TAMK annual review 2024: Sustainability and social responsibility

Promoting sustainability and social responsibility are a shared goal at TAMK. In 2024, it was a topic of active strategic dialogue. The theme was incorporated in the agreement between Ministry of Education and Culture and TAMK for 2025–2028 and in the goals for 2025. By a decision of the TAMK's Executive Group, school contacts were added to the sustainability and social responsibility working group starting in 2025.  

Promoting sustainability among personnel and students as well as in projects 

We took several development measures over the course of the year to help collect increasingly reliable data on promoting sustainability and social responsibility at TAMK. Questions on sustainability and social responsibility were included for the first time in personnel and student surveys. Mechanisms were added to the education information system Peppi to identify ESG (environmental, social, and governance) themes in studies.  

Sustainability and social responsibility competence among personnel was further bolstered. It is now possible to specify sustainability competence as a personal area for improvement in performance reviews. The topic was introduced during the sustainability and social responsibility week held in March. Sustainability competence among teachers was supported with competence badge pilots in EduSTA, a project that gained international visibility. In the pilots, approximately 20 teachers developed and proved their competence in sustainability pedagogy. These efforts will be continued and expanded.  

Various RDI actors discussed the criteria of sustainable and socially responsible RDI activities of Arene, the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, deepening their own understanding of the subject. The idea portfolio related to the projects describes how the project idea aligns with UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Several projects promoted sustainability competence among teachers and students, including EduSTA and Personal Green Skills in Higher Education. The FairDatAct project helped promote decent work and spur economic growth, while the SUSTAFIT and FUSILLI projects promoted sustainability in consumption habits and production methods. Efforts were made in several projects to improve health, well-being and equality, including Mielihyvin duunissa (“In a happy working life”), Kaikki nuoret osallisia tulevaisuuteen (“All Young Participants in the Future”) and Monikulttuurisen ohjauksen polut (“Paths of multicultural guidance”).   

TAMK conducts and develops carbon footprint calculations together with Tampere University. As indicated by the 2023 carbon footprint published in the autumn, the carbon footprint of various services and procurements play a particularly prominent role. 

Internal and external cooperation  

Conducted on a wide spectrum, sustainability and social responsibility work at TAMK is a shared effort between students, personnel and stakeholders. For instance, Tamko Students' Union was an active partner during the year, and discussions were held with Tamko's board on themes and practices important to the union. Students have a dedicated representative in TAMK's sustainability and social responsibility working group. 

TAMK is a member of various international networks, including the Uninovis Alliance of seven European higher education institutions. The alliance's central theme is knowledge-based management of sustainability and social responsibility. TAMK is also involved in various Arene working groups. 

Sustainability and social responsibility also extend to TAMK's partners. The restaurant service provider CampusRavita's contract was updated to better address sustainability aspects. We also began the process of updating travel instructions. Sustainability and social responsibility were essential principles in our procurement and development of facilities. In communications, one important measure was the upgrade of the sustainability and social responsibility section of our intranet pages together with Tampere University.  

Overall, we took major steps in 2024 to create a strong foundation for goal-oriented and knowledge- and cooperation-based management of sustainability and social responsibility.