Developing the impact
Utilizing university activities in the region is a challenge
University activities are always global in nature, so that some of the effects of the University Consortium's activities extend beyond the local area of activity. Central Ostrobothnia's central challenge is how well the actors of the region and the new operators attracted to the region can make use of the expertise available through the University Consortium and the entire university network.
Increasing the level of competence as an opportunity
University graduates working in Central Ostrobothnia focus on the public sector. In order to raise the province's level of education and skills and to increase the share of RDI activities in the gross national product, the contribution of the private sector would be especially needed, because it would be through this that the province's competence and competitiveness would develop most effectively. Paths should be built along which the private sector would be motivated to develop its willingness and ability to grow and innovate in Central Ostrobothnia, so that it could focus more than currently on the use and production of goods and services that also require university-level skills and produce high added value.
At best, the private sector would give rise to the so-called a good cycle, where it would recruit more university-educated people into its service than at present. As more university-educated people increase, the level, quality and productivity of operations would improve. Competition for university-level jobs would intensify in the region, and the region would begin to appear as an interesting and even attractive destination from the point of view of university-educated people. A high level of education in the province would have many advantages, as it would bring internationality, multiculturalism and a general willingness and ability to renew to the region in addition to competitiveness, competence and attractiveness.
Requires special investments
In the statistics describing the development of the education level, there are indications that the university consortium has had a positive impact on the development of the education level in Central Ostrobothnia in its education and research sectors. This means that it is possible to influence the development of the education level. However, it must be remembered that the education level of the workforce is currently improving at a steady pace in all regions of Finland. If Central Ostrobothnia's competitiveness and position among the regions is to be significantly improved, raising the level of education should be taken as a common goal of the actors in the region and the target of special efforts.
It is natural for the University Consortium and universities to be involved in regional cooperation processes, where scientific knowledge is applied to solve structural problems in the area of operation, such as low education level. In addition to the development of education and the supply of RDI activities, measures are needed to promote the demand for a highly educated workforce and RDI activities. Since autumn 2022, the University Center has taken active measures to find out and monitor the impact of its operations. The goal is to develop the operation to be more and more effective.
