Turning Change into Opportunity
Jamk University of Applied Sciences succeeded in its tasks in 2024. Strong development and excellent results provided a good foundation for Jamk's future discussions and design in the rapidly changing world. The new performance agreement period for universities 2025–2028, Jamk's new strategy, and the discussion about the Jyväskylä higher education consortium that started in the fall anticipate winds of change – from which we draw energy for the future.
Jamk's turnover exceeded 80 million euros for the first time, and the result for the financial year was three million euros. Jamk's tasks were carried out slightly more efficiently than the previous year with 790 person-years, which is 30 person-years less than in 2023. A significant shift in the personnel structure in the 2020s has been the substantial growth of RDI personnel.
The degree accumulation was the highest ever: 1,300 bachelor's degrees, 415 master's degrees, and 407 vocational teacher qualifications. The number of studies completed in the open university of applied sciences increased by seven percent. The number of degree programme students is 10,000, and nearly 14 percent of them are international students.
The total volume of RDI activities was over 21 million euros, almost at the level of the previous year. Domestic and international service business fell slightly short of last year, but the growth in tuition fee revenue to over five million euros made the overall volume larger than the previous year. RDI and service business also reflect active interaction between Jamk and the working life.
The name of Jamk's new strategy and mission is "Creating Solutions". We are an impactful and solution-oriented university of applied sciences in education, RDI activities, and service production.
The drastic change in the operating environment was visible in Jamk's strategy work. Climate change and population aging are now being experienced. At the same time, the digital transformation of society and the economy, many new technologies, and changes in energy production, distribution, and use are reshaping the world. The most pressing change is the degradation of the rules-based world order. As a result, the importance of universities as producers of security and as value communities has been emphasised.
The name of Jamk's new strategy and mission is "Creating Solutions". We are an impactful and solution-oriented university of applied sciences in education, RDI activities, and service production. We particularly influence the development of expertise in Jyväskylä and Central Finland. A key part of our impact is the ability to utilise international expertise and engage international experts.
The future and making an impact are also at stake in the formation of the Jyväskylä higher education consortium, whose ownership decisions largely depend on the political decision-making of the main owner, the city of Jyväskylä. From the perspective of higher education legislation, the question is about a consortium in which Jamk would operate as a university of applied sciences focused on working life and the University of Jyväskylä as a research university, utilising mutual synergies and each other's strengths. One framework for cooperation is EduJyväskylä, which connects the universities with the secondary education provider Gradia and the student city of Jyväskylä.
Jyväskylä's universities – Jamk and the university – together account for over seven percent of Finland's higher education in terms of turnover, number of students, and volume of external research funding, forming a significant entity. Both are large universities in the Finnish education system. This provides good strategic conditions for building a competitive model. The prerequisite for success is the commitment of the university communities formed by staff and students to the common cause.
I must present thanks and appreciation to the entire Jamk community, partners, and networks for the past year. We need you also to build a common future and set the next steps – to seize the opportunities of change!
