JYU and Jamk to begin forming one of Finland’s largest university consortiums in 2026
The process of forming the university consortium will begin at the start of 2026. The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted €8 million to fund this process between 2025 and 2028. The ownership arrangements will not affect the core tasks of the higher education institutions; these will remain as defined in the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act.
“The consortium will strengthen both JYU and Jamk, as well as the position of Jyväskylä and Central Finland as an educational hub,” says Rector Jari Ojala from the University of Jyväskylä. “Driven by the university consortium, we will build an innovation ecosystem that combines JYU’s strong basic and applied research with Jamk’s prominent research and development activities.”
“In terms of turnover, the university consortium will be one of the largest higher education clusters in Finland,” says Rector Vesa Saarikoski from Jamk University of Applied Sciences. “Together we are particularly strong in the fields of wellbeing and physical education, economics, information systems science, and cyber security. The consortium’s aim is to provide students with a versatile, high-quality education in a good learning environment, while promoting effective transitions between the higher education institutions. The aim of RDI activities is to utilise the strengths of both institutions in scientific and working life–oriented research as well as strengthen cooperation with businesses.”
“From the city’s perspective, it is important that we have attractive higher education institutions that will continue to attract students and researchers from around the world,” says Mayor of Jyväskylä Timo Koivisto. “I strongly believe that the emerging university consortium will become one of the most successful operators in Finland and a powerful driver of our business life. On a further positive note, the city will be able to monitor Jamk’s development from a strategic vantage point, as we will retain a nearly 40% ownership stake in Jamk. This arrangement will ensure continued fluent cooperation with the university and strengthen our connection to it.”
Jyväskylä university consortium in numbers:
- Turnover: €326 million
- Staff: 4,000
- Students: 25,000; Open University: 35,000
- The University of Jyväskylä educates a significant proportion of Finnish teachers, psychologists and IT experts. It is also the only university in Finland to educate experts in sport and health sciences.
- In many fields of science, the six faculties of the University of Jyväskylä represent the highest level of expertise in the world. Eight of JYU’s subjects were placed among the best in the world in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking’s international university rankings by subject: information systems science, mathematics, psychology, physics, ecology, education, business economics, and communication. The CWUR ranking placed the University of Jyväskylä among the top three per cent in the world.
- Jamk offers degree programmes and various study modules in business, technology and wellbeing. Jamk also provides professional teacher education.
- Jamk plays a key role in regional and national research, development and innovation activities. In 2024, the total volume of these activities exceeded €21 million and the portfolio included around 240 projects, 40 of which were international. Jamk’s focus areas are cyber security, mobility and wellbeing, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, sustainable bioeconomy and energy solutions, and renewable industry.
Further information:
Vesa Saarikoski
Rector of Jamk University of Applied Sciences
tel. +358 50 447 1003, vesa.saarikoski@jamk.fi
Timo Koivisto
Mayor of Jyväskylä
tel. +358 50 336 2819, timo.koivisto@jyvaskyla.fi
