University Emphasises Importance of Long-lasting Solution in Technology Education
According to Rector Kalervo Väänänen from the University of Turku, extending the educational responsibility of Masters of Science in Turku best serves economic growth.
Liquidator Jari Jokinen has been surveying the ways in which education can answer the expertise needs of the positive structural change following recession in Southwest Finland. The report was handed to Minister of Education and Culture Sanni Grahn-Laasonen and Minister of Justice and Employment Jari Lindström on Thrusday 20 April 2017.
The report contains 10 recommended measures, with which to facilitate the need for experts in the positive structural change.
The review suggests that a FIT – Finnish Institute of Technology network is established jointly by technology universities. The model for this is the European EIT – European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The first thematic community in the network would focus on sea and car technology in Southwest Finland. The operation model would be strongly integrated in company collaboration.
Rector Kalervo Väänänen from the University of Turku highlights the necessity of a permanent education solution in addition to this network.
– Networking is already familiar to us, and synergy benefits could most likely be reached through it. The University of Turku is already actively involved in, for example, EIT. In my opinion, however, the only long-lasting solution which also best supports the economic growth in the region is to extend the educational responsibility of Masters of Science in the region permanently, says Väänänen.
The liquidator suggests that the operation model is assessed by the end of 2020. At the same time, the need to make changes in the educational responsibility distribution of technology universities is evaluated, in case the need for experts has not been met appropriately.
The higher education institutions in Turku have jointly suggested the establishment of Turku Future Technologies Competence Factory, which is positively noted in the liquidator's report This shared platform would make it possible to deepen the collaboration between higher education institutions in Turku and to strengthen the national business and higher education institution collaboration.
In addition, the report suggests that the number of higher university degrees in technology should be increased by 130.
TK / SY
Photo: City of Turku