This research project explored foundations of Finnish higher education policies and analyzes policies’ application in university practices. It focused on questions of university democracy and autonomy, especially strategic leadership and experiences of academic community, during Tampere3 university merger. This research project developed constructive alternatives for future universities and higher education policies. The project was lead by docent Hanna Kuusela (PI) and funded by KONE Foundation, Finland. POISED members Tuomas Tervasmäki and Tuukka Tomperi took part in this research project.
More info can be found from the project’s webpage: https://parempiyliopisto.wordpress.com/
The research group (Kuusela, Poutanen, Tervasmäki, Tomperi) continues research on university democracy in a new research project ”Democracy in Finnish universities: the crisis of representative liberal democracy and university self-governance 2023–2026” starting in autumn 2023.
Selection of Publications
(for a full list, see https://parempiyliopisto.wordpress.com/julkaisut/)
Kuusela, Hanna, Tomperi, Tuukka, Raipola, Juha, Kaleva, Veera, Poutanen, Mikko, & Tervasmäki, Tuomas. 2022. “Säätiöyliopistojen perustajien valta: tapaus Teknologiateollisuus ja Tampereen yliopisto.” Tiede & Edistys 47(3): 166–189. https://tiedejaedistys.journal.fi/article/view/115244
Poutanen, Mikko, Tomperi, Tuukka, Kuusela, Hanna, Kaleva, Veera & Tervasmäki, Tuomas. 2022. ”From democracy to managerialism: foundation universities as the embodiment of Finnish university policies.” Journal of Education Policy 37(3): 419-442. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2020.1846080 (originally published online in 2020)
Kuusela, H., Kaleva, V., Tomperi, T., Poutanen, M. & Tervasmäki, T. (2021). Korkeakoulupolitiikan muuttuvat valtasuhteet Suomessa. Säätiöyliopiston synty ja kamppailu yliopistodemokratiasta. Politiikka 63 (2), 158–187. https://doi.org/10.37452/politiikka.101246
Matikainen, Minni & Tervasmäki, Tuomas. 2021. “Työelämävetoisen korkeakoulupolitiikan ja syvällisen oppimisen välinen ristiriita.” Tiedepolitiikka 46(2): 52–54. https://journal.fi/tiedepolitiikka/article/view/107460
Nikkola, Tiina & Tervasmäki, Tuomas. 2021. “Demokratia akateemisen kapitalismin puristuksessa. Psykososiaalinen luenta yliopistotyön logiikoista yliopistouudistuksen jälkeisessä ajassa.” Kasvatus ja aika 15(3–4): 300–314. https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.109711
Tomperi, Tuukka & Tervasmäki, Tuomas. 2021. “Matematiikkaa painottava valintauudistus oli opetusministeriön tahto.” Suomen kuvalehti 22/2021: 58. Artikkeli löytyy verkosta sekä Suomen Kuvalehden sivuilta että alkuperäisenä lähteistettynä blogitekstinä.
Poutanen, M., Tervasmäki, T. ., & Harju, A. (2021). Katse sisäänpäin: Yliopistoreformin organisatoriset jännitteet kotietnografian silmin. Tiede & Edistys, 46(1-2), 28–46. https://doi.org/10.51809/te.109599
The project’s first research report Kenen yliopisto? Tampereen yliopiston henkilöstön näkemyksiä yliopistojen johtamisjärjestelmistä ja itsehallinnosta (In English: Whose university is it? Tampere University staff views on university leadership structures and university autonomy) was released on September 2019. It can be found in TREPO (open access). Updated 2nd edition of the report includes an extended English summary.
English introduction: This report offers insights into the opinions of the staff of Tampere University regarding university autonomy, the ideal constitution of the University Board, and the process by which the University leadership is appointed. The report is based on the survey conducted at Tampere University in the spring of 2019 by two separate research projects. The response rate to the survey was high – almost half (49%) of the staff employed at Tampere University at the time of survey. The respondents also represented both of the former merged institutions almost equally, and most faculties were also evenly represented. This report offers the latest research data on how the staff perceives changes in university management brought about by the 2009 University Act reform.
POISED 