Novia University of Applied Sciences has concluded its change negotiations

Åbo Akademi University of Applied Sciences  / Novia University of Applied Sciences, has concluded its change negotiations. The board has taken a position on the cooperation delegation’s proposal.

The negotiations concerned the relocation of all degree programmes currently offered in Raseborg to Turku. These include programmes in the fields of bioeconomy and Civil and Construction Engineering. The reason for the proposed move is the insufficient attractiveness of the degree programmes. Novia is the only institution in Finland offering Swedish-language education for programmes in agriculture and forestry engineering, making these programmes particularly significant.

At the beginning of the year, the board tasked Kaj Suomela with investigating how to best secure the operational conditions for the programmes in agriculture and forestry engineering, and to compare alternative locations including Raseborg, Turku, and Helsinki. The board concluded that a move to Novia’s new campus in Turku, adjacent to Åbo Akademi, would best ensure the resources, development, and future of the education. The change negotiations began on August 19.

On October 23, the board unanimously decided in accordance with the cooperation delegation’s equally unanimous proposal. This means that the agriculture and forestry engineering programmes will gradually be relocated to Turku starting in 2026. The Civil and Construction Engineering programme will remain in Raseborg and be developed into blended learning formats that can more flexibly meet the competence needs of businesses and the region. The English-language environmental planning programme Sustainable Coastal Management will also be developed into a blended format and will move to Turku no earlier than 2027.

Current research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities will continue in Raseborg. At the same time, RDI will gradually be built up in Turku with a focus on the needs of agriculture and forestry. Collaboration will be established with Novia’s business education and Åbo Akademi, which among other things offers education and research in natural materials technology.

Support staff who do not have tasks directly related to education or students will continue to be based in Raseborg. The premises will be adapted to Novia’s reduced needs, resulting in significantly lower property costs and strengthening operational conditions.

“The change negotiations were conducted in a very constructive spirit, and I am pleased to have been able to present a joint and unanimous proposal to the board,” says President and CEO Örjan Andersson.

“The board has made a comprehensive assessment based on the negotiation results, Suomela’s report, financial aspects, student welfare, internal synergy, existing support services, and external collaboration opportunities,” says board chair Johan Aura.

“I look forward to the agriculture and forestry engineering programmes offering a strong and diverse study and work environment at our Turku campus. At the same time, it is an exciting opportunity to develop a more flexible and agile working method in Raseborg in close contact with businesses. The vision is to build a hub to support flexible competence development, both regionally and more broadly,” Andersson continues.

“Although Vaasa was not included in Suomela’s investigation, the board has also considered this alternative and concluded that Vaasa and Turku are equivalent in terms of substance. Turku’s advantage was the fact that the current annual geographically-bound external financial support of approximately € 350,000 remains in place. Our assessment is that a corresponding annual external support would not be possible to obtain in Vaasa,” Aura adds.

Novia has approximately 1,600 students in Turku and about 340 in Raseborg. In total, Novia has just over 5,200 students. Novia’s new campus in Turku will be ready for occupancy in autumn 2026.

For further information, please contact:
Ab Yrkeshögskolan vid Åbo Akademi / Novia University of Applied Sciences, Johan Aura, Chair of the Board, tel. +358 40 355 9935, 
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Örjan Andersson, CEO/President, tel. +358 50 527 2286
YTN Representative Tommy Nyman, tel. +358 44 762 3228
OAJ Representative Katarina Vironen, tel. +358 44 50 595 1280

Sender:
Novia University of Applied Sciences, Jenny Svartsjö, Head of Communications, tel. +358 50 561 7803