Home Diak joins the initiative to promote Professional Doctorate degrees – now 13 universities of applied sciences involved

Diak joins the initiative to promote Professional Doctorate degrees – now 13 universities of applied sciences involved

18.11.2025

News

Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) has joined the group of higher education institutions working to launch Professional Doctorate education in Finland. With Diak’s participation, a total of 13 Finnish universities of applied sciences are now involved in preparing the national pilot. This further strengthens the shared commitment of the UAS sector to develop workplace-oriented doctoral education and respond to the evolving competence needs of Finnish society and working life.

“Finland urgently needs new initiatives to accelerate economic growth and sustain our welfare society. We are delighted to join this transformative doctoral pilot, which will enable us to build coherent educational pathways for professionals and developers in the social and health care, church, and interpreting sectors,” says Kati Komulainen, CEO-President of Diak.

The Professional Doctorate is a workplace-oriented, multidisciplinary and solution-focused degree that complements the Finnish higher education system. It is equivalent in level to a university doctoral degree, but its core lies in practical, work-based research and development. The aim is to generate knowledge, products, services and solutions that can be directly applied in companies and organisations. The degree would strengthen the role of universities of applied sciences as reformers and developers of working life.

Heidi Ahokallio-Leppälä, Vice President of Häme University of Applied Sciences, considers Diak’s participation a significant step forward.

“It’s fantastic that 13 universities of applied sciences are now involved in developing Professional Doctorate degrees! Diak’s decision to join demonstrates the broad recognition of the potential of Professional Doctorate education across the UAS sector,” Ahokallio-Leppälä says.

The joint proposal by the universities of applied sciences for Professional Doctorate degrees was published on 5 November 2025. The goal is to launch a national pilot during the 2027–2031 government term to ensure Finland keeps pace with international developments and can meet the growing competence needs of working life.