Sustainability and social responsibility

A strategic choice at Arcada

At Arcada, we have a broad perspective on sustainablity - both economic, cultural and social sustainability is something we see as crucial for the future. Working for sustainable development has been a strategic choice for Arcada since the beginning of the 2000's.

Sustainability is a central part of our social responsibility and is at core of the quality and development work.

Sustainable education and research

We apply UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development: innovative study methods and examination methods that encourage the student to include an interdisciplinary, holistic and critical approach in their studies. Our ambition is that our students and employees have the ability and willingness to work for sustainability, both locally and globally.

Sustainability is central in Arcada's new study plans for each degree programme, as from August 2021. E.g. profiling our engineering programmes towards sustainability and AI meets society's needs and demands on competencies of today, and is in line with our strategy's goals to create smart solutions and support sustainability in all aspects. Furthermore our new profile in occuptaional therapy is also a strtaegic approach, Arcada is the only intitution in Finland to offer a programme in occuaptional therapy based on occupational science.

Arcada's strategic focus on research is in the fields of Artificial intelligence and machine learning, Health and welfare and Circular economy. Our key projects in these areas study future challenges in society and working life, sustainability, the delivery of social and welfare services, health promotion and technical solutions for an ageing population.

Our research involves degree student engagement as well as collaborations with society.

Arcada increases the ecological handprint

Arcada welcomes the joint program of sustainability and responsibility of the Finnish universities of applied sciences, and strives to be carbon neutral by 2030. The focus is also on increasing the ecological handprint, not just minimising the ecological footprint. Read more about sustainable solutions and measures here.

Solar panels

The solar panels on Arcada's roofs produce energy that corresponds to approximately 10 percent of the annual energy consumption. Arcada's building and location are optimal for solar panels on roofs as there are no houses or trees that cast shadows. Everyone who visits Arcada can follow the energy production illustrated with infographics on large information boards. 

Gender equality and equal treatment at Arcada

The gender equality and equal treatment work at Arcada is based on our stated values of a respectful business culture and inclusive business environment. This work is concretised in a plan for gender equality and equal treatment that is regularly followed up by Arcada's occupational safety commission, management group and in dialogue with the students.

Arcada educates for working life and society on a broad front. How we work with our students and how we look at issues of equality therefore have effects even outside Arcada. Arcada's activities are based on gender equality and the pursuit of ethnic and social diversity. This means, among other things, that we see that everyone, regardless of gender, should have the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all areas of life. This means an even distribution of workload and influence as well as the same opportunities for education, work, career and personal development. This applies to both students and employees.

The management at Arcada is committed to acting in accordance with these values and the work for equal treatment permeates all activities of our UAS. The current plan is called "An Inclusive Arcada" and is in force 2022–2024. You can find the plan in full below:

Student well-being

At Arcada, we work for the well-being of students from a broad perspective by offering services and support for a sustainable study time and life situation. In 2020, Arcada took a giant step forward in the work for student well-being when the Unit for Counselling and Student Well-being was established. The unit offers our students support in their study, career and life management skills through services like, among others, a psychologist, a study social worker, a guidance counsellor and a special education teacher.

A sustainable campus

A concrete result of Arcada's work for a sustainable campus is WWF's Green Office certification, which we were granted as early as 2011. The Green Office certificate was renewed in July 2020, and we continue to work for increased eco-efficiency with annual follow-up. Our goal is to reduce our electricity, heat, water and paper consumption.

Green Office is a concrete environmental program with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and reducing the ecological footprint of companies or offices with improved eco-efficiency as a goal. Green Office-certified organisations and their employees are committed to continuously do their best to improve the environment and reach these goals.