In April 2024, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences hosted the accreditation visit for the UlysseusAI Joint Master Degree, Artificial Intelligence for Business Transformation. The program combines AI with business studies, preparing students for the digital economy through a unique, multi-country educational experience. Set to start in January 2025, the degree represents a pioneering step in developing European Higher Education Area.
In mid-April 2024, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, in partnership with five other Ulysseus universities, hosted its innovative joint Master's Degree program, UlysseusAI, accreditation visit. The visit marked a significant moment as Haaga-Helia is the first Finnish University of Applied Sciences to lead the coordination of such a joint degree. The program, Artificial Intelligence for Business Transformation, combines AI and business studies to prepare students for the digital economy across a two-year, 120 ECTS curriculum. Students will study in at least three different countries, aiming for a broad understanding of global business and technology trends while gaining a joint European degree from three European higher education institutions. The application period begins at the end of August and the first student cohort will start their studies in January 2025 in Haaga-Helia.
The development of UlysseusAI was supported by the European Commission through Erasmus Mundus Design Measures funding, emphasizing the program's innovative approach to addressing the competence development needs in AI within business contexts. Haaga-Helia was the first Finnish higher education institution to receive such funding. As The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) does not accredit joint degrees, the accreditation process is conducted by a German agency (AQAS). It implements the European Approach protocol, signifying a rigorous and harmonized quality assurance across the continent. The key document of the accreditation is the Self-Evaluation Report (SER) that was compiled with the contribution of two working groups: Co-creation and European Approach under the lead of Haaga-Helia. The document unfolds all the aspects in terms of contents, procedures, contributors and documentation of the future degree.
The site visit took place on April 15th and 16th, 2024, and it included comprehensive discussions and evaluations involving senior management, program coordinators, teaching staff, students, graduates and labor market representatives. This collaborative gathering aimed to validate the program’s objectives, methodology, outcomes, and overall impact on both students and the broader business ecosystem. The accreditation panels explored various facets of the program, from its innovative pedagogical approach and curriculum design to its integration of real-world business applications and ethical considerations.
Feedback from the group of experts was very positive, emphasizing e.g. the quality of the curriculum and the strong dimension of industry engagement. A few development suggestions drew on defining the ideal background of applicants in terms of their Bachelor studies, and on introducing even more content on generative AI in the curriculum. Both have already been addressed-
This initiative represents a groundbreaking step for Finnish higher education and European collaboration, highlighting Haaga-Helia's commitment to competence-based education and international cooperation. The European Commission has launched recently the blueprint for a European Degree, establishing a detailed cooperative framework and offering support measures to EU countries. In addition to the blueprint, the Commission has put forward two proposals for Council recommendations. The first promotes a standardized European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education. The second aims to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers within the higher education sector. These measures aim to bolster the higher education systems towards instituting a unified European Degree.
One of the key objectives of UlysseusAI is to contribute to the development of the European Higher Education Area and thereby, to Europe’s competitiveness by equipping graduates with future-proof skills to master the green and digital transitions as well as promoting the European identity and belonging by bringing academic values, people and European Universities together.
The outcome of the accreditation process will be published in July. The successful accreditation of this program is eagerly anticipated, as it promises to pave the way for more joint degrees and collaborative educational models within the European Higher Education Area, underscoring the transformative potential of European university alliances. The accreditation with the European Approach will facilitate administrative measures, enhance quality assurance and support delivery of tuition in the consortium of UlysseusAI. Moreover, it will set a benchmark in the construction of more flexible study pathways across transnational degree programs in Europe.
