The rationales behind Finnish state university policy in the period of efficiency

Authors

• Jarmo Kallunki UNIFI ry
• Soile Koriseva
• Henni Saarela

Abstract

From 1985 up to today, university policy in Finland has been under considerable scrutiny. Applying grounded theory to some key policy documents of the government, this study examines the rationales behind Finnish state university policy and how these evolved over time. The results indicate that the state’s policy with regard to universities is rationalized, foremost, by the societal environment (i.e. labour policy, economic policy, the universities’ role within the education system, and internationalisation). Another significant category of rationales that is identified in the analysis relates to changes in the way in which universities are steered. Nonetheless, policy is also justified by general objectives such as equality, quality, and efficiency. The weight and content of these three different core categories vary in time.