Welcome to write for issue 4/2026 of UAS Journal! The theme of the issues is RDI activities of universities of applied sciences promoting sustainability and responsibility.
RDI activities of universities of applied sciences are reflected in tangible solutions, new operating models, societal innovations, and strengthening of competences that promote sustainable solutions. Sustainable RDI activities examine ecological, economic, social and cultural dimensions as a balanced whole and are concretized, for example, in resource-wise experiments, practices that strengthen equality and openings that promote the vitality of regions.
The theme issue examines the different dimensions of sustainability of universities of applied sciences operations and the kind of impact and cooperation that universities build at regional, national and international levels.
We welcome expert articles for the theme issue from both universities of applied sciences and outside of them. In addition to articles, submissions may include free-form reviews, speeches, interviews, expert texts commenting on future themes, and examples of cooperation between universities and various actors. Audiovisual content may also be submitted for the issue.
The maximum length of an expert article is 10,000 characters, a review of 4,000 characters, and more informal texts of 3,000 characters (including punctuation). Detailed instructions for authors can be found at https://uasjournal.fi/in-english/instructions-for-writers/. Please read them carefully. We encourage author teams that also include representatives from working life or students. You can write in Finnish, Swedish, or English.
Articles in the theme issue “RDI activities of universities of applied sciences promoting sustainability and responsibility” can deal with concrete solutions, new operating models, social innovations, strengthening of competence, for example:
- Development measures that produce RDI handprints and their effectiveness
- Ecological, economic, social and cultural sustainability of RDI activities
- Cooperation on sustainability themes within the organization, at regional, national or international level
- Cooperation between education and RDI on sustainability themes
- Utilization of sustainable RDI criteria in universities of applied sciences (Link to the criteria: https://www.humak.fi/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/arene-tki-toiminnan-kestavyyskriiterit.pdf) (Available in Finnish).
Theme editors:
Timo Parkkola, MA, Head of RDI, Humak University of Applied Sciences, Chair of the Sustainable and Responsible RDI Group at Arene timo.parkkola@humak.fi
Sanna Tyni, PhD, Lead researcher, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, sanna.tyni@oamk.fi
Susanna Vanhamäki, PhD, Principal lecturer, LAB University of Applied Sciences, susanna.vanhamaki@lab.fi
Kirsi Knuuttila, MSc (Eng), Senior Advisor, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, kirsi.knuuttila@jamk.fi
Tanja Rimpilä, MSc, Senior Project Manager, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, tanja.rimpila@karelia.fi
Schedule 4/2026:
- Article proposals should be sent to the theme editors in the form of an abstract. The abstract should be no longer than 200 words and sent as a Word file to sanna.tyni@oamk.fi and kirsi.knuuttila@jamk.fi by 23.8.2026, at the latest, with the e-mail tile: UAS-journal 4/2026.
- All authors who have submitted abstracts will receive a response regarding possible acceptance for the theme issue by 7.9.2026, at the latest.
- Article manuscripts and image proposals should be sent to the theme editors at sanna.tyni@oamk.fi and kirsi.knuuttila@jamk.fi no later than 4.10.2026.
- Feedback on the article will be sent to the author by 26.10.2026, at the latest.
- The final article should be sent to the theme editors at sanna.tyni@oamk.fi and kirsi.knuuttila@jamk.fi by 8.11.2026, at the latest.
- The theme issue will be published in week 49/2026.
Please feel free to share the call for papers within your own organization and networks!
Vastaa