Sustainable development

We update and maintain our programme offerings to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are embedded in all studies

Indicator: Graduates’ feedback survey (AVOP) on sustainability competence

Measures:

• Conduct a sustainability status assessment in all degree programmes.
• Develop learning pathways that support lifelong learning and enable skills updates at different stages of life.
• Expand the sustainable development offering in the Open University of Applied Sciences.

Strengthen knowledge and skills for a sustainable future

Indicator for 2026: Number of staff who have completed the DEI course

Measures:

• Deepen understanding of pedagogy for a sustainable future through materials, think tanks and team discussions.
• Ensure that Metropolia staff complete the new DEI course.
• Maintain and update Metropolia’s sustainability module in Moodle.
• Ensure that the use of AI in teaching and learning is ethical and sustainable.
• Promote student wellbeing by providing personalised support and guidance.
• Apply the European Union’s sustainability competence framework (GreenComp) in sustainability education.
  

We lead responsibly and with a human touch

Indicator: Responsibility Index from the staff survey

Measures:

• Ensure that our management system supports and enables responsible leadership.
• Update Metropolia’s Code of Conduct.
• Renew thinking, practices and structures to be learner-, employee- and customer-oriented.
• Develop models and tools that enhance the community’s capacity for renewal and resilience.

We safeguard the health, wellbeing and safety of students and staff

Indicator: Results of wellbeing surveys for staff and students

Measures:

• Monitor the wellbeing of staff and students and actively develop solutions to promote it.
• Ensure consistency of guidelines and policies related to health, wellbeing and safety.
• Foster a culture of active intervention.

We promote equality, equity and diversity within the Metropolia community

Measures:

• Implement the “Diverse and Equal Metropolia” plan, updated in autumn 2025.
• Participate in FIBS corporate responsibility network’s diversity commitment.

We steer the operations of innovation hubs in line with sustainable development principles

Indicator: Amount of project funding related to sustainable development

Measures:

• Maintain sustainability content and practices in project preparation.
• Provide project managers with sustainability support materials (including operating models).
• Develop monitoring of results and impact of sustainability solutions.

We accelerate solving sustainability challenges through a phenomenon-based approach and by leveraging open innovation and research activities

Indicator: Number of publications related to sustainable development

Measures:

• Promote openness of sustainability-related publications, research data and learning materials. Make research and infrastructure carried out on innovation platforms openly visible in the national research information portal: research.fi.
• Strengthen the identification of sustainability-related phenomena (including foresight and weak signals).

We enhance regional vitality through sustainable entrepreneurship, business and employment

Indicator: Number of Turbiini business ideas related to sustainable development

Measures:

• Invest in sustainability expertise within Turbiini business incubator.
• Offer all students the opportunity to participate in entrepreneurship and innovation studies.
• Promote measures that support sustainable entrepreneurship through collaboration between universities of applied sciences (as part of 3AMK cooperation).
• Strengthen communication showcasing solutions and innovations aligned with sustainable business practices.

Key Indicator: Carbon footprint (tCO₂e)

Measures:

• Calculate our carbon footprint annually (baseline 2022) and develop it to be verifiable.
• Increase the use of renewable energy and improve the energy efficiency of our properties.
• Support low-emission commuting and business travel, and reduce related emissions.
• Promote sustainable use of natural resources and resource efficiency across all operations (including space utilisation, waste management and water consumption).
• Reduce emissions from procurement in accordance with the climate programme.
• Favour climate-friendly food and collaborate with campus catering providers to reduce food waste.
• Monitor carbon sequestration opportunities and explore possibilities for investment in this area.

Measures:

• We conduct business responsibly and select partners according to the principles of responsible business.
  Indicator: Preventive risk management measures and their effectiveness.

• We invest responsibly, and investment activities are included in carbon footprint calculations.
  Indicator: Portfolio responsibility rating must be at least level A or equivalent (good).

• We make investments and procurements in accordance with sustainable development principles.
  Indicators: CO₂e tonnes from procurements and the share of investments and procurements meeting sustainability criteria, calculated as percentages and euros.

• We develop circular economy expertise and create related business models.
  Indicator: Value of internal shared-use agreements in euros.

• We refine accounting practices to enable verifiable climate reporting.

• We assess the carbon footprint of RDI activities and reduce the footprint of project operations.

• We assess the carbon footprint of business operations and mitigate its growth.