The professional higher education is responding to the challenges of the rapidly changing environment in business and industry. It has already actively impacted both education and applied research, challenging the centuries-old traditional academic universities. In order to succeed, this novel approach also requires radical adaptation of the traditional management.

Our aim, with this book, is to create a framework for management of professional higher education. We want to inspire the reader to renew management practices and structures for increased flexibility and adaptability.
The Finnish higher education system underwent a profound reform when the Universities of Applied Sciences were founded to meet the challenges of working life. International evaluators have deemed Finland's reform a major success. This book complies the best of Finnish professional higher education management practices, allowing the reader to benefit of the experiences and lessons learned.

This book is targeted at higher education managers who are willing to lead their institutions and universities in a future-oriented way. The book also provides new perspectives for higher education board members as well as to administrators in departments and government agencies. Researchers of educational policy and students of higher education management will also benefit.

Authors Dr. Ritva Laakso-Manninen and Dr. Lauri Tuomi have doctoral degrees in Management and Leadership. Together, they have over 30 years' experience managing higher education institutions, allowing for a wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge. They have authored books on strategic and competence management and provided international consultancy and training in business and higher education management.