Organisation

The Board of Arcada University of Applied Sciences Ltd. is responsible for the administration of the UAS and the appropriate organisation of its operational activities. It also makes sure that the accounting is appropriately organised. The Board is responsible for and supervises the administration of property and investments for the UAS.

The Board’s tasks include steering and supervising the operational management, appointing and dismissing the rector (the managing director), approving and supervising the application of the strategy, approving the principles of risk management and assuring the continuity of the management system. The Board summons the annual general meeting and submits proposals for resolutions, which should be compatible with the Universities Act and the Limited Liability Companies Act, as well as the articles of association.

In all its activities, the Board observes current legislation, the articles of association, Arcada's instructions and the Finnish Corporate Governance Code.

Board Meetings

The Board generally convenes 6-7 times per year. The Board has a quorum when more than half of the members are present. Arcada's rector/managing director presents matters for consideration to board meetings.

Election of Board Members

The UAS Board consists of a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine members. Two members are appointed by the university community, one from among the staff and one from the students.

Remuneration

The remuneration of the members of the board is established during the annual general meeting. Information on remuneration paid to the members of the board is set out in the annual accounts of Arcada University of Applied Sciences Ltd.

The composition of the Board of Arcada University of Applied Sciences Ltd.

• Alexander Bargum (chair)
• Christa Tigerstedt
• Abbe Karlsson
• Susanna Korpivaara
• Nina Lindfors
• Linda Mannila
• Per Nilsson
• Joakim Frimodig
• Anders Portin 

Administrative and HR Director Susanne Homén-Lindberg acts as secretary to the Board.

Arcada has a rector, who simultaneously functions as managing director of Arcada University of Applied Sciences Ltd. The rector is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the UAS, is in charge of the operational activities and is responsible for the management of the university’s property in accordance with current legislation, the articles of association and the Board’s instructions and directives. In all of his or her activities, the rector should act accordingly with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code.

At the rector's disposal is a management group that supports the rector in the management and planning of operational activities. If the rector is unable, the vice rector carries out the rector's duties.

Rector
Mona Forsskåhl

Arcada's management group supports Arcada’s rector in the management and planning of operational activities. Decisions are made by the rector, who is chairperson of the management group.

The members of the management group are:

• Rector, Mona Forsskåhl, chairperson
• Dean, Maria Forss
• Administrative and HR Director, Susanne Homén-Lindberg
• Dean, Carina Kiukas
• Financial Director, Tom Lindström
• Director, Arcada services, Annika Stadius
• Dean, Mark Dougherty

The mission of Arcada’s Quality Council is to ensure that all operations and actions at Arcada keep a high and even standard of quality. The Quality Council monitors and develops Arcada’s quality system, in which quality assurance and quality development are integrated parts in a constantly ongoing quality process.

Arcada’s Quality Council consists of ten to twelve members with broad affiliations within the organisation. This includes one representative from each academy, one representative from the Student Services, one representative from the other units, one to two student representatives and two external members.

The Rector appoints the Quality Council for a three-year term. The student representatives are appointed for a period of one to two years each.

The composition of the quality council

Camilla Wikström-Grotell, Chairperson
Niklas Eriksson
Ira Jeglinsky-Kankainen
Minna Lehtola
Monica Löv
Kim Roos
Andrey Shcherbakov
Annika Skogster

External members

Stefan Mutanen
Tove Ahlskog-Pursiainen

Student representatives

Victor Carlsson

Board of review

Arcada’s board of review handles matters regarding the review of admission decisions, decisions regarding the loss of the right to study and evaluations of completed courses and accreditation of previous studies or competencies.

The board of review is appointed by the UAS Board.

The university’s General Counsel presents matters for consideration to board meetings.

The Cooperation committee

Arcada's cooperation committee acts as a cooperation body between employer and employees. The cooperation committee's task is to contribute to the development of operational activities and working conditions within Arcada.

The employer is represented by Arcada's rector and/or vice rector as well as the administrative and HR Director, who acts as the chairperson for the cooperation committee. The deans also have the right to attend.

The employees are represented by representatives from Arcada’s two staff groups, the teaching and administrative staff. The teaching staff is represented by union representatives and/or a co-operation ombudsman. The occupational safety representative also has the right to attend.

Members of the Cooperations committee
Chairperson: Administrative and HR Director Susanne Homén-Lindberg

Delegates of the employer:
Rector Mona Forsskåhl
Administrative and HR Director Susanna Homén-Lindberg

Delegates of the employees:
Mia-Maja Wägar, Trustee
Jan Nyberg, Trustee
Pernilla Stenbäck, Trustee
Krister Karlström, Trustee

Secretary: Leading Legal Counsel Anna Härmä

The occupational safety commission

The occupational safety commission deals with questions concerning occupational safety and equality issues.

Members of the occupational safety commission:
Chairperson: Administrative and HR Director
Occupational Safety Representative
Vice Occupational Safety Representative
Vice Occupational Safety Representative
Head of Security

Representatives of the occupational health service participates if needed.

Secretary: Leading Legal Counsel

Arcada's plan for equality and equal treatment

The activities at Arcada are based on equality between the sexes and we are striving for ethical and social diversity. We recognise the equal value of all people and wish to promote equal treatment, stand against all manner of discrimination and xenophobia. Equality at Arcada means creating a good learning environment and workplace, where students and staff experience purpose, joy and community in their work and desire to develop the activities and themselves.

An organisation as large as Arcada is by law obligated to produce an equality plan. The plan is based on the Law of Equality between women and men (1986/609) and the Non-Discrimination Act (2014/1325). The plan concerns both personnel and students at Arcada.

Arcada's rector leads and is responsible for the operational activities and represents the UAS in the external communication and community relations.

The rectorate works with operational management and follow-up as well as overall strategy issues with the aim of developing Arcada's operational activities.

Rector and CEO

Mona Forsskåhl

Two schools

Arcada offers vocationally oriented higher education to ensure the availability of a Swedish-speaking workforce and contribute to a vital bilingualism.

Arcada's educational and research activities are organised into two schools:

• School of Business and Healthcare
• School of Engineering, Culture and Wellbeing

Each academy is headed by a dean. Read more about the schools here.

In the Research and development unit, researchers, teachers and students work side by side in various research and development projects that contribute to society. The research is conducted in national and international networks, with external actors in working life, research institutes and other higher education institutions and universities. As a multidisciplinary university of applied sciences, we prioritise interdisciplinary projects with collaboration across our programmes. At Arcada, we create smart solutions for a sustainable future.

The unit consists of principal lecturers, principal lecturers emeriti, researchers, affiliated professors and researchers, as well as support functions for projects and administration.

Student services works to support students' study, career, and life management skills. The unit offers support for learning, study skills and career development through individual guidance on campus or online.

The unit consists of the following teams.

Study administration

Counselling and student wellbeing

The unit is responsible for Arcada’s finances. The following team operates within the unit.

Financial management

This team manages the financial control and financial follow-up at Arcada. The main tasks include:

• annual reports and budgeting
• salaries
• project Accounting
• data analysis, reporting and follow-ups of the strategic goals

The following teams are included in the unit Human Resources (HR), administration and communication.

Human Resources

Arcada's Human Resources is responsible for personnel administration, supports managers in their leadership roles, and works to create good conditions for employees in a health-promoting work environment.

Its main tasks include:

• being responsible for Arcada’s employer duties and HR functions, including recruitment processes and salary matters
• offering tools, advice, and support to managers in personnel matters
• providing health-promoting activities for employees to support workplace well-being
• being responsible for organising occupational safety and serve as the contact link to occupational health services
• monitoring Arcada’s gender equality work

Administration

Administration is responsible for Arcada’s day-to-day administration and coordinates case management, legal matters, and data protection.

Its main tasks include:

• being responsible for general administration
• preparing and implementing decisions made by the Rector or collegial administrative bodies, and assisting the Rector in organisational development
• coordinating case management, the registry, and data protection
• providing legal advice and support to the units

Communications

Arcada’s communications is responsible for maintaining and developing the UAS’s brand, making Arcada an inspiring environment for students and co-workers, and through communicational means support the UAS in reaching its operational targets. The team is responsible for offering a good infrastructure and tools for communicational work and has a coordinating, supportive and advisory role in questions regarding communications.

The main tasks are:

• planning of Arcada’s communications
• maintaining and developing the UAS’s identity, image and profile
• marketing and student recruitment
• contacts and relations with media
• facilitating internal communication with co-workers and students
• advise and support in questions regarding communications

Campus services

Campus services works to ensure that the Arcada building is a functioning, pleasant and safe study and work environment for students, employees and guests.

The campus team's main tasks are:

• responsibility for student and customer service and telephone switchboard
• spaces and well-being issues on Arcada's campus
• external and internal events
• rental services

The unit consists of the following teams.

Library

The library is a welcoming space that offers library and information services primarily to Arcada's students and staff, but it is also open to the public.

The library's tasks include:

• Customer service
• Providing course literature
• Maintaining physical and digital collections
• Teaching and mentoring in information retrieval and data management
• Support functions for researchers and staff
• Reporting on publications and monitoring statistics

IT

IT maintains and is responsible for the university of applied sciences' IT functions, their operation and development.

The IT's tasks include:

• Identity management and user rights
• Technical work equipment and lifecycle management
• Operating systems, software and licenses
• Infrastructure, networks and communication
• AV services
• Data protection
• Architecture and system integration
• User support and advice