The Student Union of Haaga-Helia – Helga has submitted its statement on the Vision for Higher Education and Research until 2040. Helga considers the vision ambitious and largely heading in the right direction, but emphasizes that achieving its goals requires a much stronger recognition of the realities of students’ everyday lives. At the core of higher education policy must be the safeguarding of free higher education, sufficient student livelihood, flexible transitions across educational pathways, and the strengthening of student wellbeing.
In our statement, we particularly highlight the following priorities:
- Free higher education must be unequivocally safeguarded in the future as well, and the diversification of funding must not lead to an expansion of tuition fees in degree education.
- Students’ livelihood is a key prerequisite for starting studies and ensuring smooth academic progress. Financial uncertainty and the risk of indebtedness particularly slow down young people’s transition into higher education.
- Barriers to changing fields and to flexible transitions must be dismantled. Helga proposes that first-time applicant status should be retained for at least up to 60 credits, and that transitions between higher education institutions should be made easier.
- There must be a concrete commitment to student wellbeing and support services, including sufficient staffing levels for guidance and learning support.
- In reforming the higher education system, the dual model must be preserved and strengthened rather than weakened through group structures or structural reforms.
- The stability of core funding must be secured even as private and other external funding sources are increased.
We consider it important that the vision’s goals of increasing the higher education attainment rate among young people and strengthening research do not remain merely quantitative targets, but are supported by concrete, student-centred solutions. When building the future of higher education, it must be ensured that the system serves not only young first-time students, but also career changers, lifelong learners, and international students.
The Statement (only in Finnish)
More information
Otso Muhonen
Chairperson of the Board
Student Union of Haaga-Helia – Helga
[email protected]
