History
Novia University of Applied Sciences was formed on August 1, 2008, by the merging of the Sydväst Polytechnic and the Swedish Polytechnic, Finland. Novia UAS offers multidisciplinary higher education with a practical orientation, training professionals for expert and development posts based on the requirements of working life and its development, on scientific research and artistic principles.
Education
Novia UAS has an educational approach based on that students should have the opportunity to build their knowledge on past experience. Projectified learning emanating from the constructivist pedagogy, which means that students in this form of learning actively take responsibility for the learning process, supported by their teachers and supervisors in close cooperation with working life outside the university.
Research
Novia aims at long-term cooperation with HEIs, enterprises and education and research institutions. Novia will form strategic partnerships and participate in international projects that enhance the quality of education, especially within our focus areas:
- Sustainable Energy Technology
- Bioeconomy
- Health and Welfare
- Maritime Simulation
- Culture and Entrepreneurship
Career
Practical training is a compulsory part of the studies at Novia. Students may opt to do their internship or write their final thesis in a regional, national or international enterprise or organization, which often leads to employment after graduation. Our close co-operation with working life is permanently present in our daily activities and in attuning curricula to labour market demands.
Distance Learning Courses
Student services
There are Student Affairs Offices located at every campus. The Student Affairs Office can assist you with student services incl. registration for the academic year, transcript of records, education arrangements as well as schedules.
The international office coordinates exchange studies at Novia University of Applied Sciences. Most degree programmes at Novia UAS are taught in Swedish but many courses are offered in English. The growing importance of project-based learning allows the use of English as the working language. Courses with a more practical orientation involving field work, workshops or laboratories are always open to non-Swedish speakers.
Housing services
Novia UAS does not arrange student accommodation. In Jakobstad the free market is the only option for finding an apartment.
Library services
The library is a central pedagogical resource for learning, teaching and research at Novia UAS. The library at Novia UAS is a part of Tritonia. We offer library services at all campuses. In addition to printed books and journals we also have a large collection of electronic information resources.
Medical services
Novia UAS has negotiated an insurance package at the insurance company Marsh that can be purchased by international students studying at Novia UAS. Non-EU students are required to obtain a student health insurance for their student residence permit. Novia UAS recommends the Marsh student health insurance as it covers the basic health care needs of a student during their stay in Finland.
Campus life
Campus Allegro is a new campus located at the heart of the town Jakobstad. A living center of the arts, creativity and well-being has been created around three rediscovered 18th-century streets. The educational units that comprise the dynamic campus are the Universities of Applied Sciences of Novia and Centria, the Åbo Akademi University, the YA! Vocational Education and Training, the Music Institute of the Jakobstad Region and the Children’s Art School, Balatako. The 400-seat Schauman Concert Hall with an orchestra pit, the intimate Black box-theatre and the exhibition space White Box for upcoming art make Allegro a well-known cultural meeting place. More than 700 students frequent Campus Allegro daily.
Student clubs
Novium is an independent service and support organisation for all the students at Novia UAS. Its status is regulated by law. Members of the student union annualy elect representatives to the Union Council. The decisions of the council are implemented by the Executive Board, which is supported by a secreteriat. The student union is represented in the Board of Novia University of Applied Sciences and in other decision making bodies within Novia UAS and therefore has good possibilities to voice students' interests in all decision making. Novium is also a member of the national union of students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, SAMOK, which promotes the students' interests on a national level.
The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council has awarded the institution a quality label that is valid for six years starting from 24 May 2012.
The quality system fulfills the national criteria set for the quality management of higher education institutions, and the system corresponds to the European principles and recommendations for the quality management of higher education institutions.