Evaluation area II assesses the procedures used to manage and improve societal engagement, strengthen the impact of the HEI’s research, development and innovation as well as artistic activities, and support an innovative organisational culture.
Based on the audit team’s evaluation, the evaluation area II is at the level good.
The audit team identified the following as key strengths and recommendations:
Strengths
- The reorganisation of the management of social impact initiatives and RDI projects and the refocusing of responsibilities shows that societal impact plays an important role in Haaga-Helia’s overall strategy. Clear procedures for applying for and implementing RDI projects support the motivation of teaching and research staff to commit to RDI projects.
- Regular dialogue formats with external stakeholders such as the annual Future Forum for stakeholders and staff allows Haaga-Helia to continuously identify trends and phenomena for their RDI activities. Because of this, Haaga-Helia has a very good reputation as a HEI that puts emphasis on business-orientation and application-orientation as well as societal engagement and impact.
- Haaga-Helia maintains valuable European and international networks. Haaga-Helia is one of only a few universities of applied sciences that are members in a European University alliance (Ulysseus). This will offer great future opportunities not only for internationalization, but also for RDI activities.
Recommendations
- Haaga-Helia should provide enough possibilities for getting involved in RDI activities. Sufficient possibilities to improve entrepreneurial competences should also be provided. Management and administration of RDI projects requires more support.
- Optimized communication between the different organizational groups, campuses and competence areas of Haaga-Helia and regional stakeholders would increase transparency and equal access to existing activities and networks. Regional stakeholders should be more involved in the elaboration of strategies for RDI and more engaged in activities that enable renewal and enhancement.
- The potential and advantages of the European University Alliance Ulysseus need to be communicated within Haaga-Helia and towards external stakeholders. Ulysseus could be used to attract international students and to apply for RDI funding in cooperation with the alliance members. The idea of establishing an innovation ecosystem has high potential and should be further elaborated.