Novia’s Strategic Partnership with Ramboll Focuses on Green Transition

Novia University of Applied Sciences has renewed its partnership agreement with Ramboll Finland Oy until 2030. Ramboll Finland Oy is part of Ramboll Group, one of the Nordic region’s largest consulting companies in construction, infrastructure, energy, environment and health, as well as water. Globally, Ramboll employs 18,000 experts and specialists in 35 countries.

The strategic collaboration between Novia and Ramboll began in 2007 in the field of construction and civil engineering and has since continuously provided added value to both parties. The focus has been on sustainable development and BIM, i.e., digital 3D modeling for design in construction. The cooperation has resulted in internships, theses, national development of the construction industry, permanent employment, and successful careers for dozens of Novia engineers.

The partnership has developed construction education and led to entirely new continuing education programs. Since 2020, Novia has also, within the framework of this collaboration, established a new engineering program in HVAC design and further developed a unique Nordic Master of Engineering in structural design for climate-smart and demanding timber structures, Structural Engineering. This is an English-language advanced degree program at the level of a Master of Science in Engineering, which has been part of Novia’s annual offering since 2022.

One of Novia’s students in the Structural Engineering program is Linda Österholm, who graduated as an engineer from Novia in 2015. During her studies, she completed an internship at Ramboll and worked there during her final year. Her bachelor’s thesis focused on BIM and was related to the timber façade of Helsinki’s Oodi Library—a project she was working on at Ramboll at the time.

Since graduation, Linda has had a successful career at Ramboll, working as an element designer and BIM model manager on several major projects, including Pyramiden and SEB Bank’s headquarters in Stockholm. During this time, she has also started a family and had three children. Today, she serves as a project manager for public buildings.

Three years ago, Linda decided to further develop her expertise alongside her work at Ramboll by enrolling in Novia’s Master’s program in Structural Engineering. This December, she will graduate with a Master of Engineering degree. Her master’s thesis also focuses on BIM, now with an emphasis on timber structures and their impact on building climate declarations—a requirement introduced by the new Building Act starting in 2026. The subject of her thesis is Keilaniemen Portti, one of Europe’s tallest timber office buildings, currently under construction in Keilaniemi, Espoo.

"I have gained a solid foundation in BIM planning and sustainable construction from my studies at Novia. Ramboll as an employer has also played an important role in my career and given me the opportunity to effectively combine work, studies, and family life," says Linda Österholm.

Novia’s contact person at Ramboll is Novia alumnus Toni Wasenius. His role and contributions to the partnership and the joint development of education have been highly significant since the first collaboration agreement between Novia and Ramboll. Toni now serves as Sales Director for the Real Estate & Defence sector at Ramboll Finland, a position that also involves strong international connections within Ramboll Group.

"The active and strong collaboration between Novia and Ramboll has developed education and opened completely new opportunities. What especially pleases me is how modern and comprehensive Novia’s construction education is today. Energy-efficient, sustainable, and smart buildings with a focus on excellent and healthy indoor climate remain pillars of our cooperation. But we will also take steps toward regenerative design and support the industrial green transition," says Director Toni Wasenius.

"We will continue to collaborate on theses, internships, and job opportunities. As a leading design and consulting company, we can offer future career paths both in different parts of Finland and internationally. The industry is constantly evolving, and in areas such as green transition, preparedness, and sustainability, interesting opportunities also open up for educational collaboration—especially within Novia’s technical programs," says Annina Peisa, Ramboll’s Director for Real Estate and Construction.

Novia was, in both national and international comparisons of universities and universities of applied sciences, an early adopter in highlighting BIM as a strategic area of collaboration with industry—together with Ramboll, one of the leading global players in construction and civil engineering for nearly 20 years. Key focus areas for the partnership in 2025–2030, in addition to BIM, include project management, regenerative design, and sustainable construction, including indoor climate, HVAC, electrical systems, automation and energy, as well as industrial green transition.

"With the Building Act 2025 and its new requirements for digital models and climate declarations, BIM development will accelerate further over the next five years, which is optimal for advancing our collaboration with Ramboll. Combined with the corporate investments ahead in the Nordic region related to green transition and the steps Novia’s construction education has now taken in regenerative design in cooperation with Ramboll, I look forward with great interest to all the new developments we can create and offer for future students and society. We are talking about developing the expertise needed in construction and the built environment as a whole for many generations to come. This further strengthens Novia’s unique position and potential in industry collaboration within construction and more broadly in technology, especially in the Nordic countries," says Mats Lindholm, Novia’s Vice Dean.

"The long-standing collaboration between Novia and Ramboll has resulted in concrete initiatives and joint activities. It is an excellent example of the university’s systematic cooperation with industry, aimed at ensuring the relevance and timeliness of education. We look forward to continued successful collaboration with Ramboll in education as well as in research, development, and innovation," says Örjan Andersson, Rector of Novia.

Photo: Outi Jokela

For further information, please contact:

Novia University of Applied Sciences, Vice Dean for Novia’s technical programs in Uusimaa, Mats Lindholm, tel. +358 44 762 3760

Ramboll Finland Oy, Sales Director, Real Estate & Defence, Toni Wasenius, tel. +358 44 514 4298

Sender:

Novia University of Applied Sciences, Communications Manager Jenny Svartsjö, mobile +358 50 561 7803