Haaga-Helia's story

Educational institutions have been established because society has needed new experts. They have also been closed down because certain kinds of skills have no longer been needed.

Our story starts in the late 19th century. The following educational institutions are all part of Haaga-Helia’s past:

• Privat Handelsläroverket i Helsingfors (1881)
• Suomen liikemiesten kauppaopisto (1898)
• Porvoon naisopisto (1912)
• Suomen urheiluopisto (1927)
• Tehtaitten Koulu Oy (1944)
• Malmin kauppaopisto (1957)
• Porvoon kauppaoppilaitos (1958)
• Helsingin Sihteeriopisto (1967)
• Hotelli- ja ravintolaopisto (1969)
• ATK-instituutti (1972)
• Porvoon matkailualan oppilaitos (197?)

First university of applied sciences in Finland

The Finnish system of universities of applied sciences was created in the 1990s. The first licence was granted to Haaga Instituutti University of Applied Sciences founded in 1991. The following year, Helia University of Business and Applied Sciences was also granted a licence to operate. During the depression of the 1990s, people wanted to believe in a better future and the opportunities high-quality education could provide.

The next significant change took place in 2007 when these two universities of applied sciences merged, and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences was established.

Changing shape, constant core

Here at Haaga-Helia, we look at our past with pride whilst remembering that education always looks into the future. Education responds to topical needs – in fact, it very much anticipates the future needs of society. That is the basis of its vigour and energy. 

Today's Haaga-Helia promises to open doors to working life. This same promise was given when the first educational institutions which are part of Haaga-Helia’s past were founded.

Our story is filled with many people, plenty of courage and a pioneering outlook. These things are also part of our constant core. We create new working life.