to conduct applied research. Good personal level contacts also support the co-operationwith the university. Jointly organized R&D projects and certain study modules could provide an opportunityto further deepen the co-operation.Areas of strength and prioritising of activitiesThe School of Information Technology has five specialization options: electronics, software engineering,media technology, network technology, and automation technology. The last two fields are emphasized morethan the others. The possibilities in the field of mobile phone technology and co-operation with the field ofhealth and social care are seen as important areas of development in the future (integration of technology andnursing). Continuing education in the field of automation technology is also thought to be important for theregion. Recourses are still being used to keep the electronics field up to date within the school, but if the fieldbecomes any less important in the region, the resources will probably be allocated elsewhere.122