Metropolia's background

The shareholders in the company in charge of the new higher education institute consist of the capital region cities - Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen - and the municipality of Kirkkonummi.

The new and competitive higher education institute, which measures up to international standards, specialises in innovation and cater for the special needs of the metropolitan area. The training programmes involve close cooperation with businesses and the labour market. This has two main benefits: it improves the students' job opportunities and provides the labour market with skilled labour.

The higher education institute has four fields of study: culture, health care and social services, business and administration, and technology and transport, all of which provide teaching also in English. The students number some 14,000 and the staff about 1,100.

Operating principles

As a learning environment, Metropolia fosters the know-how, creativity and well-being of its members. As a university of applied sciences, it focuses specifically on the positive development of the labour market, culture and social aspects of the Helsinki metropolitan area by providing training of high international standard and by producing practical innovations.

Vision for 2012

In terms of assessed quality, Metropolia will be Finland’s top university of applied sciences in terms of results and competitiveness. As a learning environment that combines labour market skills and higher education, Metropolia will train highly valued experts and meet the capital region’s challenges with an analytical and active approach – boldly and reliably.

Strategic objectives

1. The training and research and development will be of high international standard and carried out in cooperation with the labour market.

2. The learning and research and development will combine to create innovation, know-how and functional solutions that serve the metropolitan region, labour market and higher education.

3. Metropolia will provide major contributions to social, economic and cultural issues.

4. Metropolia will be an ever-developing place of study, a sought-after partner and reliable employer.

5. Metropolia will always put the customer first and operate with