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

There are many small enterprises targeting the nearby region, to which the success and attractiveness of theregion are (availability of labour force) essential factors. The entrepreneurs’ organizations also emphasizesecuring production in the region, because it is seen as a precondition for the development of the servicesector. From the point of view of enterprises, the there is some overlapping in the tasks of intermediaryorganizations, and on the other hand, there are also gaps in which expertise would be needed.Role of the HEIsThe HEIs in the region are considered important creators of knowledge base and innovations and producersof competent labour force. Jyväskylä Polytechnic has more connections to working life and the enterprisessee it as being closer to them as an operator than the university. There are a lot of resources unutilized in theco-operation with the HEIs.Weak spots and areas to develop in the co-operation with the HEIsThe enterprises consider for example the difficulty of getting a trainee, insufficient guidance and ignoranceabout the functions of the HEIs problems in the co-operation with the HEIs. The individual nature of theprojects and their lack of concreteness make operating difficult, because there is no feeling of continuityamong enterprises and they get no sense of what kind of extra value the project adds to their operation. Theenterprises’ working life needs and their needs for research should be the starting points in planning projects.That way the expertise of the HEIs could be efficiently utilized.In regional enterprises the on-the-job learning of students of the HEIs is also considered am important area,in which there is much room for development. Improving the teachers' knowledge of working life and theirinstruction skills, and building a holistic system to support on-the-job learning are primary measures inutilising the expertise of the HEIs and in integrating students in the region already during their studies. As apart of this, introducing internationality to regional enterprises through practical training of foreign studentsis seen as an important area to be developed.Teacher education is a significant area of expertise in the region’s HEIs and integrating entrepreneurshipeducation in the curricula is considered an essential factor in promoting the entrepreneurial attitude. Despiteefforts, this change has not yet started.It would also be fundamental to create a channel, through which the needed expertise can be easily found inthe HEIs. At the moment, creating contacts with the HEIs (especially the university) can be hindered becauseof not knowing who or what instance to contact. The polytechnics have hired development managers to takecare of this problem.The vision of the Y4 (Promote entrepreneurship in society by co-operation) entrepreneurship project of theentrepreneurs’ organizations and the regional operators (the Regional Council of Central Finland, theEmployment and Economic Development Centre, and Finnvera plc) is to develop Central Finland into aprovince that motivates and encourages people to entrepreneurship work and that is based on innovativeness,entrepreneurial way of working, and entrepreneurship. Representatives of the HEIs have now been alsoinvited to join this project that aims at strengthening the entrepreneurial atmosphere and culture. The aim isto find out the needs for promoting entrepreneurship that appear when the baby boom generation leavesworking life, and on the other hand, the effects of Y4 to the current state of affairs, and continue and furtherexpand the project. It was hoped that the university would contribute to implementing this project by lendingits expertise.143