Highlights of 2022

Arcada’s rector Mona Forsskåhl was elected to the board of Arene – the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences. The primary purpose of the Rector’s Conference is to promote the interests of Finnish universities of applied sciences. The new board took office in the new year.

Arcada’s staff, students and alumni volunteered to help with Covid vaccination, with the aim of slowing down the progress of the pandemic.

The Covid pandemic caused us to introduce remote studies, but on 2 February the campus was again opened for teaching. The studies were initially conducted in small groups, with masks and observing safety distances.

We celebrated Arcada’s 25th anniversary and started a fundraising campaign in February 2022. The aim of our campaign - called “The future rarely turns out as expected. Often, it turns out better”- is to raise funds for digital solutions that create innovative, inclusive and inspiring learning and research environments at the university.

The Alumni Meeting 2022 was organised with Hanken School of Economics, Novia UAS, Åbo Akademi University and the University of Helsinki with the theme “Requirements for social sustainability in the workplace”.

Arcada and the Åland University of Applied Sciences conclude a five-year agreement on cooperation.The aim is to develop new ways of sharing knowledge, resources and competence between the universities.

Our culture and media students organised a number of events aimed at attracting students back to the campus. One of the events, the Campus Celebration Day, took place on 12th May before the summer break, in celebration of the campus community.

A new affiliated professor provides Arcada with more expertise in artificial intelligence and ethics. Elisabeth Hildt is a philosophy professor and researcher focussing on the philosophical and ethical aspects of science and technology.

Arcada started a project aimed at helping international students to find a training position on the Finnish job market. The project “Internship to Integration” is designed to convince Finnish companies to commit to receiving a set number of international business administration students annually from Arcada.

Arcada’s Swedish degree programme for occupational therapy will henceforth be provided in a multiform programme mode. This increases flexibility and provides an opportunity to complete the course occupational therapy remotely, a choice much called for.

The new SISU administrative tool is launched. The staff was introduced to the tool during Arcada Day, held on 8 August.

The academic year 2022–2023 began with the opening of the academic year on Wednesday 7 September. After two years of lockdown the opening was once again organised on campus for first year students, staff and invited guests.Rector Mona Forsskåhl declared the academic year opened, with digitalisation being the key word for the year.

Arcada joins EduNet, an international higher education network in automation. Through the network Arcada will establish new international contacts in the industry and gain cutting edge automation equipment.

Arcada elects the first Alum of the Year. The distinction is conveyed on a person who is an inspiration to the students of today and who displays a broad commitment to the university. Arcada’s first Alum of the Year is Johanna Stenbeck, who is a 2003 media graduate.

Rector Mona Forsskåhl challenged private individuals who contributed to the anniversary fundraiser campaign Arcada 25 by putting up five euros for every donation made between the 4- 31 October. The fundraiser collected a total of 13 500 euros in October.

Arcada establishes free preparation courses for people looking to apply to the Swedish degree programmes for paramedics, physical therapy and cultural management. The purpose of the course is to help prepare for the application process, which was held in spring 2023. Study credits gained from the course will also count towards the completion of the degree programme once enrolled at Arcada.

Arcada’s new pre-incubator program for the new Arcada Entrepreneurship Hub is launched with some ten business ideas that go from vision to realisation. The hub is a meeting place designed to encourage entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation – over language barriers and educational boundaries.

Stephanie Ramos, who studies engineering at Arcada, receives an award from Kvinnliga Akademiker i Helsingfors. The female graduate association presents an annual award to a foreign student who studies natural sciences or engineering at a Swedish language academy in Helsinki.

Arcada receives 500 000 euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture for the development of the strategic focus in AI (Artificial intelligence.) A grant of five million euros, split between ten vocational colleges in Finland, is part of a government budget for financing research, development and innovation.

Arcada joins forces with external parties in the ”INTERLOCALITY” project, financed by Erasmus in order to improve employability in the local setting for international students.

The nurses’ association "Finlands Sjukskötare" designates Arcada nursing alumna Mishel Tatarnikova as one of the 2022 rising stars in the health care sector. The award was given to ten nurses at the beginning of their careers who have made a significant contribution to Finnish healthcare with their expertise and work.