Annual report 2022: Commercial and international operations
Lead paragraph
In 2022, we were active in networks in both international and commercial operations. In the Ulysseus European University network, we implemented student and personnel exchange with our five partners and prepared practices strengthening responsible mobility. We implemented a new form of Erasmus mobility, called the Blended Intensive Programme, or BIP.
We led the activities of the China network of universities of applied sciences in five theme areas: recruiting students to Finland, deploying the concept of the university of applied sciences model to the market in China, RDI project collaboration, increasing competence related to China, and creating prerequisites for education export. We enhanced our preparedness for network and ecosystem cooperation by working on our goals and strategies together with our partner Humap.
Education export and extensive collaboration
Our personnel and students travelled abroad for international cooperation and mobility several times more than in the previous year when the travel volumes were still affected by the pandemic. We also obtained a record number of Erasmus+ grants for mobility periods.
Education export persevered in spite of the exceptional global events. We received a record number of applications for the international Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. The results of the development of applying based on SAT and certificates were good. At the end of the year, Haaga-Helia had 202 degree students paying tuition fees, which represented a revenue of approximately EUR 1.8 million for our university.
The commercial operations in Finland met the 2022 sales target. In addition to education and commercial research, we also sold facility and event services. In the facility sales, the demand increased to a level that nearly equalled the pre-pandemic levels. We developed the offering of paid continuing education open to all and focused on paid education tailored to companies. We implemented extensive training programmes to develop personnel competence.
Our cooperation with various unions and associations strengthened, and we implemented continuing education programmes, such as developing sales skills, for their members. In some of the training programmes, it was possible to earn credits. Together with companies, we built a study path for personnel development aiming for a degree.
Researched information was in demand in companies and public administration organisations. We implemented a research and development programme related to the development of administrative personnel for the Ministry of Education and Culture. We launched the product named ‘development of administrative work’, which combines research and education in a new way.
In our partner operations, we piloted a new service package model that we developed in cooperation with our partners. Encouraged by the good experiences, we expanded the pilot to all partners and renewed our partner cooperation website.
Highlights of 2022
- Teacher training cooperation with South Africa continued to be strong. In Pretoria, 70 vocational teachers graduated from the Haaga-Helia training programme at Tshwane University of Technology during the year. At the same time, the eighth group of student teachers began their studies in a training programme organised by Haaga-Helia.
- The Dubai Expo 2020, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, ended at the end of March 2022, and the Haaga-Helia students who had served more than one million customers at the expo returned to Finland. Finland’s Lumi pavilion was awarded at the expo, and students who worked as guides there received praise for their performance.
- We opened new markets in the western Balkans area and strengthened our position in our key markets in India, China and Vietnam. In Latin America, we organised commercial continuing education for a Peruvian group in cooperation with the School of Vocational Teacher Education.