Unifi: The next parliamentary term must focus on raising the level of education and supporting groundbreaking research
Finland is seeking ways to secure its future growth and well-being in an uncertain and challenging economic and security environment. We are an economy with a shrinking population in a world marked by multiple crises and intensifying competition for talent and investments.
We must secure Finland’s future opportunities and growth by investing in high-quality higher education and groundbreaking research. Human capital drives productivity and economic growth.
Finland needs highly educated experts to renew its society and business life, accelerate its productivity growth, and strengthen its civic and cultural foundation built on critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to learn. Groundbreaking research generates new knowledge, innovations, and solutions that also enable further leaps in new growth sectors.
Human capital is fostered at universities.
“Finland’s universities are strongly united in their goal to produce high-quality education and research that meet the needs of both individuals and society. Now we need political leaders to make consistent, long-term decisions that will help us increase our level of education and strengthen the conditions for research and internationalization. A research- and education-friendly policy is a winning policy – it benefits Finland as a whole,” says Rector Jari Ojala, chair of Unifi.
Finland’s success comes from expertise
Ingmar Björkman, rector at Hanken School of Economics, notes that Finland’s future growth depends on individuals and companies having the right competencies.
“Hanken educates responsible experts in economics and conducts research that is relevant to society. The ability to successfully lead companies and create new markets is crucial if we are to strengthen Finland’s competitiveness and capacity for renewal, as well as contribute to sustainable growth”, Björkman says.
We can renew Finland when we trust in the power of science
Groundbreaking research is the key to developing society and fostering new and significant breakthroughs. Finland is home to world-class research, and we must safeguard the conditions for conducting research both today and in the future. We must also strengthen the core funding of Finnish universities and ensure their scientific freedom.
Learn more about the universities’ messages and goals, as well as background materials, at Unifi.fi (in Finnish)