The University of Eastern Finland will continue negotiations with the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences and their owner cities Kajaani and Joensuu on deepening collaboration between higher education institutions in eastern Finland.
On 6 November 2026, the Board of the University of Eastern Finland decided to continue preparations for higher education collaboration with the cities of Kajaani and Joensuu and to approve the clarifications proposed by the cities for further preparations and the letter of intent.
In September 2026, the Board of the University of Eastern Finland proposed to the owner cities of the universities of applied sciences that the establishment of the Eastern Finland University Group be examined in more detail. The owner cities were asked to indicate by 4 November 2026 whether they are ready to continue the preparations and sign a letter of intent on the matter. The signing of the letter of intent is a commitment to further examination and negotiations, not to establishing a university group.
In further examination, contract-based strategic collaboration and the regional impacts of the arrangement will be examined as requested by the cities in addition to the university group model. The request to examine contract-based collaboration was made by the City of Joensuu and the request to assess the regional impacts of the arrangement was made by the City of Kajaani. Both perspectives will be taken into account in further preparations by all continuing parties.
Before any decisions are taken on the university group, external experts will carry out legal and financial due diligence reviews. The aim is to ensure that all parties have sufficient information about the different options and their impacts before making the final decision.
During further negotiations, the higher education institutions will advance their operational collaboration as extensively as possible already before final decisions are made on the future collaboration model. After the reviews, the matter will be submitted to the UEF Board and the owner cities for decision by autumn 2027 at the latest.
Further preparations will proceed on different timelines for KAMK and Karelia. As for KAMK, the aim is to submit the matter for decision by autumn 2027 at the latest, so that the possible new collaboration model could start at the beginning of 2028. As regards Karelia, decision will be made by 2028 at the latest and the possible new collaboration model could start in early 2029.
The exploration of collaboration opportunities with Savonia will continue as a separate process
The views of Savonia’s owner cities on further preparations were divided. Kuopio was ready to continue the process by examining a contract-based collaboration model alongside the group model. Iisalmi, Varkaus and Kiuruvesi stated that they will not participate in further preparations or sign the letter of intent.
Therefore, the preparation of the university group cannot be continued as planned with the Savonia University of Applied Sciences. UEF will continue to deepen collaboration with Savonia in accordance with the wishes of the owner cities.
Strategic funding will be applied from the Ministry of Education and Culture for further preparations
The University of Eastern Finland has submitted an application to the Ministry of Education and Culture for strategic funding for the further preparation of higher education collaboration.
UEF is applying for EUR 6 million for the preparation of the group and for deepening operational collaboration. The Kajaani and Karelia Universities of Applied Sciences are also applying for strategic funding for deepening operational collaboration between higher education institutions. Application for strategic funding by the University of Eastern Finland 2027–2030 (PDF file, only in Finnish).
The higher education institutions have worked together in preparing their applications. The funding is intended to advance the areas of operational collaboration identified during the process, as well as new joint initiatives developed by the higher education institutions.
“The current preparatory organisation for higher education collaboration in eastern Finland will cease its operations. I would like to thank all those who have participated in the negotiations for their constructive cooperation. A new preparatory organisation will be established for the next phase of the process, the composition and tasks of which will be agreed separately with the participating parties,” says Rector Tapio Määttä.
Towards a stronger expertise and innovation cluster
The aim of the collaboration between higher education institutions is to strengthen the competitiveness, expertise and vitality of eastern Finland and to enhance the higher education institutions’ prerequisites for developing education, research and innovation activities.
The reasons behind the preparation include changes in the operating environment of higher education institutions, shrinking age groups, and the increasing expectations of regional impact, RDI activities and meeting skills needs.
If established, the university group comprising the University of Eastern Finland, the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences would have nearly 25,000 students and roughly 4,300 employees.
Further information:
Siamäk Naghian, Chair of the UEF Board, [email protected], tel. +358 40 834 7980
Tapio Määttä, Rector, University of Eastern Finland, [email protected], tel. +358 50 575 1589
