Assessing policy coordination capacity: higher education, science, and technology policies in Finland

Higher education, science, and technology policies have become increasingly interdependent, and the need for their mutual coordination has been widely acknowledged. This article analyses the institutional organisation and coordination capacity between these policy sectors in Finland. Because of its consistent line of policy in these areas, combined with its recent success in international competitiveness and educational rankings, Finland provides an interesting case in this respect. The Finnish institutional model, particularly the high-level coordinating role of the Science and Technology Policy Council, has also come to be internationally recognised. The article scrutinises coordination processes both vertically, between the levels of government, and horizontally across sectors.