We have a strong economy thanks to the largest energy technology sector in the Nordic Countries.120 companies in the energy sector produce over 30 percent of Finland´s energy technology export. Large international companies with their subcontractors employ over 10 000 people in the region.

The strongest areas of expertise are energy efficiency, renewable energy and distributed energy production, distribution and usage. The region’s energy technology companies are the greatest investors in research and development in Finland.

The Greatest Region in the Best Country in the World Vaasa region and the people living in Vaasa are energetic, vital and happy. We have one of the best employ-ment rates in Finland, we have the longest life-expectancy, we have high income level, high education level and our region is among the most international regions in Finland.

The Kvarken Archipelago is the only natural heritage in Finland that belongs to UNESCO’s world heritage list. The unique nature inspires to develop better solutions for energy production and efficiency.

Vaasa – The Sunniest City in Finland Vaasa is a growing city with over 65 000 inhabitants. Vaasa is located in western Finland and it is a centre of economy and culture for the people living in the area. The 12 000 students of the six university units make Vaasa one of Finland’s most important university cities.

THE MOST ENERGETIC REGION IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIESVAASA REGION HAS THE BIGGEST ENERGY TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES. THE REGION HAS KNOW-HOW AND RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO ANSWER TO THE GLOBAL ENERGY CHALLENGES. THIS GROWING ENERGY SECTOR NEEDS NEW ENGINEERS CONTINUOUSLY AND IT ALSO CREATES DEMAND FOR OTHER PROFESSIONALS.

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Vaasa has been chosen as the engine of Finland’s sustainable energy solutions in the Ministry of

Employment and the Economy’s Innovative Cities (INKA) –programme.

The region has great employment rates, energetic environment and the best setting for happiness.

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VAMK’s 12 full-time degree programmes provide experts in engineering, business administration, health care (nurses and public health nurses) and social services for the demanding needs of working life in two languages: Finnish and English.

Part-time study provision includes several Bachelor’s and Professional Mas-ter’s degrees and Open University of Applied Sciences studies. VAMK also produces and offers multidisciplinary research, development and innovation services for the working life of the region.

Our working life oriented studies and the vibrant Vaasa region ensure our students excellent employment prospects. The employment levels in our region are continually at the top of the country.

ENERGETIC KNOW-HOWVAASAN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU VAMK, UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES IS AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION OPERATING AS A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. OUR STRENGTHS ARE IN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPETENCE AND IN THESE FIELDS WE ARE IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH VAASA REGION’S ENERGY SECTOR.

The Design Centre Muova became a part of VAMK in the beginning of the year 2014. Muova´s special know-how is in market-based design and creative know-how.

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Our aim is to be the most energetic education and research community of professional experts in western Finland. We emphasise energy technology, internationality, and networking and strive for high quality operations.

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Our competence based curriculum covers the entire study path where general and professional studies inspired by working life make a mean-ingful entity. This ensures that the student adopts the knowledge and skills of his or her field and knows how to apply them in working life.

Competences are designed, implemented and evaluated by teams of teachers. The implementation utilizes the latest educational methods, such as project work, information and communication technologies, as well as problem solving tasks, either individually or in groups.

Flexible Part-time StudiesThe part-time studies at VAMK strive for studies which can be completed alongside work or from outside Vaasa. Our part-time studies are sup-

ported by investing in an individual study plan and learning guidance, in the recognition and crediting of prior knowledge, and in ICT-supported teaching, such as virtual studies.

A new curriculum where the students carry out 60 credits of basic stud-ies with the same content has been developed for the part-time students of technology and business. The students of technology can also deepen their business know-how and respectively the business students can choose studies related to energy technology. These joint-studies have been planned taking into account the needs of the Vaasa region’s energy technology companies.

UP-TO DATE EXPERTISE FOR THE

NEEDS OF WORKING LIFERAPIDLY CHANGING AND GLOBALISING WORKING LIFE PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND FOR PROFESSIONAL SKILL REQUIREMENTS. VAMK ANSWERS THESE CHALLENGES BY DEVELOPING HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND MODERN TEACHING METHODS.

VAMK is the first University of Applied Sciences in Finland that has a strategy-based competence map and a competence development plan.

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THE FINNISH EDUCATION SYSTEMAll population groups and regions of Finland enjoy equal educational op-portunities. Special attention is paid to the content of education and the methods of instruction as well as to educational standards and equality.

Higher EducationThe Finnish higher education system is made up of two parallel sec-tors. Universities of Applied Sciences offer Bachelor and post-graduate professional Master’s degrees. Universities offer academic Bachelor and Master’s degrees as well as Licentiate and Doctoral degrees.

Universities of Applied Sciences are usually regional higher education institutions with professional emphasis on practical training and close cooperation with working life. The postgraduate professional Master’s de-gree is closely linked to the individual career of a student and it requires an earlier qualification in addition to work experience.

Studies are measured in credits and quantified according to the work-load. One year of studies is equivalent to an average of 1,600 hours of student work, which is defined as 60 credits. One credit is approximately 27 hours of student work. The system complies with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ECTS.

Upon graduation, each student receives a Diploma Supplement in Eng-lish. The document provides a description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies and it aims at improving international recognition of academic and professional qualifications.

35 %

Bachelor

Universities ofApplied Sciences Universities

Bachelor

35 % 35 %

Comprehensive School

Upper Secondary and Vocational Education

Master

Working life

Master

Licentiate

Doctor

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INSIGHT THROUGH PRACTICECompany Clinic coordinates teacher-guided student projects for the region’s working life. In addition to the practically-oriented learning experience and the credit units, the students also gain valuable contacts in working life, new skills, and an insight into development.

Practical Training is an integral part of the degree and an excellent way to advance into ever more demanding tasks during the studies. Practical training benefits everyone involved: students acquire the tasks in their field, VAMK receives current in-formation on the needs of working life, and the employers receive enthusiastic trainees with the most recent knowledge of the field.

International Project Training gives the student a chance to go to work on a company’s site somewhere in the world. Besides language skills and study credits, the project training gives the students international and project know-how that are highly appreciated in all fields. An important part of the project training is to increase cooperation with the Vaasa region’s international export companies and to, through this, train skilful people for the needs of the working-life.

West Coast Startup serves the students and personnel of VAMK and the University of Vaasa in recognizing, developing and testing new business ideas.

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Close cooperation with the region’s companies ensures that we can educate people for the continuously growing demands of the working life.

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A remarkable part of Finland’s and Scandinavia’s energy technology know-how and the engines of export, together with their subcontractors have concentrated in the Vaasa region. The continually expanding know-how cluster offers unique cooperation opportunities with working life and offers engineers the best employment rates in Finland.

We have started a new education leading to a degree in energy technology. In addition, energy technology and -efficiency are involved in all our educa-tion. We emphasise project based learning.

We develop our education based on feedback given by companies. Due to the close cooperation the students can participate in real projects made for working life.

ATTRACTING ENGINEERS

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The new education in energy technology has been designed to correspond to the needs of the

international technology industry of the region.

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LATEST TECHNOLOGY WITH STRONG EXPERIENCE

We focus on design, manufacture and maintenance based on sustainable develop-ment and energy efficiency. Internationality is brought as a part of the studies with for example a voluntary study unity of sales and project management taught in English available for all students.

Our engineering students have a unique opportunity to go abroad for project train-ing, employed by local large-scale enterprises. Our engineering students can also improve their project know-how by studying international business courses.

High Technology at Seaside CampusThe technology campus is formed of the technology units of VAMK, University of Vaasa and Novia University of Applied Sciences. The aim is to collect the know-how concerning energy technology into one centre of excellence that utilises com-mon teaching resources. Technobothnia, a teaching and research laboratory shared by the three higher education institutions supports this aim. The technology cam-pus is, with its 2800 students, one of the largest technology campuses in Finland.

The laboratory facilities of Technobothnia meet both the needs of teaching, as well as the region’s working life.

VAMK’S ENGINEERING EDUCATION PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL READINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, WHICH ENSURE FUTURE PROSPERITY WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS.

School of Technology Personnel 74, students 1310

Know-how of international energy- and environmental technology projects

Energy and Environmental Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (partly in English)

3D design of energy machinery and equipment, robot automation and systems projection

Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish)

Electricity distribution, electrical power systems for industry and automation

Electrical Engineering and Automation, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish)

Energy industry ICT, software engineering and the design of embedded systems

Information and Communications Technology, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish)

Information Technology, Bachelor of Engineering (in English)

Energy-efficient construction Construction and Civil Engineering, Bachelor of

Engineering (in Finnish) Construction, Professional Master of Engineering

(in Finnish)

In Technobothnia, students familiarise themselves with the new applications of

their field and participate in projects conducted together with companies.

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Photos: Mikko Itämö

Project training collects, besides language skills and study credits, international and project know-how that are highly

appreciated in all fields.

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INTERNATIONAL CAREER IN VIEW

We develop education based on regional needs. Vaasa is one of the most international cities in Fin-land and the export-orientated business life of the city is strongly acknowledged in the studies. The multicultural study environment spiced up by the exchange students and foreign guest lecturers, prepares the students for international career already during the studies.

Besides exchange studies our students have the possibility to carry out practical training in a foreign country. Know-how acquired both in Finland and in foreign countries enables applying acquired skills both in Finnish and in English.

The studies include solving practical working-life problem situations by exercises and project assignments with the teachers’ support. Tight cooperation with the regions working life is an es-sential part of the studies. This benefits both the working life and the students.

Business EconomicsPersonnel 46, students 1270

International trade, marketing, financial administration, judicial administration and tourism

International Business, Bachelor of Business Administration (in English) Business Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration (in Finnish) Entrepreneurship and Business Competence, Professional Master of Business Administration

(in Finnish)

Creating web- and mobile services and providing digital and web content Information Processing, Bachelor of Business Administration (in Finnish)

THE BUSINESS ECONOMICS UNIT EDUCATES BACHELORS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE NEEDS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LIFE. OUR BACHELORS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ARE MULTILINGUAL AND HAVE DIVERSE KNOW-HOW FROM TEAMWORK TO NETWORKING.

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The employers of the international and export-oriented Vaasa region appreciate

our multilingual Bachelors ofBusiness Administration.

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WELFARE FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

The comprehensive and practically-orientated degrees provide special attention to the bilingual and multicultural operating environment.

New student-centred study methods, such as e-learning and learning alongside working are used.In the Vaasa region the students have excellent possibilities to acquire pluralist and customer-oriented working methods during their vast practical training.

We develop our education and applied research, development and innovation operations together with our partners. In the future the students of health care and social services will all study in the Palosaari campus that will have new, modern premises enabling interactive bilingual studying.

Health Care and Social ServicesPersonnel 34, students 730

Health Care, Bachelor of Health Care, Nurse (in Finnish) Health Care, Bachelor of Health Care, Public Health Nurse (in Finnish) Social Services, Bachelor of Social Services (in Finnish) Development and Management within Health Care, Professional Master of Health Care/

Public Health Care/Social Services (in Finnish)

THE UNIT OF HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES EDUCATES COOPERATIVE, PROFESSIONAL AND MULTILINGUAL EXPERTS WHO WORK FOR PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS, COMPANIES AND ASSOCIATIONS IN TASKS PROMOTING WELFARE AND HEALTH.

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Competent Bachelors of Health Care and Social Services to whom the Vaasa region offers excellent possibilities for working in a multicultural and bilingual environment.

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INTERNATIONAL THROUGHOUTInternationality is a firm part of all our operations. We educate experts who have international know-how for the domestic and global labour market. All our edu-cational fields emphasise the attitudes and skills which are required in a plural and multicultural society.

We support the mobility of our students and personnel. International experiences and connections of personnel improve the quality of research and teaching and pro-mote the internationalization of students.

The studying atmosphere is truly international thanks to the two degree programmes which are provided in English and the students coming from abroad. Internationali-zation at home is effectively supported through foreign visiting lecturers from part-ner institutions of higher education and regular international events and projects.

Globally NetworkedWe develop and implement joint degrees with our partner institutes of higher educa-tion. In international relations, special attention is given to the Balkans, China and West Africa. VAMK was awarded with the ECTS-label which proofs that the institu-tion is a transparent and reliable partner in European and international cooperation.

The ECTS-label that is a sign of high-quality teaching is a result of the long-term work of our personnel.

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COOPERATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE REGIONWorking life connections are upheld in research and product development projects, the development of the degree programmes, and mapping out training placements and thesis subjects. Cooperation benefits working life, the development of VAMK and the employment of our students.

The University of Vaasa is VAMK’s strategic partner. The universities cooperate in property and safety affairs, infor-mation systems services, student recruitment, open higher education studies, as well asresearch, development and innovation activi-ties.

Novia University of Applied Sciences and VAMK have concluded an agreement on education collaboration that aims to strengthen our bi- and multilingual study environment and the competitiveness of our universities both in Finland and abroad.

Vaasa Vocational Institute and VAMK cooperate in providing a fluent study path into higher education studies for students coming from vocational education. Clear prac-tices for compensation of previous studiesare offered.

Vaasa Consortium of Higher Education is a cooperation forum of six higher education institutes in Vaasa. The com-munity of higher education in Vaasa is interna-tionally acknowledged and strongly affects both the local society and culture.

Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences is VAMK’s partner in cooperation in strategic planning, clarifying the emphasis of higher education and in several support services. The idea is that both VAMK and Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences serve the individual needs of their regions’ economic structure according to their profile.

WE INVEST STRONGLY IN COOPERATION AND SPREADING LOCAL AND REGIONAL KNOW-HOW.

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VAMK actively creates and maintains partnerships with the working life and educational institutes of the region,

through various concrete projects, contracts, and implementations.

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FOR THE NEEDS OF WORKING LIFE

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION

Our key competence lies in multidisciplinary and in-depth expertise and good knowledge of the local business life. Our operations make good use of national and international cooperation networks.

Our students carry out assignments for the region’s working life with the guidance of the teachers. The assignments are coordinated by the Company Clinic.

Our teachers offer companies expert services that are tailored according to the customer’s needs. The modern equipment and professional skills of the laboratory engineers of the teaching and research laboratory Technobothnia are utilized in these services.

National and international research and development projects integrated into education are implemented in all fields of operation. VAMK continuously seeks for new project partners from working life in order to together develop the Vaasa region.

Agility for InnovationsDesign Centre Muova is a research and product development centre operating as a part of VAMK. Muova offers design, research and training services for companies and public organisations.

Muova’s special know-how is in market-based design and creative know-how. Muova’s mission is to respond to socially significant challenges and to develop the international competitiveness of companies with the means of design.

VAMK OFFERS COLLABORATION FOR THE WORKING LIFE: STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS, EXPERT SERVICES AND PROJECT PARTNERSHIP.

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VAMK = A pioneer of education in the field of energy and a trusted partner for

economic life.

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MEASURABLY OF HIGH QUALITYWe aim to enable an open, constructive, and interactive quality culture and continu-ally improve our operations. Good quality results are supported by dialogue between working life and interest groups and our international partners.

Also the students participate actively in developing our operations by giving feed-back, choosing their representatives for working groups and the management group and acting as internal auditors together with our teachers. Close cooperation is conducted with the student union VAMOK.

The quality of operations is regularly measured through internal audits, management reviews, and self-evaluations. The results materialize in unit strategies and the quality programme of the university. The operational structure, with its process descriptions, is easily available to our personnel and students.

Our quality assurance system passed the national evaluation in 2008. Our objective is that VAMK will also fulfill international criteria in the audit of 2014.

We commit ourselves to sustaining and developing quality individually and as an institution of higher education. We invest in the satisfaction of our students and partners in predicting the changes in our operational environment and in developing our know-how as a future-oriented institute of higher education.

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VAMK IN A NUTSHELLVAMK began operations in 1996. From January 1st, 2010, VAMK has been operating as a limited liability company. The shareholders of Oy Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu – Vasa yrkeshögskola Ab are the city ofVaasa, the University of Vaasa, the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, and the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce.

In accordance with the Limited Liability Companies Act, the Board of Directors sees to the administration of the company and the appropriate organization of operations. The company’s Managing Director is also therector of VAMK with the support of the management group.

VAMK’s new premises in the Palosaari campus will be completed by the year

2017.

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Students 3300, of which 580

are part-time students

Average duration of studiesFull-time students 4.2 years

Part-time students 4.6 years

Graduations 543

Credit units completed via RDI-operations

17 400

Theses commissioned by working life 77 %

Primary applicants / study place

Full-time education 2.54

Part-time education 3.93

Foreign language education 5.33

Personnel 234

Teaching personnel 132

Other personnel 102

INTERNATIONALITY

Students

Outgoing exchange students 180

Foreign degree students 380

Incoming exchange students 60

Teachers and experts

Outgoing 100

Incoming 30

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Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK, University of Applied SciencesWolffintie 3065200 VAASA, FinlandTel. 020 663 300 (switch)info@vamk.fi

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