HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences has set up a subsidiary focusing on training exports. It will begin operations on 1 July 2011. The aim of HAAGA-HELIA Global Education Services Ltd is to commercialise the expertise at HAAGA-HELIA and to market it globally.

"It is a strategic goal for HAAGA-HELIA to be an internationally expanding university. We are the largest institution in our fields of education in Finland, and now we will begin looking for international markets for Finnish training expertise", says President and Principal Ritva Laakso-Manninen from HAAGA-HELIA.

HAAGA-HELIA Global Education Services Ltd. offers international customers tailor-made services and products for vocational teacher education, leadership and supervisor work and university management. The business model of the company is based on strong networking with the best partners, companies and organisations in the field, complementing HAAGA-HELIA's own expertise in different training projects.
Mr. Lars Eltvik, M.Sc. has been appointed Managing Director of the new company. He has many years of expertise in the international training market.

HAAGA-HELIA has already completed several teacher training and leadership training export projects in Sweden, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, for example.

HAAGA-HELIA is a strongly international university. Over 1,000 foreign degree students representing 100 nationalities take part in HAAGA-HELIA's English-language degree programmes. We carry out international cooperation and student and teacher exchanges with nearly 200 international contract partners.

"The Finnish education system has been the focus of increasing international attention, due in part to the Pisa study, for example. The national goal is to significantly increase the share of education in Finland's total exports by 2015. In the spring of 2009, the Council of State decided to start a project to promote the export of training and competence, and to create new company clusters into the field.  It is this challenge we at HAAGA-HELIA are trying to meet via our new subsidiary," Laakso-Manninen says.

Further information:

President and Principal of HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences, Chairwoman of  board of HAAGA-HELIA Global Education Services Ltd, Ritva Laakso-Manninen, tel. +358 (0)50 364 7839.

Managing Director of HAAGA-HELIA Global Education Services Ltd, Lars Eltvik, tel. +358 (0)40 488 7585 (in English).