Xamk trained nearly 2,400 highly educated professionals last year

In 2024, Xamk’s turnover rose to 103 million euros, of which state funding accounted for 73 million euros. Investments in Kymenlaakso and South Savo totaled 8.2 million euros. Purchases from the operational area amounted to 22.8 million euros. The municipal tax paid by the staff was 4.9 million euros, and external funding for regional development was 19.9 million euros.

Significant growth in the number of trained professionals

The number of graduates with a bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences increased by about 19%, and the number of graduates with a master’s degree from a university of applied sciences increased by 25% compared to 2023. More than half of the new highly educated professionals in South Savo and Kymenlaakso graduated from Xamk. About a thousand graduates find employment elsewhere in Finland, making Xamk a significant higher education institution for the entire country, says Rector Heikki Saastamoinen.
Students graduated from various fields of study. The field of well-being produced 1,151 graduates, the field of technology 636, the field of economics 475, and the field of culture 133 professionals.

In 2024, Xamk had a total of approximately 12,300 degree students. Of these, 4,723 studied at the Mikkeli campus, 3,490 in Kotka, 2,639 in Kouvola, and 1,450 in Savonlinna. Xamk is the third largest university of applied sciences in Finland in terms of the number of students.

Studies at the open university of applied sciences were also active. Xamk’s open university of applied sciences, Xamk Pulse, attracted a total of 25,544 students during the year, completing 106,223 credits. Xamk Pulse offered 650 courses and maintained its position as the largest open university of applied sciences in Finland.

Increase in the number of international students

Xamk offered 10 international degree programs, and in the fall of 2024, there were a total of 649 international degree students.

International students are a significant opportunity to increase the vitality of South-Eastern Finland and the entire country, provided we make them feel welcome and help them settle here. To ensure the supply of highly educated labor, Xamk aims to double the number of English-language degree programs and increase the number of international students to 1,500, Saastamoinen states.

Extensive research, development, and innovation activities

In 2024, the total volume and impact of Xamk’s research and development activities in the operational area amounted to 35.1 million euros, with external funding reaching a new record of 19.9 million euros. Notably, funding from companies and international sources also increased significantly.

Together with its partners, Xamk implemented 223 projects, of which 31 were international. A total of 1,056 company and stakeholder partners participated in projects across four different research strengths. A new industrial wood construction laboratory was established in Savonlinna.

The growth in operations was also reflected in the number of staff. At the end of 2024, a total of 358 experts worked in various RDI tasks, which means 44 new expert positions in the region compared to the previous year.