Change Negotiations Concerning Principal Lecturers Concluded on May 28, 2026

The change negotiations concerning Principal Lecturers, initiated by Vaasa University of Applied Sciences on May 4, 2026, were concluded on May 28, 2026. Based on the negotiations carried out, the job descriptions and objectives of Principal Lecturers have been clarified to better align with the organisation’s operational needs.

The employer has assessed that, in the case of one Principal Lecturer who was covered by the change negotiations, the amount of work has decreased substantially and permanently. The employer is exploring possibilities to place the employee in other positions that correspond to their education, professional qualifications, and expertise. If no suitable position can be found and the employer’s obligation to offer work or provide training cannot otherwise be fulfilled, the employer may make a separate decision to terminate the employment relationship on production-related and financial grounds.

A key underlying factor behind the change negotiations is the relative decrease in government funding allocated to degree education, while at the same time the importance of RDI activities and external funding is increasing. The aim is to safeguard the operating conditions of our higher education institution also in the future. Therefore, the negotiations have been based on production-related, financial, and operational development and reorganisation needs.

The objective of the change negotiations has been to strengthen the organisation’s ability to achieve its strategic goals in the long term. During May, the negotiations were held in a total of four meetings between the employer and employee representatives. The discussions addressed, among other things, the grounds for the planned measures, potential personnel impacts, alternative solutions, as well as proposals presented by the negotiating parties.

Stronger Synergy Between Education and RDI Activities

As part of the process, the job descriptions and objectives of Principal Lecturers were specified in more detail, and competence and resource needs were reviewed in relation to VAMK’s strategic goals, priorities, and areas of strength. The aim is to allocate resources more effectively to meet future needs and to increase synergy between education and RDI activities.

In the negotiations, attention has also been paid to the qualification requirements and level of responsibility of the Principal Lecturer position, which, in accordance with the collective agreement, are higher than those of a Senior Lecturer. The aim is to ensure that job descriptions and objectives are implemented consistently and fairly, and that they correspond to the actual demands of the work in practice.

As a result of the change negotiations, the Principal Lecturer profiles that were defined are closely linked to VAMK’s areas of strength, cross-disciplinary RDI activities, research groups, demanding teaching and supervision, as well as national and international cooperation.

The Negotiations Were Conducted in a Constructive and Positive Spirit

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Principal Lecturers and employee representatives for their professional, constructive, and respectful cooperation. We have wonderful people in our organisation who do high-quality and valuable work. Change negotiations always create tension and uncertainty within the work community, but at the same time it is important to remember that they do not reflect the level of appreciation. Rather, they stem from limited economic and societal flexibility, as well as our shared commitment to securing a bright future for our work community and higher education institution,” says President and CEO Hannu Vahtera.

Personnel well-being has been a central aspect of the change. The shared objective has been to find solutions that support competence development, meaningful work, and sustainable working practices in accordance with VAMK’s values.

“As a representative of the employees, I would like to thank the employer for conducting the change negotiations in an appropriate and professional manner,” says the OAJ shop steward Timo Malin.

Following the conclusion of the change negotiations, the employer will make the related decisions. Discussions to clarify matters necessary for these decisions, such as the updated job descriptions of Principal Lecturers and the objectives of work linked to the higher education institution’s areas of strength, will be held with each Principal Lecturer covered by the negotiations as soon as possible.