Cooperation with stakeholders produces genuine development ideas for the University of Oulu

The University of Oulu is an international science university, which creates innovation for the future, well-being, and sophistication through multidisciplinary research and education. Success requires increasingly active cooperation at national and international level, both in science and in societal relations. We keep in touch with our stakeholders, through the Council for External Relations, for instance. In the end of this year, the three-year term of the current Council for External Relations will end, and it is time to see what has been discussed and what has been achieved.

The Council for External Relations consists of five cooperation groups established in the university's focus areas of research. These groups include experts from both the stakeholders and the University of Oulu. The task of the groups is to share the development prospects and expectations of the society as a basis for strategic planning, as well as to convey information about the university's activities to the society and, in particular, to key stakeholders in the focus area in question. Through the work, we promote the university’s innovation activities, entrepreneurship, research and project cooperation, working life relevance of education, as well as external communications, alumni relations, and fund-raising.

In the first year of operation, the theme was education. The discussions highlighted, in particular, the shortage of and demand for experts in various sectors, big data, and the need for expertise in data analytics, as well as artificial intelligence. In addition, the university's ability to attract students, personnel, and research funding was discussed, as public funding alone is not enough. These issues have also been actively raised in the university's internal discussion, and we have already taken measures in such areas as applicant marketing. The University of Oulu has increased start-up places in several degree programmes, and our university has launched the university of continuous learning, JOY, which contributes to solving the lack of competence in the society.

The theme of the second year of operation was research. Among other things, the significance of the Oulu research ecosystem for the surrounding society, digitalisation and its transformation, multidisciplinarity, shortage of experts, and combining technology and humanities. The meetings also discussed the role of data in research and product development – especially the possibilities of utilising health data in research and services. Sustainable development and its consideration in research were also a strong cross-cutting theme. The University of Oulu will soon adopt an action plan on sustainability and responsibility, in which these issues will be considered. In addition, faculties and research units are engaged in several activities related to the themes discussed.

This year's theme has been societal impact and cooperation relationships. We have discussed, among other things, how we can promote cooperation and keep in regular contact with our partners. The themes have also included employment as an indicator of success, how the university's strategy responds to a shortage of experts, coronavirus, and carbon cycle. The discussions also highlighted other than direct economic benefits; inclusiveness and providing benefits to all, for example, through digitalisation. The message received from the stakeholders has been forwarded to faculties, and we are currently pondering how we will consider the received feedback in our activities.

We want to build and maintain close contacts with our environment and stakeholders, and engage in open dialogue with various parties, in a manner that also has an impact on the university's future strategic policies and operational planning. Through the Council for External Relations, we have received valuable feedback and development proposals that will enable us to develop our own activities to increasingly benefit the society.
The new Council for External Relations will start its three-year term in January 2022. We were delighted that a large number of current members wished to continue in the Council, and we increased the number of members by a few stakeholders identified as needed. The themes and programme for the coming period is under planning.

Arto Maaninen
Vice Rector for Cooperation at the University of Oulu
Chair of the Council for External Relations

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