Competitive knowledge-economies driving new logics in higher education – reflections from a Finnish university merger

Poutanen, Mikko

doi:10.1080/19460171.2022.2124429

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Secondly, what is also left missing from this equation is the experience of Finnish academics subjected to the market logic of academic capitalism, under which academics are encouraged to view academic work through a competitive lens, either through a more abstract change in operational culture (Rinne et al, 2014) or through more direct policy guidance and steering (Kallio et al, 2021a(Kallio et al, , 2021bPoutanen, 2022a). This suggests that under Finnish academic capitalism it is in the interests of both higher education policy and universities to encourage academics to invest more of their time in competitive funding applications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The market logics for applying for external funding are, as Kallio et al (2021a) suggested, filtered down to academics through competed, project-based funding mechanisms. The high degree of public steering has led some Finnish academics to determine that their professional autonomy is in jeopardy (Poutanen, 2022a(Poutanen, , 2022bKallio et al, 2020;Siekkinen et al, 2020). Extant research (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 This requires the state -interested in its own competitiveness -to push for reforms to "become competitive, entrepreneurial and work-market oriented" to enable catch-up competitiveness (Sum, 2009, p. 197). In the European context Finland is characterized as an "export-oriented small nation" (Nokkala, 2008), which is why competitiveness in the global market takes on special, if not nearly existential significance for them already in terms of national policy (Poutanen, 2022a).…”

Section: Innovation Framework In Knowledge(-based) Economiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From R&D Innovation to Academic Capitalism in Finland

Poutanen

2023

SJPA

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Higher education policy in Finland has shifted toward academic capitalism as an extension to new demands for competitiveness placed on higher education institutions. The Finnish Ministry of Education has been involved for some time in reforming the Finnish higher education system with the aim of increasing outputs in research innovations and laying the groundwork for academic capitalism. In other words, political guidance has sought to reform research as a qualitative change, rather than commit to increasing investment. Looking at the statistical indicators of Finnish research and development, particularly in the context of Finnish universities, shows how in practice Finland has introduced ideas of academic capitalism locally by moving away from basic funding into a more competition-driven funding system. Competitive logics are filtered down from the level of national higher education policy to university level through policy tools, such as performance-based funding. Furthermore, the Finnish system shows a relatively high susceptibility to political control, which can be viewed as a challenge to substantive academic autonomy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Innovation Framework In Knowledge(-based) Economiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From R&D Innovation to Academic Capitalism in Finland

Poutanen

2023

SJPA

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“…Yliopistojen ottaessa laajempaa koulutusvastuuta ja korosta malla odotuksia vähenevästä valtionrahoituksesta tehdään lukukausimaksuista "välttämätön paha" suomalaisen taloudellisen kilpailukyvyn, yliopistojen rahoituspohjan ja opetuksen laadun takaamiseksi. Suomalaisen korkeakoulu kentän uudistamista on 2000luvulta alkaen nimenomaan perusteltu taloudel lisella kilpailukyvyllä ja verrokkimaista jälkeen jäämisellä (Poutanen 2022). Tässä kontekstissa maksujen tarpeellisuuden perusteet löytynevät kasvavista opiskelijamääristä: Marinin hallituksen aikana muotoutunut tavoite nostaa vuoteen 2030 mennessä korkeakoulututkinnon suorittavien nuorten osuus vähintään 50 %:iin nuorten aikuisten, eli 25-34vuotiaiden, ikäluokasta on osa OKM:n kansallista tutkimuksen, kehittämisen ja innovaatioiden tiekarttaa (OKM 2021;ks.…”

Section: Maksujen Poliittinen Ohituskaistaunclassified

“…Kilpailullinen diskurssi logiikoineen on läpäissyt jo monen suomalaisen korkeakoulun -mukaan lukien niiden henkilöstön (Poutanen 2022). On perusteltua katsoa Heikki Patomäen (2005) tavoin niitä korkeakoulujärjes telmiä, jotka ovat edenneet akateemisen kapitalismin polulla pidemmälle kuin suomalainen korkeakoulujärjestelmä, ja pohtia niiden kohtaamia ongelmia.…”

Section: Kristallipallon Tulkintaaunclassified

Näkyvätkö suomalaisen korkeakoulupolitiikan kristallipallossa lukukausimaksut?

Poutanen

2023

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Tämä katsausartikkeli pohtii kaikkien opiskelijoiden lukuvuosi- tai lukukausimaksujen todennäköisyyttä osana suomalaisen korkeakoulupolitiikan akateemisen kapitalismin kehityksen jatkumoa. Etenkin talouden ja liike-elämän toimijat ovat jo pitkään pitäneet lukukausimaksuja tarpeellisina suomalaisen korkeakoulutuksen laadun turvaamiseksi ja pääosin julkisrahoitteisen korkeakoulutuksen rahoituspohjan laajentamiseksi. Katsaus hyödyntää aiempaa lukukausimaksukeskustelua sekä poliittisissa asiakirjoissa että julkisuudessa ja pohtii, miten lukukausimaksuja saatettaisiin edistää puoluepoliittisen järjestelmän ulkopuolelta käsitteellisesti ja osana laajentuvaa yliopistoautonomiaa. Katsaus myös lyhyesti käsittelee lukukausimaksujen kansainvälisiä kokemuksia ja sitä, miten ne edistävät julkisten palveluiden siirtymistä entistä vahvemmin finansialisaation piiriin.

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Impact of mergers on conflicts at universities—Conclusions from courts decisions

Stachowiak‐Kudła,

Westa,

Meix‐Cereceda

et al. 2024

Conflict Resolution Qtrly

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Despite the growing popularity of mergers in higher education, limited research examines their impact on conflicts within the affected universities and their surroundings. The article discusses the issue of university mergers in Belgium, Germany, and Spain, which were so severe that they required resolution by a constitutional court. The methods include an analysis of constitutional courts' judgments, supported by the analysis of literature and legal acts concerning higher education. The results indicate that both forced and voluntary mergers lead to fierce conflicts resolved by constitutional courts. Conflicts may arise not only in universities to be merged or already merged but also within the institutional environment of the university. In addition to the unified universities themselves, participants in such conflicts may also include competing universities, professional associations, student unions, and governmental bodies. In court disputes regarding the merging of universities, a violation of the university's right to autonomy and/or of academic freedom in general are usually alleged. The results also show that the different structures and organizational cultures of universities need not presage the failure of the merger.

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Competitive knowledge-economies driving new logics in higher education – reflections from a Finnish university merger

Cited by 12 publications

References 68 publications

From R&D Innovation to Academic Capitalism in Finland

From R&D Innovation to Academic Capitalism in Finland

Näkyvätkö suomalaisen korkeakoulupolitiikan kristallipallossa lukukausimaksut?

Impact of mergers on conflicts at universities—Conclusions from courts decisions

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