Annual Report 2025
Strong Growth and Impact
“The year 2025 was a time of development and renewal for Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. Our activities expanded in both education and research, development, and innovation (RDI). We achieved several strategic goals. In 2025, significantly more students graduated on schedule than in 2024. In addition, the number of Master’s-level degrees in particular, as well as external RDI funding, exceeded expectations. We would like to thank our students, staff, and partners for a successful year. VAMK will continue to grow responsibly, boldly renewing itself while strengthening regional vitality. Moving forward together!”
– President, CEO Hannu Vahtera
Avainluvut
885 graduated students
Student's employment rate 85,8%
33 degree programs
Teaching and administrative staff 216
4 056 students
595 international students
5 177 applicants to Finnish degree programs
5 634 applicants to English degree programs
84 international partners
231 publications
Turnover 25 421 982,52 euros
External financing of RDI activities 2 676 578,28 (48,9% rise)
Bold and New Knowledge Creation for Finnish Export and Growth
In June 2025, the University of Vaasa and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences formed a joint higher education consortium that dares to be different. We are a bold pioneer combining academic depth with practical know-how. We operate as a winning ecosystem player at the heart of sustainable growth and the wellbeing economy.
Together, we build a knowledge-driven ecosystem where education, research, and innovation integrate seamlessly with societal, regional, and global needs. Our expertise focuses on the energy transition, wellbeing economy, digitalisation, and international business. We educate the future makers who will shape Finland – and beyond.
RDI and Business – Strategy-Driven Growth and Impact
VAMK’s Strategy 2035, Towards a Wellbeing Economy, guided the development of research, development and innovation activities and business operations in 2025 in line with clearly selected focus areas. Strategy-driven development work has been highly productive. In 2025, the growth of the VAMK’s external RDI funding was the highest among universities of applied sciences in Finland in relative terms.
Our article series explores growth from multiple perspectives: comprehensive security, responsibility, sustainability, and inclusion. Wellbeing, trust, and the courage to renew thinking are at the core, as well as innovations born at the intersections where education and business meet.
Sustainable Development and Responsibility at VAMK in 2025
Vaasa University of Applied Sciences contributes to accelerating the clean transition of the energy sector by educating experts and providing continuing education for those already working in the field. A key part of responsible operations also includes increasing and strengthening ethical practices. Below is a summary of the sustainability actions taken in 2025.
ODDS Hub Speeds up Innovations in Dual-use and Defence Technology
Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu on käynnistänyt ODDS Hubin edistämään yhteistyötä puolustusteollisuuden ja kaksoiskäyttöteknologian alalla erityisesti Pohjanmaalla.
ODDS offers SMEs, startups and research centres an innovation ecosystem and a possibility to network, strengthening the conditions for technological development.
AIMday Focused on Intelligent and Secure Energy System Integration
Vaasa University of Applied Sciences promotes innovative collaborations by implementing the AIMday concept as first university in Finland. AIMday, developed by Uupsala University, connects universities and companies to solve current challenges with low threshold.
AIMday is a one-day event where companies have, in advance, defined specific challenges related to a selected theme. The questions and needs presented by companies and other stakeholders from working life form the core structure of the event day.
News Highlights 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements
The operating profit for the financial year 2025 was a surplus of EUR 2.2 million, and the total result showed a surplus of EUR 2.1 million. Revenue increased by 9.6% compared to the previous year and exceeded the budget by approximately EUR 475,000.
Vaasa University of Applied Sciences achieved its financial targets significantly better than anticipated. Balanced financial management was particularly evident in cost control, as total expenses were approximately EUR 1.6 million below budget.
Revenue growth was driven especially by tuition fee income from international students and the strong development of external RDI (research, development and innovation) funding. Tuition fee income exceeded EUR 3.8 million, surpassing the budget by approximately EUR 700,000.
External RDI funding increased to approximately EUR 2.7 million, strengthening the university of applied sciences’ operating conditions and financial outlook for the coming years.
Changes in the fair value of investments had a negative impact of approximately EUR 93,000 on the financial year’s result due to unrealised valuation changes. Despite this, the company’s overall result remained very strong.
The strong financial performance for the year provides a solid foundation for achieving strategic objectives, strengthening the impact of education and RDI activities, and further developing operations together with the University of Vaasa as part of the new higher education group.
Read the full Annual Report and Financial Statements (pdf in Finnish)
