LUT ends preparations for closer cooperation with Xamk

LUT University has stopped preparing closer cooperation with South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Xamk, Yle reports. The university’s board made the decision last Friday after reviewing a preliminary study on possible cooperation.

The options included closer cooperation without changes to ownership, or a merger in which Xamk could have joined LAB University of Applied Sciences, which is part of LUT.

Xamk rector Heikki Saastamoinen said the decision would give the institution greater clarity. He said discussions about a possible merger had been difficult for staff and had raised fears about job security.

“We believe this is a better solution,” Saastamoinen said. “Those fears are now gone, and people can focus on their work.”

Kouvola city manager Marita Toikka said the decision was disappointing. LUT master’s studies have been organised in Kouvola, increasing the university’s student numbers there, she said.

“We have done very good work with the university so far. Naturally, I would have hoped that we could have strengthened our cooperation,” Toikka said.

She said a merger between Xamk and LUT could have produced savings in administration and support services.

Mikkeli city manager Janne Kinnunen said a seminar on Xamk’s future had shown that neither Xamk’s owner cities nor LUT had a strong desire to change the ownership arrangements. He said Mikkeli still wanted to develop higher education in the city and that the preliminary study had provided material for considering its strengths in the higher education sector.

“We had a good and important discussion about higher education in the region as a whole,” Kinnunen said.

Kotka city council chair Sami Virtanen said the city would continue strengthening higher education and university of applied sciences education in line with its city strategy. The strategy includes the goal of bringing university-level education to Kotka.

The preliminary study suggested that research and teaching at a possible Kotka campus could focus on energy storage. Virtanen said Kotka could continue discussions on the subject with Xamk and LUT.