New collaboration strengthens swedish-language education offerings
Five Swedish‑language higher education institutions – Novia University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Hanken School of Economics, the University of Applied Sciences of Åland, and Arcada University of Applied Sciences – have signed a new framework agreement that gives students access to a significantly broader and more diverse range of courses than before. Through this collaboration, students can take courses at all five institutions at no additional cost, and many of the courses will also be offered online to ensure maximum accessibility.
The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen Swedish‑language higher education in Finland and on Åland. By opening their programmes to one another, the institutions create more opportunities for specialisation, in‑depth study, and personalised study paths. Students can now include courses in their degree that are not available at their home institution, giving them a more versatile and competitive skill set as they enter working life.
The institutions benefit from each other’s areas of expertise
The collaboration also allows the institutions to draw on each other’s strengths and specialised knowledge. This includes everything from legal psychology and language studies to maritime studies, sustainability, business, healthcare, and technology. The combination of different profiles gives students access to a breadth of expertise that would not be possible within a single institution.
“Through this collaboration, we are taking an important step toward securing a strong and vibrant Swedish‑language educational offering. Our students now gain access to a range of expertise and courses that no single university can provide on its own. We are also pleased to share the diverse expertise we have at Novia,” says Rector Örjan Andersson.
Work to plan the joint course offering for the coming academic year is already underway. The goal is for students to benefit from the expanded selection as soon as possible, and for the collaboration to grow steadily – both in terms of the number of courses and in new forms of cooperation. In the long term, the institutions aim to create even more opportunities for students to shape an education that matches their interests, goals, and future careers.
For more information, please contact:
- Novia University of Applies Sciences, Rector Örjan Andersson, orjan.andersson@novia.fi, +358 50 527 2286