Haaga-Helia strengthens the effectiveness and attractiveness of its research, development, and innovation activities by modeling a researcher's career path as one of the options for advancing in research, development, and innovation (RDI) career.
The RDI activities of universities of applied sciences have grown significantly in recent years. In particular, universities of applied sciences offer partnerships in projects to small and medium-sized enterprises to promote their competitiveness, development, and internationalization. This also requires the development of operating methods, e.g., in accordance with the recommendations of open science and research.
The first researchers were hired in Haaga-Helia a few years ago, but the actual career development was not yet described at that time. However, it was clear that Haaga-Helia must also be able to assess the career of researchers, their development, and their merit. It's all part of the openness and effectiveness of RDI work.
Haaga-Helia has introduced a three-step career path for researchers, with the stages being a researcher, a senior researcher, and a leading researcher. A target profile in several different dimensions is described for each researcher's role. The revision of the job titles of the current researchers to comply with the new model has been carried out this spring.
In connection with the modeling of researcher roles, we also created visibility for the prerequisites for advancing in teaching roles, for example, from lecturer to the principal lecturer. In a similar way as in researcher roles, the head teacher is required to e.g. evidence of applied research, project management, and publishing.
Haaga-Helia's Vice Rector in charge of RDI, Salla Huttunen, welcomes the reform. She believes that the new researcher roles will further accelerate the internationalization of Haaga-Helia's RDI activities.
— Research, development, and innovation activities in polytechnics are on an international growth trajectory. This also requires opportunities for career advancement for those working with a researcher profile. The new career path model provides guidelines for what paths are possible, she says.
Levels of requirements for researcher roles
The level of requirements for researcher roles in Haaga-Helia varies. The qualification requirement for the role of Researcher is a master's degree, while the qualification requirements for a Senior Researcher and Principal Researcher, include a doctorate. Work experience also affects the researcher's profile.
The roles of those who have previously worked on a researcher profile vary by researcher’s role. In the researcher's role, the salary is based on the complexity of the task and the person's competence and previous actions. The role of the researcher does not necessarily involve teaching and mentoring at all, although to a small extent it is possible.
• Researcher's duty is to include applied research and the search for funding together with companies and various actors in society. In addition, the researcher's tasks include ensuring the effectiveness of the research by, among other things, publishing and integrating the research appropriately into teaching and supervision.
• Senior Researcher’s responsibilities include applied research, its guidance and mentoring, and the construction and management of large-scale international projects. The senior researcher is active in the scientific community and key networks in the field and promotes open science and research and ensures the ethics of research in their work community.
The duties of a senior researcher also include developing the effectiveness of research activities through scientific publication, professional and public integration, and the integration of teaching and research.
• Principal Researcher's duty is to lead applied research at the research team level. The principal Researcher is active in the scientific community and key networks in the field and promotes open science and research at the national level.
The Principal Researcher’s responsibilities also include developing the effectiveness of research activities through scientific publishing, professional and public publication, and the creation of practices for the integration of teaching and research.
