The National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK calls for the establishment and development of the professional doctorate at the European level and demands its integration into the Finnish HEI system. Finland cannot afford to fall behind international progress if the development of Universities of Applied Sciences is blocked by current structural barriers. In European comparisons, applied and practice-oriented doctoral degrees are already commonplace, while Finland remains stagnant, leaving reference countries to forge ahead in RDI funding and flexible study paths. Finland can no longer simply stand on the sidelines.
Students must have the right to develop their expertise to the highest possible level without being forced to switch sectors merely due to a degree title. A professional doctorate would create a long-awaited, flexible postgraduate pathway that responds directly to the needs of the business sector and strengthens the significant RDI activities conducted by Universities of Applied Sciences. “This reform would enable experts engaged in demanding research and development work to deepen their knowledge while maintaining a strong professional profile, which would also directly support regional development and corporate competitiveness,” emphasizes Annu Suvilehto, Member of the Board.
The lack of this reform strikes directly at the attractiveness of the Finnish HEI field and complicates global recruitment, as the current model with its dead ends appears confusing and unappealing on the international stage. This hinders the mobility of experts between EU countries. Practices in reference countries are different: professional doctorates are already in use in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.
“In many European countries, the professional doctorate is already standard practice, but Finland is lagging behind. We also need higher educational pathways in Universities of Applied Sciences so that everyone has an equal opportunity to advance in their field all the way to EQF level 8. The three-cycle system of the Bologna Process should be fully implemented on the UAS side as well. This would also secure the position of our Universities of Applied Sciences in international networks and RDI funding,” states Senja Suntola, Member of the Board.
SAMOK reminds that the professional doctorate is a practice-oriented, multidisciplinary, and solution-focused degree that directly meets the needs of European working life by offering an opportunity to develop expertise from start to finish on the same side of the binary model. The accessibility, attractiveness, and international compatibility of higher education will not be improved by clinging to outdated structures; instead, the study path must be natural and uninterrupted in accordance with European standards, from a Bachelor’s degree through a Master’s degree (UAS) up to the doctoral stage.
More information:
Senja Suntola Member of the Board +358 50 389 1011 [email protected] Annu Suvilehto Member of the Board +358 44 736 1145 [email protected]