Impactful responsibility 2024
At Laurea, responsibility means taking responsibility for the results of our work and collaboration. Laurea employees collaborate with others in an ethical, student-centric and customer-oriented manner and responsibly support the success of students and partners. Laurea promotes economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development in all its operations.
Laurea wants to strengthen the societal impact of its research, development and innovation activities and promote the achievement of the sustainable development goals in line with the goals of the programme for the sustainable development and responsibility of universities of applied sciences. The sustainability and responsibility work of the universities of applied sciences is guided by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the sustainable development guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Laurea’s research, development and innovation activities answer to this by assessing the impacts of each project that has received funding on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. More than 40 projects from Laurea’s three research programmes were included in the most recent review of Laurea’s RDI projects. More than half of the projects reviewed met the social sustainability goals.
The promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion are central to social responsibility as a whole. As an example of this, Laurea is involved in the InCITIES project and responsible for a work package on developing the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) competencies of higher education institution students and personnel. The higher education institutions involved in the project have signed a joint statement in which they, and their entire communities, commit to complying with the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in their daily activities.
Another project related to the inclusion theme is called VoimaProfi, which ended in summer 2024. The VoimaProfi project implemented by Laurea with special funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture used expertise by experience to produce new research data on the challenges posed by social exclusion and inequality. Customer and public participation in development work related to societal challenges played an important part in the studies conducted under the project. The outcomes of the project can be used in the healthcare and social welfare sector and among those working with children and young people in the education sector. Laurea’s work to develop experience-based competence will continue in the Center for Experiential Knowledge which was developed as part of the project.
New projects that will address the challenges of inequality include the Re-entry and Desistance from crime in a Digital era project. This international comparative study examines the challenges faced by people in prison in Finland, England and Canada during the pandemic, how their detachment from crime and return to society have been supported in a digitalised society during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic era. The project is funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, SSHRC.
Laurea’s carbon footprint in 2024: 2,758 tCO2e
Laurea’s carbon footprint has been calculated using the carbon footprint calculator of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene. According to the calculation, Laurea’s carbon footprint is 2,758 tCO2e The carbon dioxide equivalent describes the combined climate-warming effect of different greenhouse gas emissions. Procurements cover slightly less than a half of the carbon footprint, while real estate accounts for about one third of it and travel takes up the rest.
Laurea campuses make various investments annually to achieve sustainable development. For example, the Tikkurila, Porvoo and Lohja campuses produce some of their electricity with rooftop power plants on the campus buildings. A reform of property automation was also carried out on the Leppävaara and Tikkurila campuses in 2024. This aims to improve both energy efficiency and the healthiness and usability of facilities.
Wellbeing was Laurea’s theme for 2024. The theme year of Well-being Boost aimed to reflect on everyday choices affecting one’s own wellbeing with community support, incentives and highlighting. Through the year’s theme, Laurea wants to increase everyday wellbeing by means of stunts, challenges, low-threshold routines, communications, community member – both personnel and students – ideas and examples.
The 3AMK Moves project, which was launched in cooperation between Laurea, Haaga-Helia and Metropolia, also promotes wellbeing, learning and sense of community through physical activity. This RDIT project will develop the higher education culture by creating a common business etiquette that encourages the 3AMK higher education institution community to take the movement into account and increase it in all its activities. At the same time, pedagogical practices that promote the ability to study are created and launched in order to introduce movement in guidance and teaching.
Examples of responsibility and sustainability in 2024
Pride at Laurea: a united, diverse, diverse and participatory community is a meaningful community
The Pride movement brings out the face of human diversity and the colours of the whole human race, which should be celebrated. At Laurea, we want to continue to encourage members of our higher education community to engage in equal, diverse and tolerant thinking and dialogue, with an awareness that human dignity belongs to every individual.
Textile Redesign Jam challenged student teams from four countries to solve circular economy challenges
At the international Textile Redesign Jam held at the turn of February and March, students from four different countries were challenged to solve genuine circular economy challenges for companies in the textile sector. The event was organised by the Baltic2Hand project coordinated by Laurea with the aim of promoting the reuse of textiles and reducing textile waste. Learn more about the project.
International students organised sustainable development events in Espoo and Helsinki
A unique project took place at the Leppävaara campus in April, when 108 students from all over Europe started working on the SDG Action Festival for spring 2024. This is a follow-up to the first event organised last year, which started as a collaboration between five European universities of applied sciences. This time, Laurea was the driving force.
CO2Jump project: first companies sign climate partnership with the City of Porvoo on World Environment Day
The companies participating in the first development round of the Co2Jump project have defined their own climate targets and signed climate partnership commitments with the City of Porvoo in June.
New Publication brings together Laurean perspectives on sustainable development
Creating a sustainable future - Laurea's perspectives on sustainable development focuses on sustainability skills and the need to change skills and build a sustainable future. The book discusses Laurea's RDI activities as a solution developer and how development is reflected in teaching and student integration.
Laurea becomes a member of the Planetary Health Alliance
Laurea is now a member of the Planetary Health Alliance, a community of over 400+ organizations from 60+ countries, coordinated by Johns Hopkins University and committed to understanding and addressing global environmental change and its health impacts. The PHA membership with its community building, regional hubs, and next generation networking will support Laurea's own strategic sustainable development goals, and it creates new RDI as well as global educational possibilities for Laurea. Read more.