Skills, education and workforce

Like other major cities and university cities, Kuopio is growing, developing and becoming increasingly international. To secure continued growth, sufficient resources for higher education institutions and other educational institutions must be ensured, along with degree programme responsibilities and educational provision that meets the needs of growth sectors. As internationalisation increases, there is also a growing need for vocational institutions to be authorised to award qualifications in English.

The operating conditions of the University of Eastern Finland, Savonia University of Applied Sciences and vocational education providers have a direct impact on the availability of skilled professionals in the region, RDI activities and business growth.

Kuopio aims to increase the number of higher education places, facilitate smooth transitions between education and working life, and increase the proportion of each age group completing a higher education degree to 60 per cent.

International talent will play an increasingly important role in securing the region’s future growth. Education opportunities, smooth public authority services, and cooperation between businesses and educational institutions are needed to facilitate students’ and employees’ transition into working life. Cooperation between businesses and educational institutions should be developed to increase the availability of traineeships and facilitate students’ transition into working life and entrepreneurship.

Kuopio aims to strengthen the region’s ability to attract talent and improve employment opportunities for international professionals. Key objectives include encouraging international students to remain in the region, supporting companies in international recruitment, providing smooth settlement and service pathways, and making the city more welcoming to international talent. International House Kuopio, among other services, brings together talent, employers, educational institutions, municipalities and other organisations and supports international professionals in finding employment and establishing themselves in the region.

North Savo needs a skilled workforce to strengthen and maintain the region’s vitality. Studies have identified the availability of skilled professionals as one of the greatest challenges to the growth and continued operation of companies and organisations.

Employment policy should be proactive and regionally targeted. It should take into account the different structural circumstances and target groups of employment areas as well as the skills needs of growth sectors. Kuopio is the lead municipality for an employment area comprising 11 municipalities, and responsibility for employment services was transferred to municipalities on 1 January 2025. Matching skilled professionals with employers is strengthened through cooperation with companies, educational institutions and regional organisations.

Adequate resourcing of public authorities and regionally appropriate services can make it easier for students and employees to enter Finland. Cooperation between companies and educational institutions should be developed to promote traineeships, transitions into working life and entrepreneurship.

Emergency Services Academy Finland is the country’s only educational institution providing degree education in rescue services and is a key part of Finland’s national comprehensive security and security of supply framework.

The operating environment, training grounds, cooperation networks between security authorities, and research and education partnerships developed in Kuopio over several decades form a nationally unique whole that should not be fragmented or relocated. Developing Emergency Services Academy Finland in Kuopio strengthens Finland’s crisis resilience, cooperation between public authorities, and research, development and innovation in the security sector cost-effectively by building on existing structures and expertise.

The operating conditions and funding of Emergency Services Academy Finland, which operates under the Ministry of the Interior, must be secured, and its activities in Kuopio should be further developed and strengthened. The Academy plans and provides vocational basic and continuing education for emergency response centre operations and rescue services, training for contract personnel in rescue services, civil preparedness training, preparedness activities, international rescue operations, and research, development and innovation activities.

It is in Finland’s national interest to make use of the existing and nationally unique concentration of security and preparedness expertise in Kuopio.

Continuous learning helps working-age people renew their skills and maintain their ability to work, while helping companies respond to changing skills needs. Kuopio aims to facilitate flexible transitions between education and working life, provide continuing education that responds to the needs of working life, and strengthen cooperation between educational institutions and companies. Opportunities for lifelong learning should be accessible at different stages of life and support the region’s sustainable growth.