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Ihmisiä kadulla

Public Policy and Governance

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 organizations locally, nationally and globally. Our work contributes to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals primarily in following areas: 

  • Good Health and Well-Being (3); 
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (9); 
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities (11); 
  • Climate Action (13); 
  • Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (16), and 
  • Partnerships for the Goals (17). 

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.  

The research group is chaired by Research Manager Petri Uusikylä and Helka Kalliomäki, Associate professor in Regional Studies.

Current news and events

Research projects

Project Duration Rahoittajat
Alliance for Socially-acceptable & Actionable Plants (ASAP) - Research Council of Finland
Pandemiakriisin opetukset (Lessons from the Covid-19 crisis) - VN TEAS
Spontaneous Volunteering in National Defense (SPOVA) -
Resilience of complex legal systems in sustainability transformation (RELIEF) - Suomen Akatemian strategisen tutkimuksen neuvosto (STN)
Be a Sport! Enhancing Systems Change of the Finnish Sport Policy (BESS) -
NATUREACH – Nature Reachable for all - EU - Interreg Aurora, Region Västernorrland, Lapin liitto
MISS – Practising mission-oriented innovation policy - Business Finland, University of Vaasa
Tiedon jalostamisen maantieteet laajennetuissa ajoissa ja tiloissa (BETH) - Research Council of Finland
VATACO - Governing Transition to a Circular City: Engaging public and private stakeholders in the circular economy - Research Council of Finland
Safeguarding Welfare in Times of Pandemics: Towards Collaborative Governance of Syndemics (WELGO) - Suomen Akatemian strategisen tutkimuksen neuvosto (STN)

Administration of the group

Kuva
Petri Uusikylä

Petri Uusikylä

Research Director
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Open profile page
Kuva
Helka Kalliomäki

Helka Kalliomäki

Associate Professor (tenure track)
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498411
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Evy Saputri

Evy Saputri

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Research group members

Regional Science

Kuva
Markko Aho

Markko Aho

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Open profile page
Kuva
Johanna Hautala

Johanna Hautala

Apulaisprofessori, aluekehitys ja innovaatiopolitiikka (tenure track)
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498369
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Theodore Hill

Theodore Hill

Guest
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Tuomas Honkaniemi

Tuomas Honkaniemi

Yliopisto-opettaja, aluetiede
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498608
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Johanna Kalliokoski

Johanna Kalliokoski

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498462
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Helka Kalliomäki

Helka Kalliomäki

Associate Professor (tenure track)
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498411
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Mikko Karhu

Mikko Karhu

Yliopisto-opettaja, aluetiede
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498267
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Jukka Keinänen

Jukka Keinänen

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Ilkka Luoto

Ilkka Luoto

University Lecturer
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498383
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Antti Mäenpää

Antti Mäenpää

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498531
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Marianne Mäntyoja

Marianne Mäntyoja

Projektitutkija
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498775
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Ejike Okonkwo

Ejike Okonkwo

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Justyna Pierzynska

Justyna Pierzynska

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498460
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Kuva
Julius Repo

Julius Repo

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498565
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Kuva
Seija Virkkala

Seija Virkkala

Professori, Emerita
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Roosa Wingström

Roosa Wingström

Projektitutkija
School of Management, Regional Studies
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498733
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Public Management

Kuva
Pertti Ahonen

Pertti Ahonen

Docent
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Melisa Benchis

Melisa Benchis

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Sorin Dan

Sorin Dan

Nuorempi apulaisprofessori, Public Management
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498514
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Christoph Demmke

Christoph Demmke

Professori, Public Management
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498991
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Esa Hyyryläinen

Esa Hyyryläinen

Professori, hallintotiede, erityisesti vertaileva hallintotied
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498341
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Tomi Kallio

Tomi Kallio

Professori, henkilöstöjohtaminen ja organisaatiokäyttäytyminen
School of Management, Human Resource Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498632
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Kuva
Markku Kiviniemi

Markku Kiviniemi

Docent
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Anne Koski

Anne Koski

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Kirsi Lehto

Kirsi Lehto

University Lecturer
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498378
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
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Kuva
Elias Pekkola

Elias Pekkola

Docent
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Sofi Perikangas

Sofi Perikangas

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498401
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Paula Rossi

Paula Rossi

Vanhempi tutkija
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498542
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Kuva
Ari Salminen

Ari Salminen

Professori, Emeritus
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Evy Saputri

Evy Saputri

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Hammad Syed

Hammad Syed

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.u.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498674
Open profile page
Kuva
Sanna Tuurnas

Sanna Tuurnas

Vanhempi tutkija
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498499
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Olli Wuori

Olli Wuori

Docent
School of Management, Public Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Public Law

Kuva
Ville Karjalainen

Ville Karjalainen

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498768
Open profile page
Kuva
Niina Mäntylä

Niina Mäntylä

Professori, julkisoikeus
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498391
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor (K315)
Open profile page
Kuva
Jyri Paasonen

Jyri Paasonen

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498356
Open profile page
Kuva
Laura Perttola

Laura Perttola

University Lecturer
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498214
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor (K339)
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Kuva
Tiina Petrelius

Tiina Petrelius

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Kristian Siikavirta

Kristian Siikavirta

University Lecturer
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498384
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Maija-Sofia Ulmanen

Maija-Sofia Ulmanen

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498497
Toimisto
Ankkuri
Open profile page
Kuva
Joonas Widlund

Joonas Widlund

Yliopisto-opettaja, julkisoikeus
School of Management, Public Law
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498467
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page

Social and Health Management

Kuva
Jari Autioniemi

Jari Autioniemi

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498127
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Jussi Björninen

Jussi Björninen

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498489
Open profile page
Kuva
Toni Ekroos

Toni Ekroos

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498473
Open profile page
Kuva
Kyösti Husso

Kyösti Husso

Projektitutkija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498618
Open profile page
Kuva
Harri Jalonen

Harri Jalonen

Professor
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498596
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Riia Kemppainen

Riia Kemppainen

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498366
Open profile page
Kuva
Anna Kork

Anna Kork

Associate Professor (tenure track)
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498637
Open profile page
Kuva
Susanna Kotamäki

Susanna Kotamäki

University Teacher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498421
Toimisto
Ankkuri
Open profile page
Kuva
Kaisa Kurkela

Kaisa Kurkela

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498783
Open profile page
Kuva
Sari Lappalainen

Sari Lappalainen

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Open profile page
Kuva
Riikka Lehesvuo

Riikka Lehesvuo

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498614
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Juha Lindell

Juha Lindell

University Lecturer
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498380
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Salla Maijala

Salla Maijala

Projektitutkija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498780
Open profile page
Kuva
Juhani Merilehto

Juhani Merilehto

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Open profile page
Kuva
Tomi Niemi

Tomi Niemi

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498701
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Ville-Pekka Niskanen

Ville-Pekka Niskanen

Projektitutkija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498623
Open profile page
Kuva
Patrik Nordin

Patrik Nordin

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498659
Open profile page
Kuva
Elina Palovuori

Elina Palovuori

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Harri Raisio

Harri Raisio

University Lecturer
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498589
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Aino Rantamäki

Aino Rantamäki

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498672
Toimisto
Ankkuri 3.floor
Open profile page
Kuva
Hanna Sykkö

Hanna Sykkö

Tohtoriopiskelija
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Rose Thompson Coon

Rose Thompson Coon

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
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Kuva
Miia Toikka

Miia Toikka

Doctoral Researcher
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498550
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Kuva
Petri Uusikylä

Petri Uusikylä

Research Director
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Pirkko Vartiainen

Pirkko Vartiainen

Professori, Emerita
School of Management, Social and Health Management
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498349
Open profile page