Helsinki School of Economics

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Helsinki School of Economics (HSE, Finnish: Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu) is the premier business university in Finland and one of Northern Europe's leading business schools. Its Masters in Management program is ranked no. 1 in the world by the Financial Times in 2009 ^[1] and the school was ranked no. 17 in 2008. The school was founded in 1911, which makes it the oldest Finnish-language business school in Finland, as well as one of the oldest business schools in the Nordic countries. With over 4,000 students, HSE is the single largest entity in Finland providing education and conducting research in the field of economics and business administration. HSE is internationally accredited by AACSB,^[2] AMBA and EQUIS.

Starting in January 2010, the Helsinki School of Economics, the University of Art and Design Helsinki (TAIK), and the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) will merge together and form a new university called Aalto University. The function of the new university will be scientific research, higher education and interaction with the surrounding society. Its special national mission will be to employ research and education to support the success of Finland in the international economy.

Academics

Degrees and programmes

HSE offers a comprehensive range of university degrees in economics and business administration at the Bachelor, Master, Licentiate, and Doctoral levels. Several degree programs are offered in English.

MBA and Executive MBA programmes are organized by Helsinki School of Economics Executive Education (HSE EE) with a charge for tuition. Both of the programmes are mainly targeted for business professionals. Besides Helsinki, the HSE EMBA programme is also available in China, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Poland. In addition, HSE also provides education through Open University studies and its Small Business Center (SBC).

In response to the Bologna Process, the school has now implemented a two-step programme structure. In the new structure, students first complete a three-year Bachelor's degree and then earn the Master's degree after two years of graduate level studies. On average, a doctoral degree usually takes an additional four years.

Academic departments

HSE has five academic departments: Accounting and Finance, Business Technology, Economics, Languages and Communication, and Marketing and Management.

Reputation

HSE is associated all over the world with quality education. HSE has been accredited by all three international organizations that certify business schools (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS). This "Triple Crown" accreditation elevates HSE into a category shared by only 30 other universities in the world. HSE is an active member of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS) and PIM, a consortium of 54 leading business schools worldwide.

In 2008, the Financial Times ranked HSE as the number 17 in its European business education ranking.^[3] Furthermore, the pan-European CEMS MIM programme was ranked to the 1st place by FT in 2009.

Campuses

Each year, more than 600 new students enter one of HSE’s two campuses, the main one located in Töölö, and another in Mikkeli. The Mikkeli Campus is the home of a Bachelor\s program in International Business (BScBA).

Main building in Töölö

Chydenia building

Partner universities

HSE has exchange partnerships with over 100 universities in five different continents. Each year, over 200 HSE students go abroad on their exchange and the school welcomes over 200 incoming exchange students. Partner schools include, among others, Queens University, Simon Fraser University, DePaul University, Sophia University, San Diego State University, and the University of Texas. In the CEMS network, partner schools include HEC Paris, WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, the London School of Economics and Universität St. Gallen.

Student life

The Student Union of the Helsinki School of Economics (KY) was founded in 1911. Every student studying at HSE for a full M.Sc. or B.Sc. degree is by law automatically a member of the student union. Post-graduate students may join the student union by paying the KY membership fee, but is not compulsory.

KY has many different functions. Its main purpose is to bring its members together, and offer them support, guidance and assistance. With the high rents of Helsinki, KY is dedicated to offering an affordable housing alternative to its students. Currently, it owns around 700 apartments in Helsinki, all occupied by students. KY also publishes a quarterly publication called Kylteri. Student health care is organised through a foundation called YTHS and is heavily subsidised.

In addition to traditional support services to students, KY also takes pride in organising activities and providing entertainment. The school gym is available for the students' use and there are also many other opportunities for doing sports. Ever since 1985, the student union has organised a student production called KY-Speksi. "Speksi" is an interactive musical play, which goes on the road every year with performances all over Finland.

In the 1980s, KY also started its own nightclub KY-Exit which was a profitable business at the time. In 2007, a similar sounding club called KY Klubi was opened in the same premises, but this project was executed entirely by SK Ravintolat, owned by Helsinki restaurant mogul Sedu Koskinen, and KY merely leases out the space in the KY building in Kamppi.

Famous alumni

• Jaakko Lassila, Ph.D. alumnus, former CEO of Kansallis-Osake Pankki
• Reijo Luostarinen, Ph.D. alumnus, world famous researcher of the internationalisation processes of firms, Professor Emeritus of the Helsinki School of Economics
• Jussi V. Koivisto, economist and educator, Ph.D. alumnus
• Hannu Seristö, Vice Rector of the Helsinki School of Economics, Ph.D. alumnus
• Kirsi Piha, Former Member of Parliament (Finland), former Member of European Parliament
• Pirjo Suhonen, Founder of Ivana Helsinki
• Helena Petäistö, Journalist
• Erkki Tuomioja, Member of Parliament (Finland), former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2007)

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ AACSB International: "Nine Collegiate Institutions Earn AACSB International Business Accreditation"
3. ^ Financial Times: European Business school rankings 2008

External links

• Helsinki School of Economics Official Site
• KY - The Student Union of Helsinki School of Economics
• International Business program in Mikkeli

Coordinates: 60°10′19″N 24°55′22″E / 60.17194°N 24.92278°E / 60.17194; 24.92278