University seeks talks on Eastern Finland higher education consortium

The University of Eastern Finland wants to continue negotiations on an Eastern Finland higher education consortium, Yle reports. The university’s board approved the move at its meeting on Tuesday.

The plan would mean the university holding majority ownership of three universities of applied sciences.

The board has asked the cities of Kajaani, Joensuu, Kuopio, Iisalmi, Varkaus and Kiuruvesi to say by November 4 whether they are prepared to sign a letter of intent on the arrangement.

The University of Eastern Finland said in the spring that it wanted to acquire majority stakes in the three institutions.

Savonia University of Applied Sciences, which operates in North Savo, said at the time that it did not want changes to ownership in the region’s higher education institutions. Its board backed closer cooperation proposed by the University of Eastern Finland, but without ownership arrangements.

Savonia commissioned Jarkko Tirronen, who has studied higher education policy for 20 years, to examine cooperation models. His report said cooperation could best be deepened through networking, strategic coordination and agreements on collaboration.

The four higher education institutions currently have about 35,000 students.