Board chosen for Helsinki Graduate School of Economics

The other members of the board are: Jorma Ollila, Board Chairman; Anni Huhtala, Director General, VATT; Heidi Schauman, Chief Economist, Aktia Bank; Jouko Väänänen, Vice Rector, University of Helsinki; Hannu Nieminen, Dean, University of Helsinki; Rune Stenbacka, Professor, Hanken School of Economics; Kristiina Mäkelä, Provost, Aalto University; Juuso Välimäki, Professor, Aalto University; Teemu Pekkarinen, PhD student, University of Helsinki.

The goal of Helsinki GSE, which was founded by Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, and Hanken School of Economics, is to compete for researchers and students with the world's top-level units of economics, to offer the framework for high-level bachelor's and master's level education, and to produce high-quality doctoral education and research in central areas of economics.

Economics is needed for the analysis and interpretation of the rapidly increasing information that digitalisation produces. The central goal of GSE research is to collect material and to develop methods that support economic decision-making in the public and private sectors.

The Bank of Finland is funding Helsinki GSE's professorship in macroeconomics in order to strengthen research and teaching in this nationally important field. Macroeconomics studies macro-economic phenomena as well as the influence of conjunctural policy on employment, productivity, and economic growth.

VATT Institute for Economic Research, which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Finance, is taking part in the funding of two Helsinki GSE professorships. The shared professorships are to be established in sectors of economics that are part of the research themes of VATT, especially in public economics.

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the three founding universities will negotiate on the strategic funding of Helsinki GSE in the spring of 2018. The founding universities themselves are budgeting at least four professorships in the field of economics. Helsinki GSE is also collecting funds from donations in the private sector.

More extensive opportunities for studies and a strong base for cooperation among researchers

With the help of new professorships, increasing cooperation, and the efficient concentration of skilled people, Helsinki GSE will be able to increase the number of master's degrees and doctorates and to respond to the needs for skilled personnel in the field of economics.

When Helsinki GSE is fully operational by 2022, there will be about 50 percent more graduates from master's programmes in economics from the universities in the Helsinki region, and about twice as many doctorates. This would mean 120 master's degrees and 15 doctorates in 2022.

Practical operations at the unit will begin in the autumn of 2018 when the doctoral programme of Helsinki GSE and the Research Master programme that prepares students for postgraduate study are launched.

Further information:

Ilkka Niemelä, President, Aalto University, tel. +358 50 452 4690
Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Helsinki, tel. +358 2941 22211
Karen Spens, Rector, Hanken School of Economics, tel. +358 50 564 3742

Edited 16 March 2018, the name of student representative added.