As European Union’s objective for strengthening the European higher education sector, University of Helsinki has reached a significant step in deepening collaboration in European higher education with a new type of joint programme between European universities.
Since 2019, University of Helsinki joined Una Europa, an alliance of 11 research-intensive European universities. This spring Una Europa has launched a new joint bachelor programme in sustainability to prepare future experts to tackle global challenges. The programme is a part of new types of educational initiatives created in the context of Europan University Alliances. These alliances are driving institutional transformation and fostering European collaboration in higher education where the joint programmes are seen as the key ingredients.
“Joint bachelor’s degree programmes play a fundamental role of Una Europa’s educational collaboration, and the Una Europa has, as a matter of fact, been the first to launch a joint programme in the European University alliance context. These programs not only enrich our students' learning experiences by providing access to diverse international perspectives but also foster a truly international academic environment. They also increase the course offer taught in English at our university”, comments Hanna Snellman, Vice-Rector for International Affairs. “Una Europa strengthens our university's ability to offer innovative programs and attract top-tier talent. Ultimately, they help us contribute to the broader goals of European integration while preparing our students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world”, she continues.
To meet EU’s ambitious goals, European joint programmes will benefit students by boosting learning mobility and by making graduates more attractive for employers. At the same time, these programmes will help to meet labour market demand, ultimately boosting Europe’s competitiveness. Una Europa’s Bachelor in Sustainability provides an extensive education on sustainability, its various complexities and intersections of divergent disciplines to equip its graduates with necessary tools to forge a better future. Upon graduation, students receive a diploma awarded jointly by the six universities which is a novel approach in European university collaboration.
The joint degree programme was awarded an accreditation with European Approach in February, and it will welcome its first students in Jagiellonian University in upcoming fall 2025. Students continue to study their chosen track at one of the six-degree awarding universities, such as the University of Helsinki. Ditte Taipale, University Lecturer in Atmospheric Sciences, coordinates the BASUS track of Sustainable Chemistry and Physics
“Being on board the BASUS journey has been such a learning experience for me as an academic. I have had the chance to broaden my networks and learn from experts around Europe. What I, however, value the most is the fact that we have been able to build an entirely new study programme for the future students. With our study track in Sustainable Chemistry and Physics, students will gain a mixture of knowledge and skills in these two disciplines that will support their growth into sustainability experts.”
Besides, the University of Helsinki is also contributing to another joint programme of Una Europa, Bachelor of European Studies, as a mobility partner since 2022 and has welcomed its’ first students on our campuses in spring 2025.
With the joint programmes, the University of Helsinki will continue to strengthen its international educational portfolio and contribute to the developments of higher education in the European Union.