International Collaboration in Our Everyday Life – How has the RUN-EU Impacted at HAMK?
RUN European University (RUN-EU, Regional University Network – European University) has strengthened Häme University of Applied Sciences’ (HAMK) education, expertise and regional impact for almost six years – particularly in the areas of educational and pedagogical development, staff competence enhancement, as well as in the themes of bioeconomy and the green transition. What milestones have been achieved in RUN-EU over the past two years, and how have they been reflected in our operations?
Since the beginning of RUN-EU’s second phase in 2024, the alliance of ten higher education institutions has shifted from project-based cooperation towards an even more structurally integrated European university, which is also concretely visible in HAMK’s everyday life, such as in educational offerings, pedagogical solutions, strategic work, staff competence development, research collaboration and regional cooperation.
European Programmes Academy – the driving force behind RUN-EU’s joint educational offer
HAMK leads the development of RUN-EU’s pedagogy and pedagogical culture. This means, for example, creating a genuinely shared European learning environment, where students and staff from across Europe develop future competences through short, flexible, multidisciplinary study modules.
RUN-EU has offered 85 joint short-term learning opportunities, which have involved nearly 3000 learners.
By the halfway point of the current funding period (2024–2025), RUN-EU has offered students of HAMK and the nine other RUN-EU higher education institutions 85 joint short-term learning opportunities, which have involved nearly 3000 learners, 376 of whom have been HAMK students. These learning opportunities typically comprise 1–5 ECTS credits and consist of remote studies and about a week-long study week at one of the ten RUN-EU higher education institutions.
Support for building a pedagogical culture includes, for instance, open online workshops for all, the annual Superweek event focused on pedagogical development, as well as a pedagogical handbook published last year to support teaching and learning. During the current period, a common quality reference framework for joint degree programmes has also been built.
HAMK’s role as a pioneer in pedagogical development has been reinforced both nationally and internationally.
Teaching and competence development are further strengthened in other projects. For example, in the EU SIDE project, launched last year with Erasmus+ Teacher Academies funding, RUN-EU higher education institutions from Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Finland (HAMK) are creating an educational programme that enhances the pedagogical skills, social innovation abilities, and democratic values of teachers already in working life, as well as those preparing for basic and vocational education.
Thanks to RUN-EU, HAMK’s role as a pioneer in pedagogical development has been reinforced both nationally and internationally. You can watch below a video introducing the European Programmes Academy which is lead by HAMK.
Impact on students: new skills and networks
RUN-EU activities have had a clear and measurable impact on students. Students have reported significant improvements in work-life skills, multicultural competence and language skills, employment opportunities, student experience, and their European identity. As many as 68% of HAMK students who responded to the RUN-EU Learner Experience Survey felt their student life had greatly improved as a result of participating in RUN-EU activities.
78% stated that RUN-EU studies would affect their chances of obtaining their desired job after graduation.
Almost all (93%) HAMK students who responded felt their sense of attachment to Europe had increased to some extent, moderately or greatly, through the study opportunities offered by RUN-EU. In addition, 78% stated that RUN-EU studies would affect their chances to some extent, moderately or greatly, of obtaining their desired job after graduation.
Last year, 157 HAMK students responded to the survey. Read more about the results on the news article. In total, about 115 000 students study at the ten RUN-EU higher education institutions. The next goal is to engage students from RUN-EU higher education institutions even more broadly and at different stages of their studies in RUN-EU activities.
About 115 000 students study at the ten RUN-EU higher education institutions.
Last year, 157 HAMK students responded to the survey. Read more about the Learner Experience Survey, developed at HAMK and its results.
In total, about 115 000 students study at the ten RUN-EU higher education institutions. The next goal is to engage students from RUN-EU higher education institutions even more broadly and at different stages of their studies in RUN-EU activities.
Explore HAMK lead RUN-EU Future and Advanced Pedagogy Skills Academy and watch the video below.
Impact on staff: wider competence and European cooperation
RUN-EU has provided HAMK staff with extensive opportunities for professional development. Of the RUN-EU higher education institution employees who responded to the learning experience survey last year, 91% felt their competence and work-related skills had improved to some extent, moderately or greatly.
In total, about 12000 people work in RUN-EU higher education institutions.
In addition to competence development, staff also reported, for example, increased collaboration and international skills, and expanded networks. Last year, 160 employees across Europe who participated in RUN-EU activities responded to the survey. In total, about 12000 people work in RUN-EU higher education institutions.
17 learning opportunities have been co-created together with staff, students and industry.
Over the past two years, eleven knowledge-creation events (The RUN-EU European Programmes Academy Exploratory Missions, EPA-Missions) have been organised in RUN-EU higher education institutions, bringing together teaching staff from various fields, industry, and students to co-design future RUN-EU study modules. The aim of these co-creation events was to develop pedagogically high-quality study offerings that meet the competence needs of regions and the future. As a result in total of 17 learning opportunities have been co-created together with staff, students and industry.
RUN-EU’s research hubs create new opportunities for innovation
One of HAMK’s most significant achievements during the current RUN-EU period has also been the establishment of the bioeconomy innovation hub, which is directly linked to RUN-EU research and innovation activities. The bioeconomy hub brings together HAMK’s research units, regional stakeholders and European partners to develop sustainable solutions to the challenges of bioeconomy and the green transition.
Through the bioeconomy innovation hub Kanta-Häme region becomes part of the European innovation ecosystem.
Through the hub, students can participate in international RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) projects, staff build joint research and innovation initiatives with RUN-EU partners, and the Kanta-Häme region becomes part of the European innovation ecosystem. The bioeconomy hub supports HAMK’s strategic goal to be a significant player in the green transition and regional development. In addition, six research groups operate within RUN-EU, with HAMK leading the Digital Services for Health Empowerment ja Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems -research groups.
More information
RUN European University
We are part of RUN European University, which brings together ten European higher education institutions from nine countries committed to a common vision.
