TUAS responds to working life needs by educating more technology specialists
Turku University of Applied Sciences responds to the growing need for technology specialists in the region in a swift course by increasing the number of student intake in the fields of engineering and construction with over 200 places from the current level. The contents of the studies will also be reformed.
Technical education will be widely promoted at TUAS by increasing the intake of students. The current number of starting places in the field of technology is 846, while after the increase the number will be 1 049. With the new intake level, the technology education at TUAS will be in the same league with the biggest technical institutes of higher education in Finland.
"This is a huge thing for us, but we are ready for the job. Our purpose is to provide the regional businesses with as many specialists as they need, in the field they require. This is the way to enhance the growth and well-being of the whole country", reminds TUAS Rector and President Vesa Taatila.
"After the change has been realized, in early 2020s there will be 650–700 construction or engineering professionals and 70 Masters of Engineering graduating from TUAS yearly. According to the information provided by the regional businesses, this number is close to how much new employees is needed in the forthcoming years", says Taatila.
Director General at Ministry of Education and Culture Tapio Kosunen agrees on the importance of TUAS’ decision.
"This decision responds to the growing need for skilled workers in Southwest Finland and supports the positive structural change in the region. It is necessary to strengthen the higher education in the field of technology. The government has advanced a grant of 20 million euros to guarantee that the growth is not decelerated by a lack of competent employees", he says.
TUAS will also revise the contents of the studies in the critical fields, with new educational entities on their way to be available in 2018.
Shipyard Meyer Turku content with the decision
"Meyer Turku and TUAS have collaborated successfully for a long time. The cooperation is important to Meyer Turku in terms of getting students to work for the shipyard and carrying out collaboration and research projects. Now that our order book reaches until 2024 and the production is on a steady rise in the coming years, we need more and more experts working for us. Our next aim is to recruit 500 new shipbuilders by the end of 2018. Increasing the number of study places responds to this need, and we are very happy with TUAS’ decision", says Meyer Turku Deputy CEO Tapani Pulli.
The export industry, acting as the engine of the Finnish economy, needs a great number of engineers with top competencies. Through the multiplier impact, the growth of the marine and metal industries in Southwest Finland creates as many as 30 000 new vacancies by 2025.