News articles
Spring 2025 has been full of warm encounters, a sense of community, and shared memories for the University of Vaasa alumni. Three unique events – in Helsinki, Vaasa, and London – showed that the spirit of the university and the connections made during student years remain strong long after graduation.
The University of Vaasa has joined the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), becoming part of its joint programme on Digitalisation for Energy. With strong expertise in developing digital solutions to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability, the university will contribute significantly to EERA’s mission. This membership further strengthens the University of Vaasa’s position as an international actor in the field of energy research and expands the scientific reach of the joint programme.
How are pioneers leveraging generative AI in product development and innovation – and what kind of capabilities and leadership does it require? The University of Vaasa, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland will research AI and leadership with funding from Business Finland in autumn 2025. The project will run from 1 September 2025 to 30 August 30, 2027, with a total budget exceeding one million euros, most of which is funded by Business Finland.
The University of Vaasa is part of the FITech Network University that provides university courses in the field of technology free of charge. Applications for the FITech Network's fall courses began on 3 June 2025.
The University of Vaasa has received international recognition for its significant economic, societal, and regional impact. A recent Business School Impact System (BSIS) evaluation report highlights the university’s key role in regional development and its strong position as part of the Nordic region’s largest energy technology cluster, the EnergyVaasa network.
While effective crisis management demands the involvement of the entire society, public discourse on the subject often focuses on the responsibilities of the state. Attention should shift more toward the roles of all societal actors in times of crisis, argues Ville-Pekka Niskanen in his doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa.
Mentors' Bar is a new group mentoring concept at the University of Vaasa to support doctoral students and early-stage researchers to find employment and connections beyond the academic world after graduation.
The University of Vaasa has appointed Henri Karimäki, M.Sc. (Tech), and Jan Segerstam, MBA, as Directors of Research and Development. The aim of these appointments is to strengthen the university’s research and development activities, promote the acquisition of research funding, and enhance the university’s visibility and networking in the international research and development arena.
Doctor Hanna Smith has been appointed as Professor of Practice in preparedness and resilience research at the University of Vaasa. Smith is an internationally recognised expert on hybrid threats and security policy, who alongside her new role will continue working as Senior Strategic Adviser at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).