Our plan: School of Business
Our mission
We strive for better business and better society. We excel in education and research with a multidisciplinary approach and in collaboration with our partners.
Our vision
To attract and cultivate global leaders in business research, education, and practice.
Our key strategic initiatives
Educational renewal with lifewide learning
We will have a globally attractive program portfolio that addresses needs of society and business community. We make an impact through a lifetime with a program portfolio and curricula that simultaneously serve degree education and lifewide learning. We run a manageable number of high-quality courses which allows for the growth of both degree student intake and lifewide learning activities. We use technology to reach our learning audience efficiently.
Cutting-edge research and infrastructure
We encourage research that pursues grand challenges through cooperation within academia and beyond. Our access to national and international business and societal data will become a strategic infrastructure hub.
Community wellbeing
We care for the mental and physical wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff. We enhance diversity and inclusion as well as a sense of community and a sense of place – both physical and virtual – among our members. Our belief is that community wellbeing is founded on good leadership at all levels.
Sustainability
We promote ‘Better business - better society’ throughout our activities. Our faculty, staff and students have a mindset and skills that enable cross-disciplinary research, teaching, impact work and stakeholder collaboration for United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and Principles for Responsible Management Education. We offer dedicated courses focused on general and discipline-specific sustainability topics, and integrate sustainability considerations into our ordinary courses in a non-add-on fashion. We continuously improve our sustainability research and education based on critical self-reflection and feedback from our key stakeholders. We enhance and develop the sustainability research and education capabilities of our faculty by active recruitments.
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Learn more about the four key strategic initiatives and their leaders
Educational renewal with lifewide learning is one of the four key strategic initiatives at School of Business
Multidisciplinary degree programs, digital education, Sustainable Development Goals, and holistic wellbeing are in focus when the School’s educational offering is developed further.
Cutting-edge research and infrastructure is one of the four School of Business key strategic initiatives
The aim is to help researchers to succeed in their research even better.
Community wellbeing is one of the four School of Business key strategic initiatives
The first actions aim at enhancing the wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff during the pandemic.
Sustainability is one of the four School of Business key strategic initiatives
Professor Minna Halme: Business schools play a key role in solving sustainability challenges.
Research
Driving excellence
Long-term direction (2030)
We continue to do academically and societally impactful research in business and economics, with three guiding principles:
- We address grand challenges related to sustainability (understood through United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)).
- We encourage research that crosses borders, both disciplinary, organizational and geographical.
- We always give our researchers freedom to choose which research is interesting and relevant.
Our disciplinary focus covers the fields of accounting, business law, communication, entreprenurship, finance, information systems science, international business, logistics, management and organization, management science, marketing, and microeconomics, and we encourage inter-disciplinary research in order to better address the grand challenges and to pursue the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We participate actively in academic discourses in these and related domains and academic disciplines. We focus on the present and seek to address questions that are relevant in business and society, with a particular emphasis on the grand challenges as well as implications of new technologies.
The disciplines offer different perspectives, tools and solutions to sustainability, radical creativity and entrepreneurial mindset, individually and in combination, contributing to the focus on driving excellence in research and focus on the cross-cutting themes.
Our publication strategy is based on a T-shaped approach that reflects our aim to conduct deep, state-of-the-art research within our core fields, but at the same time to encourage our faculty to explore other relevant domains and to collaborate with other disciplines to create impactful research.
Our actions
Target state
All our departments are internationally known for research excellence and atmosphere that values original ideas and rigorous methods. Talent recruited from international job market to tenure track positions are well integrated to departments and thrive complementing and adding to the departments and the Schools capabilities.
We invest in an excellent PhD program that attracts talent from the pool of our own MSc students, abroad, and top students from other Finnish universities. We become a hub of educating talent also for integrating ecological and societal sustainability considerations in business and economics.
Milestones (2023-2026)
- Success in recruiting top talent from international job market.
- Success in recruitment and retention, reflected in faculty promoted and tenured as appropriate.
- PhD program attracts and accepts high quality applicants in all fields from both inside and outside Aalto (from Finland and abroad).
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PhD candidates complete their degrees in 4-5 years and get high quality placements.
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Active recruitment keeping in mind our goals for sustainability, radical creativity and entrepreneurial mindset.
Target state
Our research infrastructures are embedded in people and knowledge, they are digital and social. We operate Aalto Data Hub and have access to national and international databases, with big data opportunities. We have state-of-the-art software tools needed, sufficient numbers of research assistants, and appropriate methods training and support in place. International interaction and collaboration is thriving, versatile and productive.
As Finland is a leading country on many rankings on sustainability, we utilize this on our research, in terms of access to data (“empirical data wonderland” also in this respect), access to various stakeholders of society, and as a research target for advanced solutions for sustainable development.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Aalto Data Hub receives funding, development continues (2022)
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We have cloud-based research infrastructures and cognitive services (machine learning) available.
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We offer excellent methods and software tool training to PhD students and faculty.
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International collaboration supported with PhD exchange programs/initiatives and international visitors to departments.
Target state
We engage in multidisciplinary research projects with topics and objectives drawing from Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Collaboration starts from within, and informal communication between scholars of different disciplines is the key. Our new building serves this well and we will facilitate the interaction both within the school and the university. We will support initiation of innovative research focused on grand challenges and sustainability. We will also actively engage in joint EU and other international as well as national projects with other schools.
Milestones (2023-2026)
- Increasing multidisciplinary research within Aalto BIZ (2022).
- Aalto Data Hub functioning as a collaborative hub for quantitative empirical research
(2022) - Aalto Centre of Excellence for Transforming Organization and Methodologies with SCI is in place to embrace radical creativity, paradigm-challenging approaches; critical thinking; and
risk-taking. (2023) - Active drive and participation in joint multidisciplinary research projects (by 2024)
- Multidisciplinary sustainability projects in place with other Aalto Schools and beyond (2024).
Education
Future-led learning
Long-term direction (2030)
Sparking the game changers of tomorrow implies two goals for us. First, we globally seek for talents that share our idea of better business, better society. Second, we create an inspiring learning environment that supports students in acquiring the required theoretical and practical skillset for making our mission happen. This applies to our BSc, MSc, PhD and lifewide learning students alike.
While–and since–knowledge work is rapidly changing, we expect a healthy and increasing demand for business graduates. Digitalization will change many traditional jobs our graduates typically have had. At the same time, competences such as critical and analytical thinking to assess big data, the ability to co-work in (virtual) teams and the courage to identify new business opportunities will become more important than ever to succeed in a digitalized world. The global sustainability issues challenge some business fundaments and call for new knowledge and skills from business experts and executives.
Similarly, we expect a steady increase in demand from our alumni and others to update and upgrade their knowledge and skills with continuous education. Finally, our core fields Accounting and Business Law, Economics, Finance, Information and Service Management, Management Studies, and Marketing are also relevant for a growing group of non-business students and graduates in an increasingly entrepreneurial world.
We will respond to the depicted developments by critically reviewing our current education. We will have a multidisciplinary program portfolio that has a global and national appeal. We ensure all our courses provide blended learning and cover SDG. International exchange will remain a core component of our degree education. We run a manageable number of high-quality courses which allows for the growth of student intake.
Our actions
Target state
We develop a clear portfolio of multidisciplinary degree programs within Aalto BIZ and with other schools. We will design together with students and stakeholders a program portfolio and curricula that simultaneously serve degree education and lifewide learning. We will offer our programs in cutting-edge offline and online environments that enable memorable learning experiences.
We increase our offering of courses focused on general and discipline-specific sustainability topics and integrate sustainability considerations into our ordinary courses in a non-add-on fashion.
Milestones (2023-2026)
- Revised program portfolio and curricula in place for 2023-25.
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Sustainability, Radical Creativity and Entrepreneurial Mindset integrated in all programs. Necessary support is in place for program directors and teachers to do this. Our program learning goals address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and curricula supports students becoming capable of generating solutions to them. (2024)
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Implementing improvements to our programs and assurance of learning processes based on the TEE2020. Workshops on aligning cross-cutting areas (radical creativity, solutions to
sustainability, and entrepreneurial mindset) with the assurance of learning process. (2022-23) -
Investigating a “broad” major in our revised Finnish language BSc-program. (2022)
Target state
We encourage and support faculty members to develop digital learning skills and materials that benefit student groups on all levels (BSc, MSc, PhD, and executive education), both in terms of knowledge and meta skills. We also improve the use of digital tools in student assessment. We introduce new MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) on selected topics. We offer an infrastructure that supports faculty in delivering word-class online teaching and learning. We encourage our faculty to learn from the best practices globally.
Milestones (2023-2026)
- Teaching infrastructure updated by 2021.
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We plan to introduce a virtual exchange program in spring/summer 2021 for international students on Aalto's three cross-cutting topics (2022/23).
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Blended learning introduced to most courses gradually by 2024.
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Introducing one new MOOC per year.
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Introducing Radical Creativity Award for Impact (to be discussed with the HSE Support Foundation).
Target state
We ensure all our courses cover United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We will focus our teaching more to sustainability challenges and the changes they bring to business. We do this at the programme level and at the course level. At the course level we will have sustainability focused courses and on the course level all courses reflect the importance of sustainability considerations in different aspects of business.
We provide minors that can be taken by Aalto BIZ and other students. We encourage our students to take courses from other schools and measure which courses they take.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Everyone in Aalto BIZ aware of and engaged in ‘Better business - better society’ and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Principles for Responsible Management Education. Active engagement of all community members to work on SDGs (2021-22).
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We increase our offering of courses focused on general and discipline-specific sustainability topics and integrate sustainability considerations into our ordinary courses in a non-add-on fashion. (2023)
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We launch 1-3 new MSc programmes which are multidisciplinary and have sustainability topics embedded (within Aalto BIZ or Aalto) by 2024.
Target state
We improve the sense of community among students, staff and faculty, reduce internal competition, and safeguard sufficient room for autonomous decision-making as one of the main drivers of wellbeing. We see all discpilines in a neutral manner with the aim to reduce unnecessary competition between them. In doing so, we foster a collaborative culture in which diverse individuals and groups feel included.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Participation in the ”Allwell”, ”Oasis” and other wellbeing projects initiated by the university
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New KPIs introduced to monitor indicators of wellbeing and experiences of inclusion among faculty and students (AllWell, wellbeing survey, student feedback survey)
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Incorporating and mainstreaming the theme of diversity and inclusion in our study programmes
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Making faculty aware of inclusive teaching practices both in face-to-face and virtual settings
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Emphasizing diversity and inclusion in our communication towards our students
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Measurement of diversity and inclusion in our teaching with a question in the course
feedback survey. (2021-22) -
Revising the admission criteria for the Finance majors in our BSc and MSc programs.
Target state
Formal and informal sharing of best practices at department and school level. Organizing discipline-focused Communities of Excellence. Use of curriculum mapping and programme committees.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Evaluation for AACSB Continuous Improvement Review in 2022
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Facilitate a teaching- and learning-oriented mentoring system on department level (2021)
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Continuing the Learning Café-series to exchange best teaching and learning practices (2022-2025)
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Continuing monthly Education Management Team-meetings with student union participation (2022-2025)
Impact
Inspiring ecosystem
Long-term direction (2030)
We seek to follow our goal of better business - better society. We believe that our researchers’ freedom to choose which research is interesting and relevant will create societal impact. Global changes, trends and transformation already greatly motivate the research interests. Aiming at high quality outlets advocates relevance.
We encourage our researchers to:
- Have constant interaction and discussion on the relevant global challenges with industry.
- Apply for external funding, which forces us to think about the impact and address relevant challenges
- Involve in research projects stakeholders from scientific communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the industry.
- Provide and publish not only theoretical but also managerial implications of their research, also with a focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
- Communicate their research in different internal and external media
We generate a great societal impact through our graduates: how they lead firms and other organizations and what responsibility they take in the society. Our educational activities are key for their learning whether it is about the knowledge, capabilities or attitudes. Through lifewide learning our educational impact extends to our alumni and beyond.
Our actions
Target state
Impact-related activities widely shared through social media, events and media. This promotes the relevance of impact and encourages faculty to engage in societally relevant research, teaching and other activities. We have excellent tools in place for this, such as Aalto Economic Institute (AEI), Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (Helsinki GSE), Aalto Global Impact (AGI) and Aalto Sustainability Hub (ASH).
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Training, support and incentives for increased use of social media among faculty.
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Maintaining communication resources.
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Introducing Radical Creativity Award for Impact (to be discussed with the Support Foundation).
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Seeking ways to increase awareness of Aalto's innovative environment in major conferences.
Target state
Participation in field-specific international academic societies and conferences is our key way to create networks. We encourage organizing research visits and seminars, involving prominent international scholars in our research projects, and taking an active role in Nordic networks and in EU and locally funded joint projects and projects at and with the Global South.
In addition to developing academic networks, we aim to expand our local and global networks including other external stakeholders such as alumni, corporations, NGOs and other societal actors.
Milestones
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Mechanisms created for engaging faculty in building relations to domestic and international
firms and organizations (2022). -
Acknowledging and incentivizing research and other activities for impact at the Global South.
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Increasing collaboration with NGOs
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Establishing mechanisms to cater to our alumni living abroad (Aalto-wide)
Target state
We see that a well-functioning and inclusive campus is a major factor in the well-being of our students, faculty and staff. We have a great campus which we will leverage through events and informal interaction. We use it for encouraging the interaction of our students with all Aalto students. We need to ensure our learning spaces can accommodate the growth in student intake. In addition, we need to improve the digital campus and social interaction between the ecosystem members. We involve firms and students more in our research and source real-life cases and student projects from within our ecosystem.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Digital, interactive campus in place (2024).
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Promoting ecosystem partners to our programme directors and teaching faculty (2022).
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Reducing homogeneity of students in our study programmes (2022)
Enabling our success
Target state
We improve mental and physical wellbeing of the students and faculty of the school. Members of the Aalto community are shown respect and treated fairly; we recognize and value diverse contributions and characteristics. We enhance diversity and inclusion and will promote more females and foreigners as tenured and full professors and as academic leaders. We also enhance the sense of community and sense of place – both physical and virtual – among our members. We believe that the wellbeing of a strong social community rests on good leadership at all levels.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Increasing the number of female and international professors among the academic
leadership. -
Raising awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion as a skillset among faculty
and students -
Fostering a sense of community rather than competition among students and faculty
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Developing departmental leadership teams on a long-term basis
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Supporting remote learning and hybrid ways of working in the new normal
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Balancing work loads, especially in teaching
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Taking action based on the results of the biannual wellbeing surveys
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Developing and taking into use specific KPIs for community wellbeing, diversity, equality and
inclusion
Target state
We attract people to our great building by offering excellent research seminars and public events for alumni, partners and students. We create a culture of faculty members spending time on campus, interacting with colleagues and students. Top notch online learning environment and tools enable online participation. Our virtual Data Hub serves researchers and students alike.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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Schedule of events available to all interested, also offered online.
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Aalto Data Hub receives funding, development continues (2021).
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Improvements to lecture hall AV and IT equipment as part of University project to support
online teaching (2022). -
Additional space for growth through University campus project
Target state
We support the university level development projects on service delivery and encourage co-creation of best solutions. We embrace the change and opportunities it brings along.
We investigate the option of hiring professional managers and specialists to develop and coordinate degree programs, with strategic leadership from academic faculty. This would allow academic faculty to focus on their key priorities.
Milestones (2023-2026)
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We support the university level development projects on service delivery and encourage cocreation
of best solutions (BIZ as pilot in HR2023, and actively involved in Financial
Backbone). -
Utilising the new Services Funding Model for flexibility (e.g. shared EDI Coordinator).
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Enhancing the use of PowerBI and other tools in management
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Coaching and mentoring available for key roles
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Continuing efforts for Balancing workloads and clarifying work expectations (Wellbeing Survey actions)
Our plan 2023-2026
Explore our strategic plans for 2023-2026
