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

The challenge of the school from regional point of view is to promote the visibility of its operations in theregion. This requires extending the knowledge base to be applied in new fields. Bringing internationalexpertise and innovations to the region is also essential. Future’s threats to regional development activitiesinclude scarce resources and the difficulty of finding new financial sources.Regional co-operation and the division of tasksThe most important regional partners providing funding are the Employment and Economic DevelopmentCentre (Rural Department), Regional Council of Central Finland and State Provincial Office of WesternFinland. Other important partners include regional enterprises, the City of Jyväskylä, municipalities,advisory organizations and regional intermediary organizations. Co-operation with enterprises focuses onproject activities, education and consulting. Students’ practical training and graduation thesis projects inregional enterprises are strongly emphasized at the school. The school's co-operation with the intermediaryorganizations includes development of enterprises, co-ordination of services and international issues. Theaim is to create an efficient international supporting network also for the polytechnic master's degree.The co-operation with the University of Jyväskylä has been fluent. The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciencesof the University cooperates with the tourism branch of the school and the division of tasks between theinstitutions has been clear. In the field of e-business the school has co-operated with the IT field of theuniversity. As a part of the degree education has been carried out projects in which the university studentshave done the basic work and the students of the polytechnic have been responsible for the applied part ofthe project. New models for continuing education implemented together with the university could provide anopportunity for deepening the co-operation. Some co-operation connected to the university’s professorship inrural entrepreneurship has also been planned.Areas of strength and prioritising of activitiesThe spearhead field of the school, tourism, is a challenging field from the regional point of view, but also agreat opportunity. Wellbeing tourism and catering services connected to it are promising fields ofdevelopment in tourism. This requires competitive R&D work and exploitation of the consumer know-how.The school participates actively in the operation of the Finnish Networked Centres of Expertise (the foodindustry, tourism networks), that have also significant regional effects. The Centre of Expertise of the foodindustry provides education and development services to the whole food-processing chain from agriculturalenterprises to industrial enterprises. The national Centre of Expertise for Tourism consists of four areas ofexpertise which are localized through four regional focal points. The Jyväskylä Polytechnic is the bodyresponsible for wellbeing tourism. The Networked Centres of Excellence provide a forum in which to buildco-operation between enterprises.School of Health and Social StudiesRoleThe graduates of the School of Health and Social Studies are experts in wellbeing. The School provides aqualification for the professions of physiotherapist, rehabilitation counsellor, midwife, nurse, dentalhygienist, public health nurse, occupational therapist, and social services. The School offers also theopportunity to professional specialization studies, continuing education and to complete a PolytechnicMaster’s Degree in Health Promotion. The operation of the school is primarily regionally oriented, and theregional effectiveness of the school is based on education and substance know-how. The operation of theschool’s centre of expertise in the field of sexual health is mainly nationally and internationally oriented butit has a regional aspect as well.Starting points and channels of regional effectivenessNetworks created through regional projects and a close co-operation with the public sector and other regionalemployers are the strengths of the school. Probably, the most challenging task has been to integrate theregional orientation and entrepreneurial R&D activity into the staff’s thinking, which has, however, gonewell.126