Novia University of Applied Sciences celebrates 175 years of technical education

28.11.2024
Vaasa Engineer Press release
tekniken175 2

Novia University of Applied Sciences has a long history of training competent and essential technical expertise, which has been instrumental in building the industry and business sectors we see in Ostrobothnia today. 

Novia UAS was formed in 2008 through the merger of Svenska Yrkeshögskolan and Yrkeshögskolan Sydväst. The university represents the latest link in a chain of technical education that spans 175 years.

1849 Tekniska realskolan i Vasa
1887 Vasa industriskola
1941 Tekniska skolan i Vasa
1961 Vasa tekniska läroanstalt
1991 Vasa tekniska yrkeshögskola
1994 Vasa yrkesinstitut
1995 Svenska yrkesinstitutet
1996 Svenska yrkeshögskolan
2008 Yrkeshögskolan Novia 

Novia preserves a heritage of technical education that has continually evolved to meet the needs of society.

175th Anniversary Celebration in Vaasa

On November 28, Novia UAS will host a festive seminar to celebrate 175 years of technical education. President and CEO Håkan Agnevall, Wärtsilä Corporation, will give a speech during the celebration. 

Technical education and today’s UAS degree programs are highly sought after by both students and employers. The Vaasa region’s international business sector, which includes the largest energy cluster in the Nordic countries, demands the skilled workforce produced by Novia’s technical degree programs.

Currently, the Vaasa campus has 1,360 enrolled students, the faculty in total has 2050 students. The facilities are specifically designed for modern UAS education, seamlessly integrating theoretical and practical teaching. In the Technobothnia education and research laboratory, students train in a realistic environment, thanks to strong collaboration with other higher education institutions.

"I feel humbled when I think about the long tradition on which our technical education in Vaasa is built on. The tradition obliges us to continue developing the education purposefully to meet ever-changing demands driven by technological advancements, just as it has been for the past 175 years. Novia is the largest provider of engineers to the Ostrobothnian business community, something we are extremely proud of," says Örjan Andersson, Rector of Novia University of Applied Sciences.

Kristian Blomqvist, Dean for Technology and Seafaring, emphasizes the region's need for technical expertise.

“We feel that Novia’s technical degree programs are well-prepared for the future. We offer the breadth that the business sector currently demands at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, and our significant continuing education and RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) activities are very flexible and dynamic, enabling us to respond to future knowledge needs,” says Blomqvist.

Novia UAS currently offers education in Swedish in these degree programmes:

  • Mechanical and Production Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Civil and Construction Engineering
  • Mechanical and Production
  • Electrical and Automation Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Land Surveying Technology
  • Industrial Management and Engineering

The English-language degree programs include

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology
  • Master of Engineering, Intelligent Systems
  • Master of Engineering, Industrial Management and Engineering.

Program Participants
  • Precident, Rector Örjan Andersson, Novia UAS
  • President & CEO Håkan Agnevall, Wärtsilä Corporation
  • Dean Kristian Blomqvist, Novia UAS
  • Alumni CEO Mårten Storbacka, WE Tech Solutions Oy
  • Alumni Head of Plant Engineering Anita Åkerman, Cyient

Timeline of Technical Education (Starting Years)
  • 1849: Tekniska realskolan i Vasa
  • 1887: Vasa industriskola
  • 1941: Tekniska skolan i Vasa
  • 1961: Vasa tekniska temporära yrkeshögskola
  • 1991: Vasa tekniska yrkeshögskola
  • 1994: Vasa yrkesinstitut
  • 1995: Svenska yrkesinstitutet
  • 1996: Svenska Yrkeshögskolan
  • 2008: Novia University of Applied Sciences

For more information, please contact:

Novia UAS, President, Rector Örjan Andersson, Mobile +358 50 527 2286
Novia UAS, Dean Management Kristian Blomqvist, Mobile: +358 50 561 7869


Sender:

Novia UAS, Head of Communications Jenny Svartsjö, Mobile: +358 50 561 7803