Strategy 2030

VAMK Strategy 2030

Our ambition to be an interesting and creative partner, a link between the world of work and students, is crystallised in our vision and mission. We promote skills and know-how as well as development work that is based on the needs of the world of work. Societal impact requires enthusiasm, innovation, courage and ability to solve.

Vision: Your main partner in expertice

Mission: We create competetive edge for key players in the business sector by coaching future talent and providing a peoneering perspective.

Our Values

Sympathy

We are easy to approach. We trust and respect everyone as an individual and operate as a team.

Pioneering

Together, we dare to get excited, inspire, and be creative; we have permission to experiment. We develop our skills and expertise purposefully and with a future-oriented approach.

Customer-Driven

We anticipate and understand the needs and expectations of both students and the working world, to which we respond with a solution-oriented and innovative approach.

Openness

Our openness fosters societal dialogue and interaction.

Societal influence and interaction

Societal impact and interaction in Vaasa University of Applied Sciences

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences is a working life-driven and business live -positive university. In accordance with the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, it is our task to provide education that meets the requirements of working life and its development, which leads to employment in vocational expert positions. At the same time, we support the student’s professional growth an the ideology of lifelong learning. (Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014.)

t is our task to engage in regional development and applied research, development and innovation activities that renew the region’s economic structure. The basis of our societal impact is built on the quality of our operations and on active cooperation with working life.

We engage in an active dialogue based on partnerships with our long-term, committed partners. Our partnership with the key companies is systematic, results-driven, anticipatory and dialogical. In accordance with our strategy, we want to be the most important partner in competence. Continuous analysis of the operating environment with the actors in our area is anticipatory, and therefore we are able to provide the expertise needed in the area.

We want to provide education and continuous learning in wide-ranging networks, we speak about our work and participate in building a Competent Finland. International connections are an everyday matter to us. We advance the integration of our foreign degree students into the Finnish society and working life. Societal interaction is a part of the daily work of every one of the members of our community, as well as maintaining a dialogue with our partners and alumni. The student union is a key partner for us with whom we build our degree of recognition and engage in a dialogue so that together, we are societal influencers and actors.

The societal influence of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences consists of several areas that are described in the image below (Image 1.). The follow-up associated with these areas takes place in the management team.

Every member of the community of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences commits for his or her part to advancing our societal influence and interaction.

This statement is in force until further notice.

Vaasa, 1 October 2020

Kati Komulainen
President, CEO

VAMK’s Profiling Expertise

Intelligent energy-efficient electrical engineering:

Design expertise, modern digitized production technologies, and project management.

Export industry business expertise.

Socially sustainable, ethical, and evolving social and health services.

Design of market-driven and sustainable product and service systems, as well as industrial and social and health services.

Areas for Development

Areas for development 1 | Deepening cooperation with working life in the region

We want to be the main partner in expertise

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, VAMK, is a novel, active and desired partner combining higher education with working life. The content of education is based on the needs of working life, and this collaboration benefits both parties.

In addition to expertise, VAMK offers opportunities for continuous learning. This is ensured by flexible study paths and digitalisation in close cooperation with other higher education institutions in the region.

Strategic collaboration agreements are concluded and developed further. This makes it possible for our teaching staff to work in partner companies and experts from working life to provide teaching. Structured, developing and expanding collaboration becomes stable and mutual.

Working life cooperation also focuses on RDI and service activities as well as interna-tionality and bilingualism. The UAS deepens its collaboration with SMEs.
All degree programmes work in collaboration with secondary education institutions.
Teaching cooperation with the University of Vaasa is expanded.
Open UAS course supply is increased.

Follow-up indicators:

Open UAS
Study credits completed in specialisation studies

Areas for development 2 | Increasing the volume and competence level of RDI and service activities

Together we promote our region’s vitality

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences aims at increasing and expanding its RDI and service activities in a sustainable and controlled way as part of a national and international network. The UAS actively creates networks with operators in the region.

VAMK is a member of the Robocoast consortium that supports export companies in the coastal region.
Our RDI projects include 150 corporate partners each year. The goal is to raise the number of partners to 250 by 2024.
The UAS projects that are based on the needs of working life must have an impact on society and challenge companies to develop as well.
The projects are communicated using multiple channels.
Vaasa University of Applied Sciences is strongly committed to open science and research principles.
The UAS develops cooperation platforms and builds novel forms of cooperation with interest groups.
The university will be carbon neutral by 2030.

Follow-ip indicators:

Volume of external project funding
Number of publications
Number of enterprises involved in RDI projects

Our strenght:
Robot automation
Smart grids

Areas for development 3 | International work and study environment

Our graduates are international experts

VAMK is focused on training international experts for the export-oriented working life of the region. Our students have the international experience required by export-oriented operators.

Together with companies, employment authorities and the ELY Centre, we develop an operating model promoting labour immigration and improving the training opportunities and employment of foreign students. The UAS will initiate preparatory education for immigrants.
At VAMK, each student receives opportunities for internationalisation through training, student exchange and study modules organised with international cooperation partners.
RDI projects with strategic international partners are carried out in an increasingly ambitious way.
We recruit more employees of foreign origin.

Follow-ip indicators:

Credits completed in an international exchange (out & in)
IOL studies
Number of international degree students
Preparatory training for immigrants

Emerging fields:

Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Well-being and health technology
Patient safety
International trade logistics
Sustainable product and service solutions
Carbon neutrality and circular economy in environmental technology
Creating research and innovation environments for industry and health and social services to be used for the joint development and fast prototyping between higher education institutions and working life using VR and AR technologies.
New Space Economy: smart product and service solutions for business and the fields of energy, IT, design and logistics.

Areas for development 4 | Student success

Smooth studies point the way to success

Our aim is that VAMK students are happy with the quality of teaching and complete their studies in the agreed schedule while keeping healthy. Higher education cooperation is deepened, in particular with the University of Vaasa and Novia.

Through cooperation in higher education, our study supply gets widened and research can also be carried out in shared facilities.
We strengthen our research, development and innovation activities, learning environments and digitality with the University of Vaasa.
We work towards flexible studies and continuous learning.

Follow-up indicators:

Career follow-up survey, financing model questions
Cooperation studies of universities
Employment a year after graduation

Areas for development 5 | Improving staff well-being at work

An inspiring work community is a good place to be

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences strives to improve employee wellbeing. Healthy, inspired and motivated staff can reach better results.

Sense of community and staff participation is increased. Leadership and work community skills are developed to strengthen staff motivation, skill and working capacity.
We perform ambitious cooperation with occupational health and pension companies.
Staff is offered the opportunity to update their skills through the partner network.