STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI 2021–2030 2 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI 2021–2030 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 3 CONTENTS

VISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI 4 2. OPENNESS ENHANCES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AN ARCHITECT OF BILDUNG AND SUSTAINABLE AND COLLABORATION 14 WELLBEING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS 5 Openness will promote scientific research and social impact 15 An international outlook will advance our VALUES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI 7 understanding of the world 15 STRATEGIC CHOICES 8 3. THE BEST PLACE TO STUDY AND WORK 16 1. KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING ARE FOR EVERYONE 10 We will support the skills development and Research themes will renew knowledge and learning 11 career progress of students and staff 17 We will consolidate research and learning infrastructures 12 Openness and inclusivity will offer growth opportunities for members of the University community 18 Strong connection between teaching and research 12 A diverse and multilingual community will inspire engagement 19 We will reform learning and promote continuous learning 13 High quality at the core of our operating culture 19 We will make an impact within the scientific community 13 Scientific literacy and knowledge to support decision-making 13 4. A LEADER IN RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY 20 We will advance ecological sustainability and responsibility 21 Responsible investment activities and financial management will safeguard our operating conditions 21 WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2030? 22 4 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

TO BE A STRONGER ADVOCATE OF BILDUNG AND A DYNAMIC ARCHITECT OF WELLBEING, WE HAVE ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING VISION FOR 2030 WITH THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE – FOR THE WORLD UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 5 AN ARCHITECT OF BILDUNG AND SUSTAINABLE WELLBEING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

The University of Helsinki is a community of initiative and vision in the formulation of science In 2030, the University of Helsinki will be the research and learning based on courageous and education policies. best place to study, teach, work and engage thought and dialogue. In 2030, the University in research. The University will be an attractive will be one of the leading universities in the We will meet society’s needs for knowledge. We employer and partner both nationally and world. We will be a nationally and internationally will generate understanding for the benefit of internationally. We will develop our operations recognised stronghold of edification. society through responsible and ethical research further based on the model of four campuses. Our success will be based on in-depth and and teaching – for the world. As a result, The University will retain its status as a public innovative discipline-specific knowledge, research-based knowledge will increasingly university. interdisciplinary research and teaching of a be used to support societal decision-making high standard. in 2030. The key challenges of mitigating Sustainability and responsibility will guide all climate change, preserving biodiversity, using our operations. Our research and teaching We will produce cultural and knowledge capital, natural resources sustainably, safeguarding will enhance sustainable wellbeing through which will not only draw from research but health and wellbeing, and maintaining social interaction with the surrounding society. also from innate maturity, integrity, tolerance cohesion can be addressed by making use of and life-long learning. We will consolidate the comprehensive research-based knowledge our position as a leading national force and produced by the University. significant international influence known for its 6 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

TRUTH BILDUNG FREEDOM INCLUSIVITY UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 7 VALUES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

The University’s values – truth, Bildung, freedom and inclusivity TRUTH FREEDOM – constitute the foundation of • Leads us to pursue new knowledge • Encourages our creativity our operations and interaction, • Requires critical thinking • Affirms the autonomy and while also guiding our choices • Promotes high-quality research responsibility of the University and reforms. and teaching INCLUSIVITY BILDUNG • Safeguards our equality • Guides us on the right path • Translates into diversity and • Serves as our moral conscience respect for others • Cultivates stability and • Supports and promotes openness open-mindedness and collaboration • Springs from democratic empowerment 8 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

OPENNESS KNOWLEDGE ENHANCES THE BEST A LEADER IN AND LEARNING SCIENTIFIC PLACE TO STUDY RESPONSIBILITY ARE FOR RESEARCH AND AND WORK AND EVERYONE COLLABORATION SUSTAINABILITY UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 9 STRATEGIC CHOICES

Groundbreaking basic research, open-minded Research and education constitute the diverse encounters and provide an environment curiosity and cooperation that transcends core of our duties. We will advance our that helps individuals develop the skills required boundaries are the requirements for being one discipline-specific expertise, invest in top-level for ethical, critical and responsible reform. of the world’s top academic institutions. In the multidisciplinary and independent basic spirit of global responsibility, we will build a research, support collaboration between Our success hinges on a healthy, equal and sustainable future by generating knowledge for disciplines, and consolidate the link between engaged University community. We will foster finding solutions to both local and global issues research and teaching. We will offer and further develop democratic processes and thereby benefiting the global community. opportunities in continuous learning to not at the University and encourage members of only just our degree students. With the help of the University community to engage in issues involving the whole community. The University WE WILL PURSUE THE FOLLOWING science education and communication, we will disseminate scientific literacy among various will be known as an attractive employer and as a STRATEGIC CHOICES TO IMPLEMENT community advocating diversity and dialogue. OUR VISION age and demographic groups outside the University. We will promote responsibility and sustainability 1. Knowledge and learning are for not only in research and teaching, but also in everyone Openness is a fundamental precondition for the implementation of our core duties. Open every choice we make. We will actively initiate 2. Openness enhances scientific discussion and fulfil our role as a trendsetter research and collaboration science and open-access data will promote the development of research and make research- on the way towards a more responsible, equal, 3. Our University is the best place to based knowledge available throughout society. tolerant and democratic world. study and work An open operational culture will boost public 4. Our University is a leader in engagement, create a community that values responsibility and sustainability 10 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 1. KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING ARE FOR EVERYONE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 11

The University’s strength lies RESEARCH THEMES WILL RENEW These themes will spur collaboration between in the continuous progress of KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING fields and disciplines and renew research and learning. Collaboration will require scientific thought and research In line with our values, we will nurture curiosity insightful discipline-specific expertise, and skills, which ensures that the that is focused on basic research and promote interdisciplinary cooperation will lead to novel quality of research improves and the inherent value and knowledge capital research directions. The themes not only generated by such research. We will further promote collaboration, but also inspire research auspicious conditions are created research and learning that will help us better for the production of high-quality and teaching that seek solutions to major global understand and resolve local and global problems. publications, international impact challenges. Our research activities will stand and esteemed expertise. on an ethically sound basis in terms of both Interdisciplinary basic research of a high objectives and implementation. quality and multidisciplinary themes provide The solid link between research a framework for faculties and other units as and teaching guarantees the Our multidisciplinary University will develop well as degree programmes to formulate their opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. own concrete development plans, including high quality of learning. With the During the strategy period, research and help of science education and the appropriate rechannelling of resources. teaching will draw inspiration from the following We will increase funding for research during the communication, we will export themes: strategy period to safeguard its position. scientific thought also outside the • A meaningful life, human wellbeing During the strategy period, we will make use University, as knowledge belongs and a healthy environment to everyone. of the strengths identified and development • A humane and fair world suggestions offered in the recent assessment • A sustainable and viable future of the University’s research by improving for our globe the conditions of in-depth discipline-specific • A universe of ideas and opportunities expertise as well as multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research.

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WE WILL CONSOLIDATE RESEARCH STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN Students will actively develop their own AND LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURES TEACHING AND RESEARCH competence, career and skills to solve global issues sustainably. The University will support We will advance the functionality and Our teaching is based on high-quality research. its students in this endeavour. We will together attractiveness of our research and learning During the strategy period, we will strengthen establish an inclusive culture of learning, with environments in terms of infrastructures, career the connection between research and teaching equality, openness, respectful encounters and paths and services. We will promote knowledge on all levels. Right from the beginning of their close teacher-student collaboration at its core. and opportunities for its utilisation in society studies, students will be actively involved in all A high-standard of teaching and reformed by relying on open science, new research activities of the University community, including practices will improve the systematic progress methods and technologies, and by intensifying research, the development of teaching and of studies as well as employability after the long-term development and shared usage community relations. The University will support graduation. The aim is that by the end of the of research and learning facilities as well as students’ working life skills (including citizen strategy period, a significantly higher number of high-quality infrastructures. We will enhance and entrepreneurial skills) by improving related students will complete their studies within the our competence in the analysis of large and education and intensifying cooperation with target duration for degrees, without affecting open datasets and further develop related relevant partners. We will encourage students the quality of those degrees. The University’s infrastructures. to actively engage in cultural and civic activities relationship with its alumni will remain close, and to explore the international labour market. continuing to provide them with a point of We will attend to our national responsibility of contact with Bildung. educating experts proficient in both Finnish and Swedish. UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 13

WE WILL REFORM LEARNING AND expand the range of continuous learning SCIENTIFIC LITERACY AND PROMOTE CONTINUOUS LEARNING offerings within the available resources. KNOWLEDGE TO SUPPORT Open learning environments and content will DECISION-MAKING We will develop the content of teaching and support learning and new opportunities in pedagogical solutions to meet the ongoing professional life. By widening the scope and content of science changes within research, teaching and communication and education, we will society. By combining openness with digital WE WILL MAKE AN IMPACT WITHIN significantly improve scientific literacy technologies, we will be able to offer new ways THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY and critical and analytical thinking. of learning and models of cooperation for the We will support researchers and other staff We will actively exercise our influence needs of students, scholars and society at in their communication about their work. within the higher education sector and the large. The openness of learning environments Understanding and appreciation of science scientific community in Finland and abroad and content will increase flexibility related to are prerequisites for our goal of ensuring that together with other universities, networks and time, place, methodology and implementation. research-based knowledge will increasingly be decision-makers. We will intensify collaboration Studies will be increasingly open to tailoring, used to support decision-making in 2030. within the UNA Europa alliance and the LERU and learning will be supported at all stages network, among others. On the national forum, of studies. We will improve access to Science education has the special aim of we will advance collaboration with cities and learning among groups which currently are making scientific understanding available to institutions of higher education, particularly underrepresented at universities in order to social groups with little contact with scientific those in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Through foster equal opportunities and social mobility. knowledge. Science education offered to participation in national and international debate children and young people will promote The changing labour market underlines the on science and higher education policies, we awareness and the attractiveness of need for new skills and thus increases the need will be able to have an influence on ongoing academic studies and research. to elevate the level of education throughout changes in research and teaching as well as society. During the strategy period, we will meet ensure our successful development in changing these needs by making use of the connection social circumstances. between research and teaching to significantly increase the number of degrees offered and 14 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 2. OPENNESS ENHANCES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 15

Openness will be instrumental and by adopting practices that advance together with our partners, in the development in raising the University to be a openness in collaboration with the business of internationally competitive knowledge forerunner in research, to influence sector, the public sector and the third sector. clusters. through knowledge and to engage We will meet the knowledge needs of our AN INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK in social debate, while highlighting stakeholders in order to solve societal issues. WILL ADVANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING the University as an attractive Solid and open research as well as interaction OF THE WORLD with cooperation partners yield wide-ranging We are open to international activities and place of study and employment added value to society as a whole. Key factors encourage physical and virtual mobility. as well as an international partner. in this include liberal adult education that draws During the strategy period, we will strive to from research, citizen activities and art as well Openness will be implemented take advantage of our increasing international as innovations and results with commercial systematically, strategically and connections and offer our students the potential and business activities. We will responsibly, taking heed of moral opportunity to participate in virtual international advance interaction with our alumni in order to mobility during their studies. Our global principles as well as ethical and boost public awareness of the University and to responsibility and impact will bear fruit through legal considerations. bolster public engagement. interaction with partners and alumni who share Open science will allow us to promote the our interest in promoting high-quality research OPENNESS WILL PROMOTE SCIENTIFIC and teaching. RESEARCH AND SOCIAL IMPACT 2030 Agenda goals of the UN, in particular, democracy, justice, our global responsibility and Open-access publications and open-access data citizens’ and society’s trust in science. We will promote the development of scholarship and also further develop education collaboration increasingly make research accessible to our in its various forms, including education partners and society while contributing to our export, and support the improvement of skills shared knowledge capital. We will improve our in developing countries by making use of impact by producing and taking advantage of the wide-ranging expertise of the University research information and specialist knowledge community. We will actively participate, 16 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 3. THE BEST PLACE TO STUDY AND WORK UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 17

We will enhance democracy as WE WILL SUPPORT THE SKILLS every student. Clearly expressed objectives that well as genuine and empathetic DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER promote learning and interactive participation PROGRESS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF as a member of the scientific community diversity in the work community, and their profession will award students with which springs from respect for The meaningfulness and content of work as well feelings of success and accomplishment and and willingness to support every as opportunities to apply one’s creativity and thus boost their wellbeing. member of the University com- personal skills are the cornerstones on which to build a fulfilling professional career. The Our aim is to significantly diminish work-related munity. Encouraging supervision University will provide for future skills demands exhaustion and its risk among members of the and genuinely inclusive leadership by promoting staff competence in line with University community. This requires a critical will provide opportunities for the philosophy of continuous learning. We will examination of our operating culture and the every member of the University clarify the career development prospects and advancement of practices that promote coping community to engage in issues career options of our various staff groups. As at work. wellbeing is a holistic phenomenon, we will, in involving the whole community our role as employer, advance flexible practices and experience feelings of success to support staff in various life situations. at work. To support student wellbeing and the accumulation of their expertise, we will further develop the various forms of supervision and guidance to ensure interactive encounters within the University community for each and 18 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

OPENNESS AND INCLUSIVITY WILL OFFER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY We will operate in accordance with our values and promote an open operating model and low hierarchy so that the best ideas will have the opportunity to shine regardless of who presents them. We will furnish opportunities for growth to ambitious researchers, teachers, experts and students as well as encourage proposals of good ideas, methods and practices. We will transform the University into a genuinely global institution by promoting a culture that invites everyone to put their talent to use. We will continue to actively and openly recruit international students and staff, while also keeping in mind our responsibility for the national languages of Finland as the languages of research and edification. UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 19

A DIVERSE AND MULTILINGUAL HIGH QUALITY AT THE CORE OF OUR COMMUNITY WILL INSPIRE OPERATING CULTURE ENGAGEMENT The University aspires for the highest possible A diverse university safeguards the equality quality in all its operations. Quality refers to of researchers in all disciplines as well as activities that are ethically sustainable and encourages a dialogue respectful of different well suited to their purpose of producing high- opinions. We will ensure that regardless of their quality research, degrees and public impact. language or cultural background, everyone will Every member of the University community be able to function as active, full members of contributes to the quality of operations through the community and advance in their careers. their work. An operating culture that highlights We will also support the integration of quality, accompanied by commonly agreed international students and staff into the procedures that adhere to the University’s University community and Finnish society by values and objectives, support members of providing instruction in the national languages the University community in their work. The of Finland. The University will be an example measures and methods of quality management of genuine multilingualism. will be developed further to ensure the continued improvement of the quality of University operations. As part of quality management, we will develop systematic risk management practices to cover the various organisational levels of the University. 20 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 4. A LEADER IN RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 21

We will cultivate our global services and reforms. Through our exemplary of securing a good return from responsible responsibility and sustainable operating models, we will be a pioneering force investments that will grow in value over development by actively participating in society for sustainable wellbeing. time. We will continue to bolster our financial in international debates, projects and self-sufficiency and intensify the efficient use The themes of sustainability will be exhaustively of various funding sources in accordance with the drafting of research programmes integrated into all education programmes to our values. To safeguard favourable conditions and policies. As the knowledge ensure that the University produces experts for operations and reform, we will continue generated by the University will who will steer the world towards sustainability to ensure that our finances rest on a solid support society in its path towards and responsibility. Our objective for 2030 is foundation through responsible and profitable sustainability, we will be considered to be an attractive multidisciplinary hub of financial management. a knowledgeable and attractive sustainability science and teaching that enjoys partner. The goals of the UN’s 2030 international recognition. Our investment activities are guided by the Agenda will provide a framework principles for responsible investment activities Well-designed digital and physical approved by the University Board. We will be a for sustainable development and environments for work, teaching and learning forerunner and ethical trendsetter of responsible responsible action. will enhance ecological sustainability and investment activities. During the strategy promote encounters with others, support period, the University will divest its investments creativity, renew forms of collaboration and in companies producing fossil fuels. WE WILL ADVANCE ECOLOGICAL improve accessibility. SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY The University of Helsinki Group will provide We will progress towards ecological RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT continued support to the University and the sustainability by decreasing the carbon ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL achievement of its objectives. As a responsible footprint of our operations and promoting MANAGEMENT WILL SAFEGUARD owner, the University will promote the circular economy as well as by enhancing virtual OUR OPERATING CONDITIONS attainment of the sustainability goals of the mobility. We aim to reach carbon neutrality The University serves society, and our UN’s 2030 Agenda throughout the entire group. in our operations during the strategy period. operations are largely based on public funding. Sustainability and responsibility will guide the We will manage our assets carefully through University community in all procurements, long-term investment activities, with the aim 22 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030

KNOWLEDGE AND 4. The University will operate LEARNING ARE FOR according to the principles of open science and learning and EVERYONE make its scientific infrastructures 1. The University will enjoy and datasets openly available. an increasingly established 5. The University will have international standing as a significantly enhanced its scientific partner, especially competence in the analysis WHERE thanks to its groundbreaking of large and open datasets discipline-specific expertise as and further developed related well as its multidisciplinary and infrastructures. cross-disciplinary research. 6. The University will boast facilities 2. Research-based knowledge fit for the purposes of research generated by us will increasingly and teaching, libraries included. WILL be used to support societal decision-making. 7. A strong connection between research and teaching will have 3. The University will boast been adopted through the high-quality, up-to-date entire University, enabling every research infrastructures that degree student to participate WE BE IN will be developed proactively in the activities of the research and purposefully for long-term community as part of their and extensive shared use. The studies. University will be an active partner in the utilisation and 8. Thanks to its teaching of the development of international highest quality, the University 2030? will have built a profile as an research infrastructures. attractive provider of master’s and doctoral education, and UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2030 23

the degrees awarded by the 13. Regardless of language or OUR UNIVERSITY IS 21. The University will be an University will better prepare cultural background, the THE BEST PLACE TO STUDY attractive multidisciplinary hub the graduates for a variety of University will invite everyone to of sustainability science and positions. function as active, full members AND WORK teaching that enjoys international 9. Students’ progress will have of the community and pave the 18. The wellbeing of the University recognition. We will actively become significantly smoother, way for career advancement. community and its members participate in the formulation allowing an increasing number 14. The University will have will have improved, and of international research of students to complete their significantly promoted virtual strides will have been made in programmes and policies while degrees in the target duration. international mobility alongside equality, non-discrimination and generating knowledge and physical mobility. opportunities to participate and skills related to sustainable 10. The University will be an make a difference. development for the benefit of important science educator and 15. As a university representing society. communicator. Bildung, we will be a force of 19. The University will enjoy the growing influence and generate reputation of an attractive 22. The University will have 11. The University will be an employer. significantly increased its acknowledged, attractive and considerable added value to society. research funding and will accessible environment of OUR UNIVERSITY IS A make versatile use of different continuous learning which meets 16. Thanks to the University’s funding sources in line with its the changing educational needs strong and responsible business LEADER IN RESPONSIBILITY values. The University will have of society. collaboration, innovation AND SUSTAINABILITY increased its financial leeway by activities and other public 20. The UN’s sustainable reinforcing its self-sufficiency, engagement, research results OPENNESS ENHANCES development goals will have and it will boast an extensive will be increasingly available to been integrated into the national and international donor SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND the various sectors of society. COLLABORATION University’s operating culture. network. 17. The University will be renowned The University will have 12. The University will be a for its practices and procedures significantly stepped up its strong global influence based on openness, academic ecological sustainability and will with an extensive network freedom, inclusivity and have achieved carbon neutrality. of international alumni and democratic participation, and will The theme of sustainability will partners. thus serve as an inspiration to its be comprehensively integrated partners. into the University’s education programmes. HELSINKI.FI/2030