Energetic Expertise
THE MOST ENERGETIC REGION IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES Vaasa region has the biggest energy technology sector in the Nordic Countries. the region has knowhow 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. 120 companies in the energy sector produce over 12 percent of Finland s 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 the best employment rates in Finland, we have the longest life-expectancy in Finland, 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. 2
The best employment rates in Finland, energetic environment and the best setting for happiness. Vaasa The Sunniest City in Finland Vaasa is a growing city with over 60 000 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 seven university units make Vaasa one of Finland s most important university cities. 3
ENERGETIC KNOW-HOW Vaasan 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. VAMK s 16 full-time degree programmes provide experts in engineering, business administration, hospitality management, health care (nurses and public health nurses) and social services for the demanding needs of working life in three languages: Finnish, English and Swedish. Adult education provision includes several Bachelor s and Professional Master s degrees, specialization studies 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. 4
Our aim is to be the most energetic, attractive, and international education and research community of professional experts in western Finland. We emphasise energy technology, internationality, and networking and strive for high quality operations. 5
Up-to Date Expertise for THE NEEDS OF WORKING LIFE Rapidly 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. Our competence based curriculum covers the entire study path where general and professional studies inspired by working life make a meaningful 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. The adult education at VAMK strives for studies which can be completed alongside work or from outside Vaasa. Studies are supported 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. 6
The finnish Education System All population groups and regions of Finland enjoy equal educational opportunities. Special attention is paid to the content of education and the methods of instruction as well as to educational standards and equality. Higher education The Finnish higher education system is made up of two parallel sectors. 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 degree 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 workload. 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 English. 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 % Working life Master Bachelor Universities of Applied Sciences Bachelor Universities 35 % 35 % Upper Secondary and Vocational Education Comprehensive School Licentiate Master Doctor 7
Insight through Practice Business Clinic is where students perform customised research and development services for local working life, under the guidance of their teachers. 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 information on the needs of working life, and the employers receive enthusiastic trainees with the most recent knowledge of the field. In the Business Factory, students of Vaasa higher education institutes take their first steps in entrepreneurship through real life business processes with the help of experts. 8
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Attracting Engineers 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. VAMK s engineering education concentrates on fulfilling the needs of Vaasa region s energy sector. Energy technology and efficiency are involved in all our degree programmes. We emphasise project based learning. 10
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Latest Technology with Strong Experience VAMK s engineering education provides students with an international readiness and professional skills, which ensure future prosperity with advanced technological means. We focus on design, manufacture and maintenance based on sustainable development and energy efficiency. An international perspective is also present in studies in the form of an energy expertise module which is given in English as an optional part of all of the education. Our engineering students have a unique opportunity to go abroad for project training, employed by local large-scale enterprises. Our engineering students can also improve their project know-how by studying international business courses. High Technology at a Seaside Campus The 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 common teaching resources. Technobothnia, a teaching and research laboratory shared by the three higher education institutions supports this aim. The technology campus is, with its 2700 students, the fifth largest technology campus in Finland. The laboratory facilities of Technobothnia meet both the needs of teaching, as well as the region s working life. 12 Technology and Communication Personnel 85, students 1350 3D design of energy machinery and equipment and systems project management Mechanical and Production Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish) Electricity distribution, power plant and industry electrification and automation Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish) Energy industry ICT, software engineering and the design of embedded systems Information Technology, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish and in English) Energy-efficient and environment friendly civil engineering Civil engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish) Construction, Professional Master of Engineering (in Finnish) Environmental Technology, Bachelor of Engineering (in Finnish)
In Technobothnia, students familiarise themselves with the new applications of their field and participate in projects conducted together with companies. 13
Multilingual and Multi-skilled The unit of Business Economics and Tourism services the region s needs for special know-how, by offering education in business economics, information processing, and tourism in Finnish, Swedish and English. Education is developed with regional needs in mind. Vaasa is one of the most international cities in Finland, and a strong feature of its economic life is the significance of export operations. In addition, the service and commercial sectors in Vaasa have strong traditions in bilingualism, so professional bilingual and multilingual VAMK graduates are highly appreciated. Multilingual studying is possible regardless of the degree programme. A special characteristic of the education is a type of studying which is similar to language immersion: students can choose study modules from a corresponding degree programme in another language. Teaching emphasises the integration of business competence to an entrepreneurial approach. Business Economics and Tourism Personnel 60, students 1500 International Business, Bachelor of Business Administration (in English) Business Economics, Bachelor of Business Administration (in Finnish and Swedish*) Tourism, Bachelor of Hospitality Management* Information Processing, Bachelor of Business Administration (in Finnish and in Swedish*) Entrepreneurship and Business Competence, Professional Master of Business Administration (in Finnish and partly in Swedish) *It is not possible to apply for this degree programme during year 2013. 14
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Welfare for Everyday Life The Health Care and Social Services unit educates cooperative, nationally and internationally strong experts for promoting welfare and health. The comprehensive and practically-orientated degrees provide special attention to the bilingual and multicultural operating environment. We promote diversified, problem-based, and scientifically grounded teaching methods. In the Vaasa region the students have excellent possibilities to acquire pluralistic and customer-oriented working methods during their vast practical training. In Medibothnia project, health care and social services education, research, development and innovation operations are developed in interaction with VAMK and Novia University of Applied Sciences. The co-operation will in the future provide modern facilities for studies and applied research in the field and possibilities for interactive, bilingual studying environment. Health Care and Social Services Personnel 40, students 750 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) 16
Professional nurses, public health nurses and Bachelors of Social Services 17
International throughout Internationality 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 educational 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 promote the internationalization of students. The studying atmosphere is truly international thanks to the three degree programmes which are provided in English and the students who are coming from abroad. Internationalization at home is effectively supported through foreign visiting lecturers from partner institutions of higher education and regular international events and projects. Globally Networked We develop and implement joint degrees with our partner institutes of higher education. In international relations, special attention is given to the Balkans, China and Africa. In the future, VAMK is aiming to obtain the ECTS label, which is a certificate for higher education institutes who are transparent and reliable partners in European and international cooperation. 18
The region s export oriented and international economic life is taken into account in education. 19
Cooperation for The Benefit of The Region W e i n v e s t s t ron g ly i n c o op e r at ion a n d sp r e a di n g l o c a l a n d r e g iona l k n ow- how. Working 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, information systems services, student recruitment, open higher education studies, as well as research, development and innovation activities. Vaasa Consortium of Higher Education is a cooperation forum of seven higher education institutes in Vaasa. The community of higher education in Vaasa is internationally 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 the region s economic structure according to their profile. Vaasa Vocational Institute and VAMK cooperate in providing a fluent study path into higher education studies for students coming from vocational education. Clear practices for compensation of previous studies are offered. 20
VAMK actively creates and maintains partnerships with the working life and educational institutes of the region, through various concrete projects, contracts, and implementations. 21
Research, development and innovation for the needs of working life VAMK offers student assignments in working life, expert services and project partnerships. Our key competence lies in multidisciplinary and in-depth expertise and solid knowledge of the local business life. Our operations make good use of national and international cooperation networks. Our students carry out projects and theses for local business life. Projects between VAMK students and working life are coordinated and supervised by 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 looks for new project partners from working life in order to together develop the Vaasa region. 22
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Measurably of High Quality We aim to enable an open, constructive, and interactive quality culture and continually 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 into developing our operations by having student union representatives in working groups, and in managements group. The student union VAMOK oversees the interests of almost 2000 students. We commit into individual and common maintenance and development of quality. We invest in customer satisfaction, in anticipating the changes concerning our operational environment and in developing our competence as a future oriented institution on higher education. 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. 24
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VAMK IN A NUTSHELL 2012 VAMK 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 of Vaasa, the University of Vaasa, the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce, and Hanken School of Economics. 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 rector acts as the Managing Director of Oy VAMK Ab with the support of the management group. VAMK = A pioneer of education in the field of energy and a trusted partner for economic life. 26
Figures from year 2011 Students Average duration of studies Youth education Adult education 3600, of which 700 are adult students 4.3 years 3.8 years Graduations 529 Credit units completed via RDI-operations Theses commissioned by working life 8813 70 % Employment rate of the graduates 97.4 % Primary applicants/ study place Youth 2.22 Adults 1.81 Foreign language education 4.27 Personnel 267 Teaching personnel 147 Other personnel 120 Internationality Students Outgoing exchange students 150 Foreign degree students 350 Incoming exchange students 80 Teachers and experts Outgoing 100 Incoming 30 27
Palosaarentie Palosaari campus technobothnia Wolffintie Wolffskavägen Asemakatu Kauppapuistikko Koulukatu Skolhusgatan Kirkkopuistikko Kyrkoesplanaden Raastuvankatu Rådhusgatan Hovioikeudenpuistikko Hovrättsesplanaden Vaasanpuistikko Vasaesplanaden Town Square Handelsesplanaden Ratakatu Rauhankatu City campus VAMK, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences Wolffintie 30 Tel. 020 663 300 info@vamk.fi