Annual report 2023

Content

President's review 
Learning and guidance
Research and development
Commercial and international operations
Personnel and culture
Student union Helga 
Finance

President’s review: Accredited quality and RDI activities’ strong growth
 

Finland invests in the future. General Government Fiscal Plan for 2023–2026 included several policies with the aim to ensure Finland’s future, sustainable growth and safety. A favourable attitude towards education and training and measures linked to increasing the level of education were also conveyed by the Programme of the new Government.

Our own operations were strictly guided by the objectives and focus areas we set in the 2021–2025 strategy. The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) performed an audit on our international quality system at the beginning of 2023. We passed the audit, and the assessment feedback provided us with input concerning our development measures for the coming years. During the year of operation, we also became eligible for the accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). In addition, we are the first audited top athlete-friendly higher education institution.

Impactful international and national cooperation networks at the heart of our activities 

The building of a European higher education and research area moved forward on the basis of the Ulysseus European University initiative. For Haaga-Helia, being part of the Ulysseus European University consortium is a strategic choice, and during the year of operation, we approved the first Master’s degree curriculum in which Haaga-Helia is the responsible partner.

3AMK collaboration included the conceptualisation of a new research and development campus of vocational pedagogy. We also maintained a close dialogue with the other universities of applied sciences and universities in the metropolitan area.

We updated the country plan directing our international activities and network cooperation. We succeeded well in recruiting students required to pay a tuition fee.

Academic results improved towards the end of the year

The shadow cast by COVID-19 on our academic results was lifted. In the hotel and restaurant management programmes as well as in physical education, our results were among the best in Finland. The employment level of Haaga-Helia graduates was also higher than before. It was also positive that Haaga-Helia students graduate in the targeted time more often than students in other higher education institutions in the same sector. Haaga-Helia opens the doors to employment – and in our view, that is the best social impact.

At Haaga-Helia, studies progressed in accordance with the shared structures created in the education reform. The feedback provided by students on their studies and the related arrangements was the foundation of our continuous development. We monitored the functioning of the planning practices of teachers and the new dimensioning model.

The discussions we conducted during the year on strategy implementation and our success factors focusing on the future highlighted the deployment of new digital solutions and pedagogic methods that support education and learning, as well as more integrated links between the work of teachers and the research and development activities (RDI). The renewing world of learning and multi-location work were also the cornerstones of a future-looking facility strategy.
The higher education institutions’ nationwide Digivisio 2030 project progressed, and we implemented it as part of our change plan. We are one of the higher education institutions piloting formal continuous learning.

Inspiring, competent and thriving university community creating the Haaga-Helia story

The students and personnel are the greatest asset of our higher education community. We supported the activities of the student union Helga and promoted work carried out for student well-being and the required guidance in a number of ways. As a responsible employer, we take care of our personnel and their competence development. We cherish our collaborative operating culture.

Stabilisation of funding

The setting for Haaga-Helia’s funding plan for 2023 was challenging. The development of basic funding was slightly positive, and our own measures had managed to close the basic funding gaps caused by the change in the funding model. Nevertheless, the global inflation caused by increased prices and the pay settlement of autumn 2022 simultaneously increased Haaga-Helia’s expenses by EUR 2.0 million. Due to this, the result of the operating and funding plan 2023 showed a loss, despite the streamlining and saving measures. The 2023 operating result, EUR -2.2 million, is EUR 1.3 million better than budgeted as a result of the considerable tuition fee earnings. The growing RDI activities increased both earnings and expenses.

The Haaga-Helia brand is strong and appealing. It is built by all of us at Haaga-Helia. I would like to extend my warmest thanks for the past year to our higher education community as a whole, including our competent and committed personnel, our students, as well as our excellent and important cooperation partners.

Teemu Kokko
President, CEO

Learning and guidance
 

We successfully completed the most extensive education reform in the Bachelor’s degree programmes in Haaga-Helia’s history in 2023.  Understanding and supporting responsibility and diversity were an integral part of our activities. One outcome of these activities was Turvaamo – the Safer Space approach, commitment and notification channel that supports all students and employees at Haaga-Helia. The Safer Space concept also received plenty of attention nationwide. 

The appeal of Haaga-Helia’s education offering increased from the previous years. We did not quite reach the graduation target of Bachelor’s (AMK) degrees, but the level of students’ progress in their studies continues to be good at Haaga-Helia. In the Master’s (YAMK) degrees, the targets were met, and in vocational teacher education they were clearly exceeded. In continuous learning, or theOpen UAS, credits, we took brisk steps forward and ended up with a solid result of 47,000 credits. 

Dialogue between research and education

Our strong research, development and innovation orientation was reflected in learning and guidance during the year. For example, in the Virtually on Your Own Path project, we developed new operating models for career guidance. The results can also be extensively applied by other organisations. The dialogue between RDI and teaching, or RDI, is typical of many functions at Haaga-Helia, and its impact is considerable. In 2023, we promoted RDI in new ways. This work got off to a great start and will be continued with determination in 2024. 

We developed pedagogy with determination throughout the year. Assisting in the daily work were the digital pedagogy mentor activities and the Pedacomp work, which focused on guidance-based teaching. In 2023, we also launched a specific development programme for digital pedagogy and delved into questions concerning artificial intelligence by means of both diverse development taking place in projects and personnel training. We launched a reassessment of the curriculum in the Master’s degrees in the autumn.  

Together, we defined how Haaga-Helia’s pedagogical vision is manifested in the daily work of the teaching personnel. We organised Haaga-Helia’s first internal higher education pedagogy day for competence area, research area and degree directors. During the day, we outlined Haaga-Helia’s higher education pedagogy in relation to the evaluation of the State and Renewal of Higher Education Pedagogy, published by FINEEC in August.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Finland’s most popular university of applied sciences

Applicants to universities of applied sciences found Haaga-Helia the most appealing in 2023. The number of applicants to our programmes amounted to 40,431, of whom 21,423 were primary applicants. Applicants are particularly drawn to business administration and English-language programmes. The applicant numbers also indicate that the flexible studies offered by multimodal implementations are increasingly appealing to applicants. 

In the autumn of 2023 joint application period, the most popular programme was the English-language International Business degree programme, with more than 5,000 applicants. Among the Finnish-language programmes, the Bachelor of Business Administration (tradenomi) multimodal education programme attracted the highest number of applicants in the autumn joint application period. At the same time, it was the most popular Finnish-language programme in the autumn joint application period, with nearly 2,000 applicants. 

There was also increased interest in continuous learning, as the number of participants in Haaga-Helia’s Open University of Applied Sciences studies was drastically higher than in the previous year.

Education key figures 2019–2023

Development of the number of participants in the Open UAS 2019–2023

Research and development
 

The development of Haaga-Helia’s RDI activities continued in 2023. The project portfolio grew and also provided new operators with opportunities to participate in projects. The recognised external RDI funding resulting from the strengthened activities continued to grow for the third consecutive year (EUR 6.83 million). 

Our projects are deeply integrated with businesses around them, and, on the other hand, they expand our impact not only in Europe but also in developing countries. Our participation in the Ulysseus European University network has made our operations considerably more international. The first three-year period of Ulysseus – which as such is also a project – ended in October. The funding of the new four-year period was confirmed in the autumn, and the operations continued seamlessly in November.  

Artificial intelligence, sustainable development and competence development

Haaga-Helia’s four research areas – Sales development and digitalisation, Service business development and design, Engaging vocational pedagogy and Entrepreneurship and business development – intensively focused on three themes. These were artificial intelligence and digitalisation, sustainable development and societal impact, as well as competence development and sharing. 

The projects are based on partnerships and networks between various operators, such as higher education institutions, companies, organisations and the public sector. The increasing importance of ecosystems deserves a special mention. We coordinated the Hungry for Finland project, which builds a national functional ecosystem for the development of experiential and sustainably developed food tourism products. Food tourism is one of the key themes to be developed in Finland’s tourism strategy.

Another ecosystem showing great development is being generated in the Finnish AI Region (FAIR) project, in which we participate. The project supports SMEs to advance their digital and green transition. The focus is on applying artificial intelligence, but the project also offers expertise in cybersecurity, high-performance computing, Extended Reality (XR), and Virtual Reality (VR). The FAIR project has also been recognised as a significant innovation ecosystem among Uusimaa’s leading RDI ecosystems in the Artificial intelligence and quantum computing cluster.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Publications making RDI visible

The increase in Haaga-Helia’s RDI activities was reflected in the number of our experts’ publications. During 2023, we produced nearly 1,200 publications, which is more than ever before. Approximately 60 per cent of them targeted the public and included blog texts and articles popularising the RDI activities, their results and topical phenomena in the university of applied sciences arena, for example. 

Publications intended for professionals are an increasing trend. Their share increased considerably, and such publications accounted for approximately 25 per cent of all our publications. The majority of them were published in various professional compilations and one third in trade journals. The number of professional publications increased by approximately 40 per cent from the previous year. The remainder of the publications are those directed to the scientific community as well as videos and podcasts.

Development of the number of publications 2019–2023

Development of external RDI funding (EUR million) 2019–2023

Commercial and international operations
 

Our education export continued to increase considerably. We established new higher education partnerships in South America, India and Vietnam, among others. Alongside the entrance examination, we introduced new application methods that serve the applicants better. The English-language Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes were again popular among applicants. Our tuition fee earnings improved, and the number of students required to pay a tuition fee increased from the previous year by 50 per cent to slightly over 300.   

We expanded our tailored degree programme and continuing education base to China. We continued our operations in Latin America with degree education in Mexico and by providing continuing education for a higher education partner in Peru. The School of Vocational Teacher Education continued its close partnership with Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. In Pretoria, 32 vocational teachers graduated from the Haaga-Helia programme. 

We also prepared a country and regional plan to guide our international operations towards our objectives. The plan outlines the deliberate regional targeting and networking of international student recruitment and other education export, as well as teaching and research cooperation.  

Internationalisation in networks

In the Ulysseus European University network, we strengthened the competence of students and personnel by providing them with international exchange opportunities with our five higher education partners. The Ulysseus network expanded to the universities of Münster and Montenegro, offering more opportunities for international mobility and collaboration.  

The international student exchange volumes continued to increase but did not yet reach the pre-COVID-19 level. Long exchange periods spanning an entire semester are on a slight decline, whereas shorter exchange programmes are increasing. New forms of mobility, such as virtual and BIP implementations with higher education partners (BIP = multimodal intensive programmes) were deployed actively. 

Personnel exchange was active between the Ulysseus universities, in particular. Our teachers and other personnel participated in the partners’ international week and in other cooperation events. The Ulysseus Staff Week for International Relations Offices was held at Haaga-Helia, and Ulysseus colleagues visited us to share their best practices with us. We also organised an International Staff Week and a Teacher Week.   

Commercial operations in Finland improved

The sales and profitability of the commercial operations in Finland improved from the previous year. The sales of education programmes and commercial research increased by 26 per cent, and the sales related to our premises increased by 6 per cent from the previous year. We implemented new extensive education programmes for our customers and received excellent customer feedback. 

Vocational teacher education was actively involved in implementing the specialisation education programmes funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in the network of schools of teacher education. The education themes included digital pedagogy, well-being at educational institutions, career counselling and entrepreneurship training. 

 Demand for research continued to be good, and our brand studies, in particular, were in high demand. We built networks and deepened our partnerships. We continued our good cooperation with various unions and associations. Our new partner model provides companies with better opportunities to use Haaga-Helia’s services more comprehensively. Many partner companies increased the use of our services. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The China network strengthening the Finnish higher education brand

The China network launched in 2021 coordinates the partnerships of Finnish higher education institutions in China. The cooperation advanced in many ways in 2023. The objective of the shared network of twenty Finnish universities of applied sciences is, among other things, to increase the recruitment of Chinese students to Finnish universities of applied science, strengthen education cooperation and increase researcher exchange and research cooperation. 

In 2023, we continued our measures to strengthen the Finnish higher education brand in the market in China. We participated in the China Education Expo 2023 in Beijing with seven other Finnish universities of applied sciences. We productised the Finnish workplace-oriented model of university of applied sciences and constructed the Educational Marketing concept to support it. Two virtual nature tourism development projects received funding, and active cooperation with the selected stakeholders continued.  

Incoming and outgoing student exchange 2019–2023

Incoming and outgoing personnel exchange 2019–2023

Personnel and culture
 

The students and personnel are the greatest asset of our higher education community. Our strategy implementation is made possible by the enthusiasm and well-being of students and personnel. As a responsible employer, we take care of our personnel and create prerequisites that enable us to be a good place to work for all of us. We headed towards a more dynamic and community-oriented operating culture together.

Continuous research-based dialogue on well-being

In 2023, we conducted continuous, research-based dialogue on well-being: we carried out a work ability survey and a personnel survey and evaluated our operations by applying for the Mental Health Friendly Workplace label that recognises employers’ commitment to promoting employees’ mental well-being. The work ability survey examined the state of work ability at the work community level, and each respondent received personal feedback to help them maintain their own work ability. Based on the results, our community is faring quite well regarding work ability risks: our competence and the physical and psychological requirements concerning work ability were our clear strengths, whereas challenges regarding sleep, mood and vitality were identified as areas for improvement. Based on the results, we organised a campaign supporting the well-being of the body, mind and our community. The campaign included an exercise challenge in which more than 200 Haaga-Helians tallied up their exercise kilometres and also helped boost the motivation of other participating colleagues.

We conducted a personnel survey that regularly assesses the prerequisites for meeting the objectives set in the strategy. The survey collects our personnel’s views on what works well and how we can keep improving both as a community and as individuals. Our clearest strengths included high employee motivation and satisfaction with direct management. Themes related to the employer image and the management and operating culture, such as Haaga-Helia’s future outlook, were identified as development areas. Based on the results. motivating work and good direct management were selected as strengths to be nourished throughout Haaga-Helia. Strengthening inclusiveness and collaboration so that we continue to succeed as a company was confirmed as a development area.

To develop the support for mental health, we applied for and were the first higher education institution in Finland to be awarded Mieli Mental Health Finland’s Mental Health Friendly Workplace label. The label is an assessment tool for mental health management, daily practices and support in various life situations. It is also a recognition that our workplace meets the criteria for promoting mental health and is committed to systematic strengthening of mental health. In the award justifications, we were applauded for our versatile ways to promote personnel’s mental health. This is also an important message that we want to convey to our students – work is beneficial for our overall well-being.  

Equality, non-discrimination and a safe space in our community

We updated the Haaga-Helia Equality and Non-Discrimination Plan for 2024–2026. In the plan, we specifically considered the relevant recommendations of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s KOTAMO project promoting equality, non-discrimination and inclusiveness, as well as diversity and inclusiveness among personnel in higher education institutions and the strengthening of community and well-being. We also emphasised the strengthening of inclusiveness and internal cooperation, based on the results of our personnel survey. The current equality and non-discrimination plan period included a total of more than 50 measures.

We celebrated shared successes by awarding the Deeds of the Year. All Haaga-Helians had the opportunity to highlight excellent achievements in our organisation by nominating candidates for the Deeds of the Year award. We received more than 50 nominations. The winners were selected based on their deed’s novelty value, Haaga-Helia’s values and our strategic priorities. The Pedagogical Deed of the Year was awarded for the development of a thesis model for special support. The winner of the RDI Deed of the Year was Creative agency Krea. The Societal Deed of the Year was awarded for promoting regional impact and business cooperation in Porvoo, and the Community Deed of the Year was awarded for developing the Turvaamo – Safer Space concept.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Safer Space promotes student and personnel well-being

The experience of inclusiveness and safety promotes well-being in study and work environments. Creating opportunities for a sense of safety within the higher education community requires shared practices, principles, and structures, as well as a commitment to them in everyday interactions. These have been compiled into the Turvaamo – Safer Space operating model at Haaga-Helia. The Safer Space principles were drawn up in the SOLE project jointly with students, student organisations and personnel.

Safer Space was awarded the Community Deed of the Year, which highlights activities or acts related to promoting Haaga-Helia’s community values. The arguments of the award commended the development a meaningful new operating model that has an impact on students and staff. The Turvaamo – Safer Space approach at Haaga-Helia promotes Haaga-Helia’s values and strategy in a concrete way in terms of the rules and operating models that enhance well-being in higher education institution. 

Safer Space is based on the psychological safety experienced in the community and has gained a lot of visibility both in the higher education field at the Pedaforum Higher Education Pedagogy seminar and nationally in Yle Ykkönen and Yle Aamu-tv broadcasts.
 

Development of the number of personnel in person-years 2019–2023

Student union Helga: Equality and non-discrimination at the core
 

The networks and communities created during studies are among the greatest benefits of one’s student years. Last year, one of the objectives of the student union Helga was to ensure that each student finds a community in which they feel right at home at the UAS. Each student had numerous opportunities to participate in clubs or activity groups or join regular activities and other community development made possible by Helga.

The tutoring organised by Helga played an important role in our community. During the year, new dimensions were added to tutoring by focusing on the methods to train new tutors and on the tutoring of students in multi-modal programmes. Through resources obtained through projects, we supported several tutoring groups that helped organise various events and grouping activities for new students. 

Equality and non-discrimination were recurring themes for students during the year, and these values were also strongly manifested in Helga’s operations. We encouraged students to be active participants in society and exert their influence through, for example, the parliamentary election or the representative council election of the student union within the university of applied sciences. We also ensured that each student felt that Haaga-Helia and the university community was a safer space by providing them with support and guidance in cases of harassment and other unpleasant situations.

With the help of support received from projects, we implemented an equality plan, which from 2024 onward will guide Helga’s operations towards stronger equality by providing clear metrics and guidelines for promoting our objectives. In addition, we have trained tutors and other parties active in Haaga-Helia’s operations to better understand the importance of equality and non-discrimination in our operations.

Eppu Åberg
Executive Director
Haaga-Helia’s student union Helga

Haaga-Helia’s student union Helga

The student union Helga is an advocate of all Haaga-Helia students and promotes their well-being. It acts as a link between its members and advocates to further the civil, social and intellectual pursuits of students, as well as the rights of its members in regard to the quality of the studies and the status of students in Haaga-Helia, in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area as well as on the national and the EU levels. Helga organises the most important student events annually, as well as provides guidance and support to students in all matters related to student life. At the end of 2023, the student union had nearly 3,000 members.

Finance 
 

Haaga-Helia’s earnings in 2023 were EUR 71.7 (in 2022: 67.5 and in 2021: 67.4) million, of which basic funding accounted for EUR 56.5 (56.1; 59.1) million, or 79 per cent of the total earnings.

The total costs were EUR 74.0 (70.3; 65.9) million. Direct personnel costs were EUR 51.5 (49.1; 46.6) million, corresponding to 69.7 per cent of the total costs. Haaga-Helia operates its facilities on leased premises, with the exception of Porvoo. Facility rents and maintenance charges amounted to EUR 10.0 (9.8; 9.0) million, or 13.6 per cent of the total costs.

The operating result, -2.2 (-2.9; 1.5) million is EUR +1.3 million higher than budgeted, which was due to the considerable increase in tuition fee earnings, which amounted to EUR 2.6 (1.2; 0.9) million. Growth in the RDI activities manifested as both increased earnings and higher expenses.

The Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences records financial assets in accordance with the Accounting Act Section 5.2a and the IFRS 9 standard, in which investment assets are valued at fair value and the change in fair value is recorded in the income statement. The accounting method pursuant to the IFRS 9 standard was implemented in 2019. The positive impact of the accounting method on Haaga-Helia’s 2023 result was EUR 4.5 (2022: -6.9; 2021: 3.4; 2020: 0.7) million. According to the investment policy approved by the Board of Directors, the regular weight of the investment in shares is 50 per cent of the investments’ value. Alternative investments can account for a maximum of 10 per cent.

Other shares and participations are valued at their acquisition value or a lower value. The total earnings from investment and funding activities were EUR 4.1 million (-6.8; 3.5).

The result for the financial year showed a profit of EUR 2.0 (-9.7; 5.0) million. Compared to the previous year, the tuition fee earnings (EUR 1.4 million) increased considerably and the market value of financial assets was significantly higher (EUR 4.5 million).  The increased RDI activities manifest as a corresponding increase in both earnings and, in particular, personnel expenses.

The balance sheet total was EUR 65.0 (63.7; 71.3) million. The advances received include EUR 7.4 million of payments received on multiannual projects financed with external funding. The accrued expenses and deferred income include the deferred holiday pay reservation of EUR 3.4 (3.2; 3.2) million.