Active and productive year of rejuvenation and development
In 2023, TAMK improved its research, development, innovation and competences (RDIC) activities in many aspects, achieving novel results. In terms of projects, our external funding remained at the previous year’s level of about 8.6 million euros. Business turnover somewhat increased from the previous year, totalling approximately 6 million euros.
We advanced our project activities in various international sectors. Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) projects are currently helping in the development of teaching and business cooperation in South Africa and Rwanda. With funding from Business Finland, we develop digital learning in Namibia together with the Tampere University. The Higher Education Partnership supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs finances the development of teacher education in Rwanda through the GINTL network in the coming years. We enhanced our operations in Africa together with businesses and partner organisations. Funded by Finnpartnership, we started two projects in Namibia which are related to drones and circular economy business models.
Cooperation with TAMK gives us the prerequisites needed for successful operations in Namibia. – Miia Mikkonen, Radai Oy’s Head of International Operation
The EduSTA project, coordinated by TAMK, has elevated our profile in teacher education both in Europe and globally. The project has been chosen among the 100 outstanding teacher-led solutions for environment by the Teachers for the Planet organisation. In Albania, we have trained more than 280 teachers with the help of Europe Aid in the EU4Inclusive Teaching project’s Training of Trainers programme.
Funded by the ESF+, the Myrsky project has brought TAMK and 21 other universities of applied sciences closer to micro-enterprises and small businesses. The project has created opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop their ability to change and their competence in the areas of green transition and digitalisation. In Western Finland, we reached 800 entrepreneurs in less than a year. TAMK participated in developing the Finnish Brain Association’s national brain health programme 2030 and coordinated the programme’s implementation together with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
In 2023, our business activities were founded on two themes: pedagogics and social and health services sector. In 2023, the volume of fee-paying social and health services training amounted to 0.93 M€. In global sales, the Asian market (China, India, Nepal, the Philippines) stands out the most with a total volume of 1 M€. All five of TAMK’s schools are represented in our business products. During 2023, we implemented several improvement measures related to business processes which enhance our operations.
In 2023, TAMK put significant effort in its RDI activities by launching a new unit, the Applied Research Center (ARC), to reinforce TAMK’s existing profile, internationality, service ability and effectiveness. ARC’s vision to become an internationally renowned top unit of applied research and an RDI partner for working life in selected strategic spearhead areas. The teams for green transition and just transition were incorporated in ARC’s all-encompassing, multi-competence teams. The Applied Research Center aims to strategically increase and utilise funding for national and international competition to support business life and to improve the impact of project and publication activities. The upgraded operating model is used to select and enhance TAMK’s strategic spearhead competences; to add regional, national and international cooperation with companies, partnering UASes and select ecosystems; and to provide various industries with versatile tools to improve competence, technology, operating models and methods.
TAMK published a total 70 press releases, as its media visibility increased by 5% nationally, 78% internationally and a whopping 1,469% in social media. Marketing for joint application was a success as TAMK again was proven to be the second most popular University of Applied Sciences in Finland both in terms of brand popularity and applicant numbers. Social media channels saw expected growth as Instagram and especially LinkedIn increased their popularity by 18.9% whereas X (previously Twitter) saw decline in popularity. TAMK’s Alumnus of the Year was Antti Kalliomäki.
In 2023, some of the biggest, most high-profile projects included FUSILLI, EduSTA, SUSTAFIT and Sustainable Brain Health. TAMK was also an active publisher as it produced a total of 519 publications.
Explore key figures for RDI activities
Text: Ari Sivula, Vice President, RDIC
Editors: TAMK Communications
Image: Konsta Leppänen