The President of the Republic has awarded the title of Counsellor of Education to Örjan Andersson

The President of the Republic Alexander Stubb conferred the title of Counsellor of Education on Örjan Andersson on 13 June 2025. A title is a public honorary distinction awarded to a citizen who has made a significant contribution to Finnish society. For each recipient, an open letter is issued by the President of the Republic, signed by the President and the Prime Minister.

Doctor of Technology and Docent Örjan Andersson has held senior leadership positions within the higher education sector since 2002 and currently serves as President of Novia University of Applied Sciences, the country’s largest Swedish-speaking university of applied sciences. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest university president in Finland, and with 23 years in the role, he now has the longest continuous presidential career among current university leaders. Previously within the higher education sector, he has served as a researcher, director of education, principal lecturer, and head of engineering education in Vaasa.

Andersson played a central role in the founding and development of Novia University of Applied Sciences, which was established in 2008 through the merger of two former universities of applied sciences. In addition to the formal processes required by corporatisation, the work involved extensive and demanding change leadership. Novia began its operations with equity of EUR 3 million, a figure that today amounts to EUR 25 million, the result of a consistent financial strategy and successful fundraising carried out in 2017–2018. In 2025, Novia has 5,200 degree students, representing an increase of approximately 30 percent over the past five years.

“I am honoured by this distinction. I have had, and continue to have, the privilege of working with important issues related to education, knowledge and development, together with committed and highly competent people. Our collective efforts have been decisive in the journey that has led to this day. Society faces many challenges, and the forward-looking work continues,” says Örjan Andersson.

Novia University of Applied Sciences is characterised by its strong links to working life and by an increasingly international operation. Andersson has extensive experience of board work in start-up companies, established industrial corporations, educational organisations, and within the higher education sector. His international perspective has been shaped by living and working in five European countries outside Finland. He has also served as an expert for the Ministry of Education and Culture in both international education matters and quality audits, the latter also beyond Finland’s borders. He currently serves as Chair of the Coordination Delegation for Swedish-speaking higher education in Finland and has on several occasions served as Chair of the Vaasa Higher Education Consortium.

Photo of President Örjan Andersson:https://www.novia.fi/om-oss/press-och-media/bilder-for-media