1. Higher education and research in Finland and in the United States Dr. Tapio Varmola President Seinäjoki UAS

2. Finland and the United States: similarities Short history of Higher Education (from the 17th century) Broadening HE after the Second World War (mass higher education) A university degree has been financially a good investment for young people Strong emphasis on research and development since the 60s (government level) Strong emphasis on research parks and innovation activities (since the 90s)

3. Finland and the United States: differences US: tuition fees are charged; Finland: no tuition fees US: HE is a private good; Finland: HE is a public good US: no government led university policy; Finland: government led university policy (legislation etc.)

4. Finland and the United States:differences US: a variety of different types of universities (10 types) : public, independent or private for profit universities Finland: universities (Bachelor, Master, PhD) and universities of applied sciences (Bachelor, Master) US: Bachelor education (undergraduate education) is expansive (broad) whereas in Finnish Universities Master education is very expansive US: graduate schools are selective and well resourced

5. US Universities: variety Research Universities (94) Doctoral Universities (184) Regional 4 years universities (895) Independent colleges (730) For Profit Colleges (322) Online Universities (230) Open Universities (100) Global Universities (10) Community colleges (1086) Trade Schools (530) (Duderstadt, 2008)

6. Finland and the United States: differences US: more foreign-born faculty, more international students US: more emphasis on commercialization of R&D US: research universities since the 70s