Skip to main content

A Complex and Messy Merger: The Road to University of Eastern Finland

  • Chapter
Mergers in Higher Education

Part of the book series: Higher Education Dynamics ((HEDY,volume 46))

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine the university merger between the University of Joensuu and the University of Kuopio, which resulted in the establishment of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). In particular, we look at the key goals and the rationales of the merger, the way the merger process progressed, and how it was implemented. The aim of this chapter is to describe and analyze the change process of the UEF merger especially from the viewpoints of education, research, organization and management. Even though the universities committed to the process and the process was implemented bottom-up, the merger was closely linked to the national structural development program outlined by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aarrevaara, T. (2012). The Finnish universities in the conflicting demands of autonomy and relevance. In C. Koscielnak & J. Makowski (Eds.), Freedom, equity, university (pp. 143–153). Warsaw: Civic Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aarrevaara, T., Dobson, I. R., & Elander, C. (2009). Brave new world – Higher education reform in Finland. Higher Education Management Policy, 21(2), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aarrevaara, T., Aaltonen, M., Ansala, L., Huttunen, J., Ryynänen-Karjalainen, L., Saarilammi, M.-L., & Talvinen, K. (2011). Itä-Suomen yliopiston laadunvarmistusjärjestelmän auditointi (Audit of the Quality Assurance System of the University of Eastern Finland, In Finnish). FINHEEC Publications 5:2011. Helsinki: FINHEEC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. (1987). Disciplinary discourse. Studies in Higher Education, 12(3), 261–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becher, T. (1994). The significance of disciplinary differences. Studies in Higher Education, 19(2), 151–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergquist, W. H., & Pawlak, K. (2007). Engaging the six cultures of the academy –The four cultures of the academy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buono, A. F., & Bowditch, J. L. (1989). The human side of mergers and acquisitions: Managing collision between people, culture and organizations. San Francisco: Josey- Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman, K. (2002). Merging divergent campus cultures into coherent educational communities: Challenges for higher education leaders. Higher Education, 44(1), 91–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, G., & Harman, K. (2003). Institutional mergers in higher education: Lessons for international experience. Tertiary Education and Management, 9(1), 29–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, G., & Harman, K. (2008). Strategic mergers of strong institutions to enhance competitive advantage. Higher Education Policy, 21, 99–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, C. (2003/1963). The uses of the university (5th ed.). Cambridge, MA/London: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J., & Samels, J. E. (1994). Merging colleges for mutual growth. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • MINEDU. (2005). OECD thematic review of tertiary education. Country background report for Finland. Publications of the Ministry of Education, Finland 2005: 38. Helsinki: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • MINEDU. (2006). Korkeakoulujen rakenteellisen kehittämisen periaatteet. Keskustelumuistio 8.3.2006 [Principles for the structural development of higher education institutes. Memorandum 8.3.2006.] Opetusministeriön monisteita 2006:2. Helsinki: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • MINEDU. (2007a). Yliopistojen taloudellisen ja hallinnollisen aseman uudistaminen [Reform of the financial and administrative status of universities]. Opetusministeriön työryhmämuistioita ja selvityksiä 2007:2. Helsinki: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • MINEDU. (2007b). Itä-Suomen yliopisto – tulevaisuuden yliopisto ajassa [The University of Eastern Finland – The Future of University Today]. Opetusministeriön työryhmämuistioita ja selvityksiä 2007:15. Helsinki: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • MINEDU. (2008). Korkeakoulujen rakenteellisen kehittämisen suuntaviivat vuosille 2008–2011 [Guidelines for the structural development of higher education institutes for years 2008–2011]. 7.3.2008. Helsinki: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • NorgÃ¥rd, J. D., & Skodvin, O.-J. (2002). The importance of geography and culture in mergers: A Norwegian institutional case study. Higher Education, 44(1), 73–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pietilä, M. (2013). The many faces of research profiling: Academic leaders’ conceptions of research steering. Higher Education, 67(3), 303–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., & Aarrevaara, T. (2014). Nested tensions and interwoven dilemmas in higher education: The view from the Nordic countries. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 7(2), 233–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price, D. J. (1970). Citation measures of hard science, soft science, technology and non-science. In C. E. Nelson & D. K. Pollock (Eds.), Communication among scientists and engineers. Lexington: Heath Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puusa, A., & Kekäle, J. (2013). Commitment in the context of a merger. Tertiary Education and Management, 19(1), 205–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J. (2008). Itä-Suomen yliopiston prosessiarviointi I [Process evaluation of project for the University of Eastern Finland I]. Kuopio: University of Kuopio & University of Joensuu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J. (2011a). Itä-Suomen yliopistohankkeen prosessiarviointi. Osat II & III [Process evaluation of project for the University of Eastern Finland. Parts II & III]. Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. General Series 6. Kuopio: University of Eastern Finland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J. (2011b). Murroksesta tasapainoon – Itä-Suomen yliopiston syntyprosessi. [From turning point to equilibrium: The emergence of the University of Eastern Finland]. Hallinnon tutkimus, 30(3), 207–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J. (2012). Benchmarking data of University of Eastern Finland. Benchmarking project between University of Southern Denmark and University of Eastern Finland. Non-published Working Paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J. (2014). The path towards merger – The merger process of University of Eastern Finland. In Y. Cai & V. Kohtamäki (Eds.), Transformation of higher education in innovation systems in China and Finland (pp. 96–110). Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tirronen, J., & Nokkala, T. (2009). Structural development of Finnish universities: Achieving competitiveness and academic excellence. Higher Education Quarterly, 63(3), 219–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, I. (2008). Modernization of higher education. In T. Aarrevaara & F. Maruyama (Eds.), University reform in Finland and Japan. Tampere: Tampere University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • UEF. (2010). Strategian toimenpideohjelma. (Action plan for strategy). Itä-suomen yliopiston hallituksen kokous 22.3.2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Ven, A. (2007). Engaged scholarship. A guide for organizational and social research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jarkko Tirronen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tirronen, J., Aula, HM., Aarrevaara, T. (2016). A Complex and Messy Merger: The Road to University of Eastern Finland. In: Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., Aarrevaara, T. (eds) Mergers in Higher Education. Higher Education Dynamics, vol 46. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21918-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21918-9_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-21917-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21918-9

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics