International benchmarking of the third task of the University

The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC) has awarded funding to an international benchmarking project coordinated by the Palmenia Centre for Continuing Education, University of Helsinkiand focussing on the implementation of the third task of the University – community relations.

The project collaborators include two LERU (League of European Research Universities) member universities, namely the University of Geneva and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and, more specifically, their units responsible for lifelong learning.

The project aims to facilitate the self-evaluation process included in the upcoming second round of audits carried out at higher education institutions. This topic is pertinent to university administration in terms of planning interaction strategies, as well as to continuing education organisations that in practice engage in conveying scientific information to the society.

The self-evaluation and subsequent comparison of good practices will focus on knowledge transfer practices and the implementation of lifelong learning. The aim is to map the strategies developed for transferring knowledge from the University to the society at large. Other aspects under scrutiny include factors hampering or otherwise slowing down the knowledge transfer process. Since our collaborators include LERU member universities, the benchmarking will also focus on the role of research in the implementation of lifelong learning at universities.

Besides preparing universities for the self-evaluation process included in the audits, the benchmarking will also provide opportunities to make use of good practices, for instance to implement new education ideas.

“This project will support the implementation of the new strategic plan of the University of Helsinki. Our motto, ‘excellence for society’, highlights the conversion of research knowledge to a format that benefits the society”, states Director Kauko Hämäläinen of Palmenia.

For further information, contact:

Tuija Laurén
tel. +358 50 5958968
email: tuija.Lauren@helsinki.fi