Hanken’s Rector Karen Spens calls for diversity: Big is not always beautiful!
According to Rector Karen Spens, all universities in Finland cannot be put in the same mold, but states that the university sector benefits from diversity. Spens thus takes a stand against the recommendations made by professor Bengt Holmström, Sixten Korkman and Vesa Vihriälä, managing director of ETLA (Research Institute of the Finnish Economy) in a report made for Minister of Finance Petteri Orpo.
- We do need a clear division of responsibility as regards activities and focus. However, we cannot automatically assume that big units are the only and best solution, Spens points out.
Spens points to Hanken as a perfect example of a small unit, that is both productive and that effectively conducts research and education of high quality.
- Studies made by e.g. The Academy of Finland states that Hanken is the most productive university in Finland and has the highest impact. In addition, our students are the fastest to graduate in Finland, Spens says.
The tight collaboration Hanken has with the business community as well as the vast support donors have shown Hanken, proves that Finland benefits from a small and flexible business school, that quickly can respond to changes in and demands from the environment. Hanken alumni also place well on both the Finnish and international labour markets.
- The quality in Hanken’s operations is emphasized in the fact that we have achieved all the three most prestigious international accreditations (EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB) and thus belong to the one per cent of universities world-wide with this status. Hanken’s research is also ranked fifth in the world, measured by citation rate, Spens emphasises.
Spens wants to bring forward Hanken’s international profile and the positive impact it has on the image of Finland. She emphasises this profile by having her speech at the opening of the academic year in both Swedish and English, for the first time in Hanken’s history.
Read the entire speech of the Opening of the Academic Year on Hanken's webpage
More information:
Nina Olin, Director external relations and communication
+358 40 3521 213
nina.olin@hanken.fi