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Public Policy and Governance
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About the research group
The contemporary challenges faced by governments are characterised by complexity and uncertainty. Yet it is imperative for governments to carefully evaluate a range of potential scenarios and promptly respond to them in an effective way. The public sector must proactively anticipate future developments, and consistently find, evaluate, and adopt innovative solutions to capitalise on forthcoming prospects, all while mitigating risks by enhancing the resilience of their public systems. The research group on Public Policy and Governance (PPG) advances theoretical and empirical cutting-edge research in administrative sciences. We provide innovative perspectives and develop tools for leaders, managers, and decision-makers to enhance policy-making and governance in complex environments.
The versatile expertise of our group members combines managerial, regulatory, and spatial aspects of public policy and governance in our three focus areas:
- Governance of complex systems
- Public sector reforms and innovations
- Co-creation of knowledge and societal value
Research in these interdisciplinary areas draws from the expertise of our discipline-based teams in public management, public law, regional studies and social and health management.
The focus areas are visible in internationally ambitious research initiatives, strong national brand in complexity research, and active high-quality publishing and versatile externally funded project portfolio.
We pursue strong research-based societal impact by working actively with our key stakeholders sharing our core values for innovative and sustainable public sector renewal, both in academia and in partner organisations locally, nationally and globally.
Connected to continuous stakeholder interaction, we maintain active research-teaching nexus, through which we contribute to our education programmes (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes) in Administrative Sciences. The research group produces 4–6 new PhDs annually.
Latest updates
Research projects
| Project | Duration | Actors |
|---|---|---|
| Misleading Consumers | - | Marketing and Consumption Research, Communication studies, Economics, Public policy and governance, Cyber-Physical Systems |
| Vaasa Climate Commitment | - | Public policy and governance, Digital Economy, Strategic business development |
| Alliance for Socially-acceptable & Actionable Plants (ASAP) | - | InnoLab, Management, Technology and Innovations, Strategic business development, Networked value systems NeVS, Public policy and governance |
| Pandemiakriisin opetukset (Lessons from the Covid-19 crisis) | - | Public policy and governance, Management, Resilience |
| Spontaneous Volunteering in National Defense (SPOVA) | - | Public policy and governance, Resilience |
| Resilience of complex legal systems in sustainability transformation (RELIEF) | - | Public policy and governance, Complexity research, Resilience |
| Be a Sport! Enhancing Systems Change of the Finnish Sport Policy (BESS) | - | Public policy and governance |
| NATUREACH – Nature Reachable for all | - | InnoLab, Digital Economy, Public policy and governance, Marketing and Communication |
| MISS – Practising mission-oriented innovation policy | - | SC-Research, Technology and Innovations, InnoLab, Public policy and governance, Management |
| Tiedon jalostamisen maantieteet laajennetuissa ajoissa ja tiloissa (BETH) | - | Public policy and governance, Digital Economy, Management |
Publications
Research group leaders
Kuva
Helka Kalliomäki
Associate Professor (tenure track)
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Kuva
Petri Uusikylä
Research Director
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Social and Health Management
Sähköposti
petri.uusikyla [at] uwasa.fi
Research group members
Aluetiede
Peter Ehrström
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
peter.ehrstrom [at] uwasa.fi
Kuva
Tuomas Honkaniemi
University Teacher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Kari Ilmonen
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
kari.ilmonen [at] uwasa.fi
Johanna Kalliokoski
Project Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Kuva
Helka Kalliomäki
Associate Professor (tenure track)
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Mikko Karhu
University Teacher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Julkisjohtaminen
Pertti Ahonen
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Sähköposti
pertti.ahonen [at] uwasa.fi
Melisa Benchis
Doctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Kuva
Sorin Dan
Assistant Professor (tenure track)
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Kuva
Christoph Demmke
Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Maare Helmiö
Doctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Kuva
Esa Hyyryläinen
Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Julkisoikeus
Jaakko Husa
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
jaakko.husa [at] uwasa.fi
Kuva
Ville Karjalainen
Doctoral Student
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
ville.karjalainen [at] uwasa.fi
Heikki Kulla
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
heikki.kulla [at] uwasa.fi
Tapio Määttä
Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
tapio.maatta [at] uwasa.fi
Kuva
Niina Mäntylä
Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Kuva
Oyetade Oyewunmi
Associate Professor (tenure track)
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
