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Handprint of ESD - case universities of applied sciences in finland
Konst, Taru Krappe, Johanna
Konst, Taru
Krappe, Johanna
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EESD2025_#04_Konst.pdf
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Authors
Editors
Date
2025
Educational Level
Curriculum Area
Geographical Setting
Finland
Abstract
All 24 Universities of Applied Sciences (UASes) in Finland approved the joint programme for sustainable development and responsibility in autumn 2020. The objective of the programme is sustainable, responsible and carbon-neutral universities of applied sciences by 2030. The common goal is to reduce the footprint of university actions and to increase the impact, or "handprint," in the development of society. The handprint is related to the positive impacts and benefits that the action or measures bring to society or the environment. The handprint includes actions taken by the organization to help others reduce their emissions or improve their sustainability. Increasing the handprint of UASes means for example how to verify the effectiveness of education to strengthen students' competences and motivation to promote sustainability, or impact of research, development and innovation (RDI) activities to increase the ability of the UAS partners, i.e. companies and other organizations, to promote sustainable development in their own operations and in their products and services. Unlike the calculation of the footprint, the calculation of the handprint is not entirely objective or accurate. It requires assessments and assumptions, as well as various metrics. In other words, it is not just a matter of calculation; several qualitative indicators are also needed. In this paper we first present the concept of the handprint and the work done in Finnish UASes to define and measure the handprint especially concerning education for sustainable development (ESD). The work to evaluate the handprint is still in progress, but we introduce the findings done this far. We also give some practical implications by providing examples of solutions implemented at one UAS, Turku University of Applied Sciences (Turku UAS). These examples focus on engineering education being the largest study field at Turku UAS, but the findings are applicable for all study fields. Handprint data is also valuable in educating engineering students about the implications of their future professional decisions, given that sustainability is increasingly becoming a critical consideration in everyday engineering practice.
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Keywords (free text)
program assessment, engineering education, engineering for sustainable development, education for sustainabilty, sustainability in engineering