The Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava, together with institutions of higher education and student associations consider it a necessary investment in the future to increase contributions to higher education, research and skills during the next government term. Such increases will guarantee Finland’s continued success.
A statement drawn up by the organisations points out that investment in education, research and innovations must be made strategic focus areas for the next government. The stability, predictability and sufficiency of the core funding for higher education institutions must be improved in the future.
According to the statement, improving the level of education, as well as developing models and funding for life-long education are central factors also from the perspective of fostering employment and economic growth.
“A highly educated workforce, products with high added value and attractive competence clusters draw more international experts, investments and businesses to Finland. The work-related immigration of skilled experts must be further streamlined.”
The statement also includes proposals, according to which the next government must
• Implement long-term research, development and innovation policy and do its part to increase related investment to 4% of the gross domestic product by 2030. Public research and development investment and funding for higher education institutions must be significantly increased.
• Remove redundancies and focus on larger entities in competitive funding.
• Choose education and research as the spearhead theme of its presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The statement has been drawn up by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK and its member association Finnish Education Employers, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava and its member associations listed in the statement, Universities Finland UNIFI, the Rector’s Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Science Arene, the National Union of University Students in Finland SYL and University of Applied Sciences Students in Finland Samok, as well as all Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences.
Read the statement in full
Further information:
Jyri Häkämies, director general Confederation of Finnish Industries EK phone +358 9 4202 2400
Teemu Hassinen, CEO Finnish Education Employers phone +358 50 562 7004
Sture Fjäder, president Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland Akava phone +358 400 609 717 Leena Wahlfors, executive director Universities Finland UNIFI phone +358 50 522 9421
Petri Lempinen, executive director Rector’s Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Science Arene phone +358 40 766 7805
Kaarle Hämeri, chancellor University of Helsinki phone +358 2941 22206
Sanni Lehtinen, president National Union of University Students in Finland SYL phone +358 44 906 5007
Iiris Hynönen, president University of Applied Sciences Students in Finland Samok phone +358 50 389 1000