The Annual Report of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences examines the past year from the perspectives of education, RDI, and commercial and international activities. The Annual Report also includes staff and student reviews and key figures.
– Throughout 2022, we remained determined to implement our strategy. The return to a new normal challenged our university community, while offering opportunities to do things differently and better. The war in Ukraine changed the security structures in Europe, causing precautionary measures also in the education sector, says Minna Hiillos, President and CEO of Haaga-Helia.
International interest in IT, graduation rates steadily increasing in the sector
Last year's highlight was the growing popularity of many of Haaga-Helia's education programmes. A total of 38 000 applications were received for the autumn joint application.
The top ranking among English-language UAS programmes was maintained by the Business Information Technology programme, for which a total of more than 7,000 applications were received from all over the world.
– It is great to see that Haaga-Helia is attracting applicants both in Finland and abroad. We were the most popular higher education institution in Finland in the autumn 2022 joint call for applications, and our international appeal reached a record high. The number of applicants to the autumn joint application quadrupled compared to the previous autumn joint application, says Hiillos.
Like many other higher education institutions, the impact of corona virus was also reflected in the number of graduates at Haaga-Helia. On the other hand, in many of Haaga-Helia's education programmes, last year's graduation rates even exceeded the targets. For example, the graduates of the bachelor's degree in Information Technology have done quite well and the graduation rates have steadily increased year on year. This year, 64% of IT graduates graduated within the target time.
RDI and internationalisation strengthened their positions
Haaga-Helia's research, development and innovation activities made significant steps in 2022 by several measures. Externally funded project activities achieved excellent results. The amount of external RDI funding received last year was EUR 4 398 180.
– Haaga-Helia's external RDI funding for 2022 increased by 57% compared to the previous year. In addition, it is particularly encouraging that more and more haagahelians were involved in RDI activities. This was also reflected in our publishing activities. Haaga-Helia produced more than a thousand publications last year, including dozens of peer-reviewed papers, says Hiillos.
International activities also made great progress compared to the co years. Cooperation in international networks, such as the Ulysseus European University, was further strengthened. Our staff and students travelled abroad for international cooperation and exchanges many times more than in previous years, when the pandemic still affected the figures.
Although financially the year 2022 was a challenging year for Haaga-Helia, Minna Hiillos sees not only the quality of education but also a well-being of the university community as a guarantee for building a future-proof higher education institution.
– Responsibility and well-being were at the heart of our strategy last year as well. Through our wellbeing services and close cooperation with the student union Helga, we offered various forms of support for different situations and phases of student life. Social responsibility was highlighted in many ways in our work during the past year. During the year, we built a future proof Haaga-Helia, and this is a good thing to continue, says Hiillos.
Haaga-Helia's Annual Report 2022
The Annual Report is published in Finnish. An English translation will be published in early May.
