Strategic partnerships and collaboration

Centria University of Applied Sciences and the region’s vocational education providers – Kpedu (Central Ostrobothnia Joint Municipal Authority for Education and Training), JEDU (Jokilaaksot Education Consortium), and Optima – have entered into an agreement to strengthen their collaboration. The aim is to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce to support regional vitality.

The partnership is centred on students. Its objective is to make the transition from vocational education to higher education easier while providing opportunities to complete higher education studies already during upper secondary vocational education.

The collaboration supports regional vitality, responds to labour market competence needs, and promotes lifelong learning and educational continuity.

Centria, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), and Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK) have deepened their strategic collaboration to strengthen the quality of education, the impact of RDI activities, and regional development in Western Finland. The partnership aims to intensify cooperation between the institutions through cross-institutional studies, joint educational offerings, and collaborative RDI projects.

The collaboration provides students with broader study opportunities and strengthens the universities’ ability to respond to changing competence needs in working life. At the same time, it creates a stronger and nationally significant network of universities of applied sciences.

Centria is a member of the European UNIgreen University Alliance, which brings together higher education institutions from across Europe. The alliance focuses on sustainable development, the green transition, and building a responsible future.

Membership offers Centria’s students and staff opportunities for international collaboration, mobility, joint study modules, and research projects. At the same time, it strengthens Centria’s role within the European higher education community and enhances its international impact.

UNIgreen – the Green European University – aims to become a leading European alliance of universities in the fields of sustainable agriculture, green biotechnology, environmental sciences, and life sciences.

The alliance also provides regional companies and organisations with access to EU-level development initiatives and funding opportunities.

The west coast region is of strategic importance to Finland’s growth and competitiveness. For the past three years, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture has funded close and systematic collaboration among the universities of applied sciences located along Finland’s west coast. Coordinated by Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK), the collaboration includes Turku University of Applied Sciences, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK), Centria University of Applied Sciences, and Novia University of Applied Sciences.

During 2023–2025, the collaboration has focused on strengthening expertise in digital manufacturing technologies, automation and robotics, clean energy solutions, security of supply, and health and wellbeing. Its long-term vision is multidisciplinary collaboration to address complex societal challenges.

As part of this collaboration, stronger partnerships have also been established with Sweden, particularly between regions such as Vaasa and Umeå, while cooperation between Finland, Sweden, and Norway has been strengthened to address the energy transition, skills shortages, and changes in the security environment.

The development and strategic direction of the West Coast collaboration are supported by an advisory board consisting of representatives from regional industry. The West Coast Industrial Advisory Board has played a significant role in promoting multidisciplinary cooperation and supporting the region’s smart specialisation.

Åbo Akademi University will enable RDI personnel from Turku University of Applied Sciences, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Centria University of Applied Sciences, and Novia University of Applied Sciences to apply for the university’s doctoral education programmes. The initiative aims to increase funding for doctoral education and strengthen expertise, particularly in applied, working life-oriented research. Åbo Akademi is therefore contributing to the development of a doctoral education model that may later be adopted by other higher education institutions.

In line with the objectives of the Finnish Government Programme, this collaboration in doctoral education strengthens the national knowledge base, connects research more closely with development activities, and deepens cooperation in RDI between companies, universities of applied sciences, and Åbo Akademi University. The jointly developed model will modernise doctoral education practices, encourage doctoral graduates to pursue diverse career paths, and improve their employment opportunities in the private sector. At the same time, the model supports the Finnish dual higher education system by reinforcing the complementary roles of universities and universities of applied sciences.