Laurea donates 35 trainees to the third sector

In honour of the 35th anniversary, Laurea will donate 35 trainees to third sector operators in 2027 to strengthen the important social work of organisations and associations in the Uusimaa region.

Laurea’s journey, which started in 1991, has taken the university from a local university of applied sciences experiment to one of Finland’s most attractive universities of applied sciences and an international higher education institution. Laurea’s 35-year history is united by the courage to renew, learning together and commitment to the development of working life. The same principles will guide the higher education institution in the future as well. Laurea’s vision is to be an internationally competitive university of applied sciences in 2035 that builds the future together with working life and its partner networks.

In honour of the anniversary year, Laurea wants to look to the future and take responsibility for the surrounding society by supporting third sector actors whose work strengthens the vitality and well-being of the regions.

“In recent years, many third-sector operators have had to rely on increasingly scarce resources. We want to support their valuable work by offering students’ expertise, work input and new perspectives for the development of operations. In honour of Laurea’s 35th anniversary, we are donating 35 trainees to the third sector”, Laurea’s President, CEO Jouni Koski says.

The interns are employed by Laurea University of Applied Sciences. The application period for third-sector operators will open at the end of 2026, and the trainees will start in their positions during 2027.

Laurea´s history in a nutshell

Laurea’s founding date was recorded as 1 August 1991, when the planning work for the Vantaa Temporary Polytechnic began. it was born at a time when Finland was undergoing a major social change and was building a new system of universities of applied sciences alongside universities. The aim was to create a new kind of higher education institution where academic competence, practical working life and regional development would meet. 

From the very first years, Laurea had the courage to experiment and develop new ways of working. These experiments gradually grew into one of the university’s best-known innovations, the development-based learning model Learning by Developing (LbD), which has its roots all the way back to the early stages of Laurea. The LbD combines learning, working life, research and development work in a way that has become Laurea’s hallmark internationally as well. 

Over the decades, Laurea’s development has been led by Osmo Lampinen, Mikko Takala, Pentti Rauhala, Jaakko Tarkkanen, Maarit Vilppunen and since 2014 Jouni Koski. During their term, each rector has been involved in building the growth, renewal and distinctive operating culture of the higher education institution.

After a long period of development work, the Espoo-Vantaa Polytechnic (EVAMK) was granted a permanent license on 1 August 2000. A year later, the college received its new name, Laurea, which refers to the laurel wreath as a symbol of learning, appreciation and success. At the same time, Laurea strengthened its position as a higher education institution where education, research and development activities and regional impact form a coherent whole.

Unique learning model as a strength

Over the decades, Laurea has grown and renewed itself with determination. The campus network has developed – there are now operations in Espoo, Vantaa, Hyvinkää, Porvoo and Lohja – the range of education has expanded and international activities have strengthened. The university has been involved in building new cooperation networks, developing innovative learning environments and strengthening its research, development and innovation activities. At the same time, Laurea has become known as a higher education institution whose cooperation with working life is exceptionally close thanks to the key partnership model and whose students are well employed. According to the latest statistics, as many as 94.8 per cent of graduates find employment upon completing their studies.

In recent years, internationality has become more and more at the heart of Laurea’s strategy. The European PIONEER university alliance, growing international education and research activities, and extensive partnership networks strengthen Laurea’s position as a global actor. At the same time, the key partnership model has deepened cooperation with companies, the public sector and other organisations. 

“Laurea’s success has been built on people’s expertise, cooperation and courage to renew. In 35 years, we have grown from a local university of applied sciences experiment to an internationally networked university of applied sciences. It is great to see that the Learning by Developing (LbD) operating model developed at Laurea continues to arouse broad interest internationally”, Jouni Koski sums up.