Integrative Learning Environments in Perspective of Globalization Case: Globalization Models and Effects in Higher Education

In the case of higher education, what kinds of constructions and models contribute international and global activities that make up and implement the three tasks of a Finnish university of applied sciences: education, research and development, and regional development? The cases studied in higher education were set in services, service design, security and ICT, and were performed at Laurea University of Applied Sciences between 2001 and 2009. Laurea’s strategic aim is to be a fully authorized and international university of applied sciences participating in innovation activities. As a competence-focused but small economy undergoing globalization-oriented development, Finland is increasingly dependent on international R&D expertise and the reinforcement of its innovation capacity. Universities of applied sciences constructively form a new and increasingly important factor in the Finnish innovation system. It is essential for the Finnish innovation environment, especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area that universities of applied sciences be increasingly active in international research programs and networks. This study’s proposition includes: dimensions of action, integration of elements and implementation of integrative process model in the perspective of regional and global effects. The theoretical background consists of the Learning by Developing (LbD) concept