Abstract
This paper examines the efforts undertaken by Finnish universities of applied sciences to define and measure the “handprint” of their education and research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities. The concept of handprint—referring to the positive impact on sustainability—is challenging to assess in this context, and current research on the topic remains limited. Nevertheless, the potential of higher education to advance sustainability through both education and RDI activities is substantial and merits thorough investigation. Key questions include how to verify the effectiveness of education in empowering students to promote sustainability, and how RDI activities enhance the capacity of higher education partners—such as companies and organizations—to embed sustainability in their operations, products, and services. This qualitative study addresses these questions across all fields of study within higher education. The research forms part of a broader initiative in which Finnish universities of applied sciences collaborated during 2024–2025 to develop a sustainability reporting framework based on the CSRD directive. This framework provides a comprehensive overview, including dedicated sections on Environmental, Social, and Governance matters. Recognizing their critical importance, sections on the Education Handprint and RDI Handprint were also incorporated. The findings indicate that evaluating the handprint in higher education is both complex and ongoing, with many of the current metrics being qualitative in nature. Nonetheless, this initial pilot process offers several advantages, particularly in terms of communication: higher education institutions need effective ways to articulate the outcomes of their sustainability efforts in both education and RDI activities.
Presenters
Taru KonstPrincipal Lecturer, Coordinator in Sustainable Development, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland Jaana Lindgren
Project advisor, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education, Assessment and Policy
KEYWORDS
Handprint, Sustainability, Higher Education, Assessment, Impact, Sustainable Development
