KAMK Introduction

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) is a proactive and international university in central Finland with the vision of being a small but big university of applied sciences. KAMK has approximately 3,300 students and 300 members of staff and offers a number of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. KAMK is actively involved in the development of companies and organizations operating in the regions of Kainuu, Koillismaa and Northern Ostrobothnia.

KAMK has achieved great success in Ministry of Education and Culture outcome barometers. In particular, the quality of teaching and counseling has been rated the best in Finland for several years running. According to the 2021 funding indicators, KAMK was the second most successful university of applied sciences in Finland of its size. The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), has awarded KAMK a quality label, which is valid until spring 2027.

The KAMK’30 strategic objectives include the following: to be an attractive, safe and healthy higher education community, to provide results-oriented and efficient education that fulfills the needs of the region, and to be a nationally and globally attractive partner within selected fields of excellence.

KAMK's goal for 2030 is to be an attractive and robust university community, to provide successful and efficient education in its operational areas and to be a nationally and globally attractive partner within its selected spearhead areas of expertise. KAMK also plays a significant role in promoting internationality in the region.

KAMK in Brief

Established in 1992
Amongst the first UAS to be granted permanent status in 1996
A limited liability company owned by the city of Kajaani
Schools: Technology (Engineering, Information Systems), Health and Social Services and Business (Business, Tourism and Sports)
10 Bachelor's degrees delivered in Finnish, 4 Bachelor's degrees in English
7 Master's degrees in Finnish, 2 Master's degrees in English
approximately 2,330 Bachelor level and 340 Master level students
A staff of 220 (120 teaching staff and 100 other staff)
Over 5,500 graduates
Quality label awarded by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) in 2021
President & CEO: Dr. Matti Sarén

Brief History

1996	Kajaani University of Applied Sciences amongst the first to be granted permanent status
1998	The first English-taught programme, Degree Programme in International Business, starts
1999	Degree Programme in Tourism (in Finnish) begins
1999	Laboratories established
2001	All departments situated in a single campus area
2001	The Information Centre opens
2001	Student Restaurant "Fox" opens
2003	Second-cycle degree qualification Technology Competence Management begins
2005	Degree Programme in Sports and Leisure Management (in Finnish) attracts a mass of applications
2006	Tourism Degree Programme (in English) begins
2006	Bachelor of Business and Administration degree qualification, Game Programming major and Legal Specialist major begins
2007	Second-cycle degree qualification in Health Care Management and Development
2009	A new English-taught proramme, Degree Programme in Sports and Leisure Management, begins
2010	A Masters Degree Programme in Entrepreneurship and Business Competence begins (in Finnish)
2011	A Masters Degree Programme in Clinical Nursing Expertise begins (in Finnish)
2012	Game Technology starts as a specialization in the Degree Programme in Information Technology (in Finnish)
2014	KAMK becomes a limited liability company as of 1.1.2014
2014	Adult education in Sports and Leisure Management begins (in Finnish)
2015	KAMK is awarded a quality label after passing a quality audit by Finnish Highed Education Evaluation Centre
2015	A Masters Degree Programme in Sports Management and Development begins (in Finnish)
2017	A Master's Degree in Business Information Technology and Business Competence begins (in Finnish)
2017	A Bachelor's Degree in Tourism begins again (in English)
2018	A Bachelor's Degree in eSports Business begins (in English)
2018	A Master's Degree in International Business begins (in English)

Campus

The campus of Kajaani University of Applied Sciences is located in the Vimpelinlaakso, within walking distance from the services of Kajaani town centre.

There are three cafés on campus, as well as the student restaurant foX and the restaurant Kisälli. One of the cafés, Kaffé Tauko, is run by the Student Union KAMO and it also serves as a KAMO's service point.

On campus there are two gyms and sports facilities for students. KaMove provides high-quality low-threshold sports services for the students in the campus sports facilities and the surrounding area.

KAMK Strategy and Values

KAMK´30 Strategy

The KAMK’30 strategic objectives include the following: to be an attractive, safe and healthy higher education community; to provide results-oriented and efficient education that fulfils the needs of the region, and to be a nationally and globally attractive partner within selected fields of excellence.

KAMK's goal for 2030 is to be an attractive and robust university community, to provide successful and efficient education in its catchment area and to be a nationally and globally attractive partner within its selected spearhead areas of expertise. KAMK also plays a significant role in promoting internationality in the region.

KAMK ´30 Strategy

KAMK Values

Development partnership
KAMK carries out teaching, research and development in local, regional, national and international networks.

Customer satisfaction
KAMK offers client-oriented opportunities and added value to its customers and partners.

People as a resource
KAMK values work and knowledge, accepts difference and supports development and capability. Each member of the KAMK community is committed to our common objectives. We are a transparent organisation that encourages openness.

Creative joy in all activities
All members of staff possess a positive, innovative and open-minded attitude to themselves and to the continual development of their working community.

Quality Management

Quality management and management and quality system

We plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and develop our activities according to the principle of continuous improvement.

The quality of our activities is based on
- doing the right things by defining what we do and why we do it
- doing things right by defining how, when and by whom
- everyone does the right things right
- measuring and evaluating our performance
- improving our performance on the basis of the results

To ensure that our objectives are met, we apply quality management in all our activities. All staff are involved in quality work. The management and quality system is a tool for quality management.

Schools at KAMK

Studies at KAMK are a practical oriented alternative to traditional university education and give students an excellent combination of hands-on skills along with strong theoretical knowledge base.

Schools at KAMK

We have expertise in the following areas:

School of Information Systems

In the School of Information Systems, we provide first-class game industry competence and Finland’s best data center learning environment and a supercomputer. Our R&D and Business Services include Serious game applications and Data Centre Competence.

KAMK has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for use in both the data center and game development studies. KAMK’s single campus area facilitates smooth co-operation between the various fields of education and different degrees often collaborate on practical projects.

School of Business

The School of Business at KAMK combines the expertise in business, tourism and sports. We offer solutions to meet the internal and external needs of all business sectors. We actively develop and modernize service innovations and networks to help companies meet the needs of their customers cost-effectively. We assist companies to grow their national and international operations. Customer focus, continuous value creation, phenomenal experiences and network-based practices are at the core of our activities.

We are involved in different national and international initiatives, promoting entrepreneurship in peripheral regions, product development of existing companies, service design and human resource management.

School of Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Construction and Civil Engineering offers knowledge especially in construction production, renovation, structural engineering and planning real estate maintenance. The programme provides the graduates broad fundamentals for working in construction production and property maintenance management, planning and development posts. Students have a possibility to deepen their knowledge through advanced studies, such as production engineering, property management and wood construction.

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering - the know-how of applying robotics, machine intelligence and automation is valuable for the future labour market. During their studies, students are working tightly with companies in the field. The possibilities for advanced studies are robotics, machine design, maintenance, mining technology, process technology and production management. Basic studies include mathematics, languages, business, IT and electronics. After our broad-ranging and versatile education the graduates are able to work as experts in industrial posts.

School of Health and Social Services

At the School of Health and Social Services we focus on developing smart healthcare and social services and use of technology in diverse settings through our R&D activities. We also have sound expertise in simulation pedagogy and different areas of clinical nursing such as palliative care, acute nursing, and gerontological nursing.

Master School

The Master's Degrees at KAMK will help students on their journey to becoming future leaders and developers. Students will have proactive development skills, i.e. the ability to manage the development of new, forward-looking solutions and to generate new information though a variety of research and development methods.

Master School coaches/lecturers have strong leadership and development skills and they are highly qualified. The training is multidisciplinary, drawing on networks of higher education and working life.

More Information about Studies and Curricula

Studies and Curricula