Annual Report 2024
Review of the President
The year 2024 was an excellent partnership year for Turku University of Applied Sciences. We have produced more experts and expertise for Southwest Finland to build our common future.
At the heart of our success are our exceptionally committed and professional staff and students who want to do their part for the future of our country. Cooperation with our partners was also more visible and productive than before.
In many ways, 2024 was a small moment of calm in the midst of the world’s storms. The covid-19 years are long gone, the global shock caused by Russia’s war of aggression had become the new norm, and the market volatility caused by the tariffs of 2025 could not yet be predicted. Both our partners and Turku University of Applied Sciences were able to focus on their core tasks, i.e. the maintenance and continuous development of their own processes. At the end of the year, many indicators were therefore pointing towards a better future.
At the time of writing this text in April 2025, the future looks blurrier again. However, in recent years, we have seen time and time again that the world order is more flexible than we have assumed, and that situations can also improve quickly. For this reason, Turku UAS will continue on the same path that has proven to work in order to develop the good life of the residents of the Turku region and the entire Southwest Finland as well as the competitiveness of the region. We will continue to do our best to meet the future needs of the entire region.
A warm thank you to all our external and internal stakeholders for an excellent year. I believe in our ability to create a brighter future together.
Vesa Taatila, Rector and President
External RDI Funding
Number of Degrees
For Turku UAS, 2024 was characterised by growth from the perspective of both its finances and operations. Turku UAS’s finances in 2024 exceeded its plans in many ways, even though there was very little room for manoeuvre in relation to its turnover.
Ulla-Maija Lakka, Director of Finance and Administration
Examples of economic growth and a stable financial position:
- solvency ratio of 79% (61% in the previous year)
- Suomen Asiakastieto Oy’s “Strongest in Finland Platinum” certificate.
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Press Release
Turku UAS has increased its research and development activities the most among Finnish universities of applied sciences
Turku University of Applied Sciences has increased its funding for research, development and innovation (RDI) the most among Finnish universities of applied sciences. Turku University of Applied Sciences’ research and development work brings money and opportunities for the development of companies and other organisations in Southwest Finland. The amount of funding increased by about 18% from 2023 to 2024. In total, Turku UAS received €12 481 451 in external funding for RDI activities in 2024.
Research and Development
Our Baltic Sea
At home in the hybrid world
A good life
Green economy
Sustainable development and responsibility
We are committed to promoting ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable development.
“The work is driven by the global situation, international and national policies, the needs of the business community, regional development requirements, and the wishes of our students and stakeholders. We are expected to undertake increasingly diverse sustainability and responsibility actions,” says Coordinator in Sustainable Development Taru Konst.
In 2024, we updated our sustainability programme for 2024–2030 to reflect changing circumstances and regulations. Our goal is to become a climate- and nature-positive higher education institution in terms of overall impact.
In 2024, our actions included:
- Adding sustainability studies of at least three credits to all degree programmes.
- Introducing a sustainability assessment for RDI projects. By the end of the year, 70% of the projects met the criteria, showing a 10% growth compared to the spring.
- Implementing sustainability orientation for all employees.
- Reducing the carbon footprint of Turku UAS by 6% compared to the previous year.
- We are at the best level in the national monitoring of open science and research.
More information on our sustainability work in 2024 can be found in the annual report PDF attachment, which has been submitted to the Board of Turku University of Applied Sciences Ltd.
Read more about sustainable development and responsibility at Turku University of Applied Sciences.
From our experts
Infiltration Data Collection in a Multi-Use Park for Advanced Computational Stormwater Modelling
In the research group of Water and Environment Protection, we have built a strong expertise, among other things, in the field of stormwater modelling. Joseph Perry worked as Senior Advisor in the research group during the project that measured the velocity at which water infiltrates the soil surface and moves through its network of pores. Estimation of this parameter is crucial for example in designing efficient stormwater management systems.
Artificial Intelligence in B2B sales
Timo Holopainen, Principal Lecturer in Sales, has written an article on AI in B2B sales together with Dr. Heiko Fischer DHBW Mosbach Campus Bad Mergentheim. AI will play an increasingly central role in B2B sales. Particularly in combination with big data, companies can increase their efficiency and make more precise, data-driven decisions. However, the implementation of AI must be carefully planned and aligned to the needs of both salespeople and customers. Companies should start building capabilities early and develop a clear strategy for utilizing AI in sales.