Strategic Partnerships
Arcada enters into strategic partnerships with selected universities in the Nordic region and organisations in the community to promote the creation of joint education programmes and research projects.
4Q collaboration
4Q was initiated in 2025 by four universities of applied sciences (UAS) – Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak), Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), and Humak University of Applied Sciences (Humak) – to deepen cooperation between UAS'.
The aim of this collaboration is to identify areas of expertise within the UAS' activities where significantly greater impact can be achieved, even in a more cost-effective way, and to work together towards a sustainable future. The strategic collaboration will run for four years and is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Folkhälsan
Arcada has partnership with Folkälsan since 2020.
Folkhälsan is a versatile, modern non-profit organization operating in the field of social and health services. Folkhälsan’s activities include assistance, support, education, and care, being present at every stage of life.
Founded in 1921, Folkhälsan employs today approximately 1,300 people. Our local associations across Swedish-speaking Finland have almost 19,000 members.
Kristiania University College
Kristiania University College is one of the oldest private institutions of higher education in Norway, established by Ernst G. Mortensen in 1914 as Norway’s first correspondence school, «Norsk Korrespondanseskole» (NKS). In its first year, NKS had 125 students; 15 years later it had 9,000 and during the Second World War it had more than 50,000 students.
In 2017, Kristiania University College and Westerdals Oslo ACT merged. From September 2019 The Norwegian College of Musical Theatre and The Norwegian University College of Dance also joined Kristiania.
Kristiania University College’s social responsibility is to offer study programmes and courses at different levels of education that are adapted to people with different qualifications, abilities and opportunities. Kristiania will educate candidates who will provide society with expertise, for both public and private sectors. We aim to contribute research-based knowledge, competence and practical learning for innovation and value creation.
Mälardalen University
Arcada has partnership with Mälardalen since 2019.
MDH is one of Sweden’s largest HEIs, with 16 000 students reading courses and programmes in Business, Health, Engineering and Education. At MDH, research is conducted within all areas of education to address the challenges of society, and of this the research in future energy and embedded systems is internationally outstanding. MDH’s close cooperation with the private and public sectors enables us to help people feel better and the earth to last longer. MDH is located on both sides of Lake Mälaren, with campuses in Eskilstuna and Västerås.
Åland University of Applied Sciences
Åland University of Applied Sciences is located in the town of Mariehamn. It is a small university, which allows for close contact between teachers and students.
Åland UAS offers degree programmes in Swedish in business administration, navigation, hospitality management, engineering (marine, electrical and IT) and health and caring sciences for a total of 600 students.
Åland Open University offers around 100 academic courses, lectures and seminars annually. Close cooperation and interaction with those working in the field and the community is essential.
