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

5.2 Localizing the learning processBoth the high volume and diverse supply of higher education, as well as the attractive image of the region’sHEIs, have guaranteed that Jyväskylä Polytechnic and the University of Jyväskylä have year after year beenamong the most popular HEIs in Finland, in terms of the number of applications received. The talentedstudents come from all parts of Finland and, thus, the accumulation of human capital benefits the Jyväskyläregion and the whole of Central Finland. One fourth of the University applicants come from Central Finlandand approximately 35% of students stay in the region after their graduation. At the Jyväskylä Polytechnic,more than half of new students (54% in 2004) come from Central Finland and approximately 60% of thegraduates stay in in the region.Approximately 60% of the students in both institutions are female, but their distribution varies between thefaculties and schools. The University of Jyväskylä covers 8% of all university study places in the countryand in 2004, 9% of new university students started their studies in Jyväskylä. In the polytechnic sector, theshare of Jyväskylä Polytechnic’s student intake (youth education) in 2004 was 4.6%, whereas the share ofgraduates was 5.2%. Figure 5.2 represents the number of higher education students per 1 000 inhabitants inthe provinces of Western and Southern Finland (based on the available information). Central Finland is oneof the provinces where the number of higher education students, in relative comparison to the widerpopulation, is the largest. When compared to the whole country, the number of higher education students per1 000 inhabitants in Central Finland exceeds the national level by 19.5 students. The number of students indifferent fields of study is represented in Appendix 11.OstrobothniaCentral FinlandPirkanmaaUusimaaSouthwest FinlandSouth CareliaNorth OstrobothniaWhole countryCentral OstrobothniaKanta-HämeSatakuntaPäijät-HämeKymenlaaksoSouth OstrobothniaItä-UusimaaPolytechnicsUniversities0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Number of Students / 1 000 inhabitantsFigure 5.2 Number of higher education students per 1 000 inhabitants in the provinces of Western andSouthern Finland (Laakso et al., 2005)The diverse and wide supply of higher education can be seen as a definite strength. Yet, on the other hand, inthe globalizing world, the top-level knowledge can only be achieved by prioritizing and specializing in a fewcore areas. Also, the regional influence is increasingly determined by performance at the national andinternational level. The Finnish Ministry of Education stresses that there is neither adequate need nor65