Department of Health and Social Management

The Department of Health and Social Management (previously known as the Department of Health Policy and Management) was founded in 1979, making it the oldest department of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Kuopio, which currently constitutes part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies of the University of Eastern Finland. Today, the department is one of the field's leading research and education units in Finland.

The department's staff comprises approximately 40 experts in the field. The goal of the department is to conduct multidisciplinary research which meets high standards and to offer high quality education. The operations of the department are future-oriented and the department's strategy underscores multidisciplinarity and international cooperation.

The department's research focuses on issues relating to management, organisation, economics and information management in the social and health care sectors. A significant part of the department's research is being funded by both domestic and international external funders.

The department offers graduate and postgraduate education in health management sciences, health economics, health and human services informatics and social management sciences. Furthermore, the department is actively involved in continuing education in its areas of expertise.

The number of both graduate and postgraduate students at the department has increased over the past years and currently, the department hosts approximately 420 graduate students and 70 postgraduate students.