Public Policy and Governance
About the research group
Who We Are: The Public Policy and Governance (PPG) research group brings together over 60 researchers to advance cutting-edge theoretical and empirical research in the field of Administrative Sciences. The versatile expertise of our group members combines managerial, regulatory, and spatial aspects of public policy and governance in a unique setting. Our mission is to provide research-based insights and tools that support public institutions, managers, leaders and policymakers in navigating complex challenges and fostering effective public administration through anticipatory governance.
Our Research Themes: We focus on three interconnected areas that reflect our diverse expertise:
- Governance of Complex Systems: Investigating how public institutions respond to uncertainties, societal problems and operate within multi-level governance through legal and regulatory frameworks and democratic processes.
- Public Sector Transformation: Exploring how public management reforms, innovations, digitalization and organizational and regional changes contribute to sustainable development and enhance adaptive capacities in the public sector.
- Policies and Practices for Public Value: Examining how policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated to meet citizen needs and foster resilience, well-being and long-term societal impact.
These areas build on the research topics of our researchers in the fields of public management, public law, regional studies, and social and health management.
Our Impact: We advance leading governance research in close collaboration with our academic and societal stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally. We actively publish in high-quality journals and regularly contribute to our key academic communities such as the IRSPM, EGPA and Eu-SPRI, as well as editorial boards including Public Management Review.
We are deeply committed to creating societal impact through our research projects that drive innovative and sustainable societal transformation. Together with our collaborators such as the City of Vaasa, the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, Finnish ministries and the European Commission, we co-create knowledge that informs policy and practice.
Research-based Education: We maintain a strong research-teaching nexus, contributing to Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs in Administrative Sciences. Our research group supports the career development of future scholars and practitioners, producing 4–6 new PhDs annually. For those interested in doctoral studies, more detailed information about the thesis topics can be found in the team presentations and individual profiles.
Latest updates
Research projects
| Project | Duration | Actors |
|---|---|---|
| FAIR – FINDING INNOVATIONS TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRIC REGIONAL AVIATION | - | InnoLab, Management, Public policy and governance |
| The liability of civil servants | - | InnoLab, Public policy and governance, Management |
| InnoDigi-driven inter-organizational network solutions | - | InnoLab, Public policy and governance, Technology and Innovations |
| Making Sense of Climate Change: Perspectives of Citizens, Business Leaders and Political Decision-Makers | - | InnoLab, Public policy and governance |
| Second Machine Age Knowledge Co-Creation Processes in Space and Time SMAK | - | Management, Public policy and governance, InnoLab |
| Anti-Corruption Network for the EU-Commission | Public policy and governance, InnoLab | |
| EU-Presidency Advice for the Portuguese EU-Presidency | Public policy and governance, InnoLab | |
| Ministerial Policy Advisors in the EU | Public policy and governance, InnoLab | |
| Integrity Management in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany | Public policy and governance, InnoLab |
Publications
Research group leaders
Research group members
Helka Kalliomäki
Antti Mäenpää
Ilkka Luoto
Christoph Demmke
Esa Hyyryläinen
Lotta-Maria Sinervo
Sorin Dan
Paula Rossi
Kirsi Lehto
Niina Mäntylä
Oyetade Oyewunmi
Jyri Paasonen
Laura Perttola
Kristian Siikavirta
Harri Jalonen
Anna Kork
Juha Lindell
Harri Raisio
Doctoral Researchers
- Anne Koski (anne.koski@student.uwasa.fi)
- Vanesa Numanovic (vanesa.numanovic@student.uwasa.fi)
- Elina Palovuori (elina.palovuori@student.uwasa.fi)
- Talvikki Ranta-Ylitalo (talvikki.ranta-ylitalo@student.uwasa.fi)
- Ville Karjalainen (ville.karjalainen@student.uwasa.fi)
- Evy Saputri (evy.saputri@student.uwasa.fi)
- Taina Schneider (taina.schneider@student.uwasa.fi)
- Anton Sigfrids (anton.sigfrids@student.uwasa.fi)
- Terhi Simonen-Jokinen (terhi.simonen-jokinen@student.uwasa.fi)
- Hanna Sykkö (hanna.sykko@student.uwasa.fi)
- Sonja Vieristö (sonja.vieristo@student.uwasa.fi)
- Ejike Okonkwo (ejike.okonkwo@student.uwasa.fi)
- Elina Norros (elina.norros@student.uwasa.fi)
