Savonia’s long-term efforts in international education exports are paying off. In July, the first group of Chinese students graduated from Savonia’s Environmental Engineering degree program, which is offered in collaboration with the Hebei University of Environmental Engineering (HUEE) in China. A total of 106 students received diplomas from both Savonia and HUEE. These are also the first students to graduate from a degree program offered as part of Savonia’s international education export initiative.

This graduation marks a significant milestone in Savonia’s international education business. The collaboration with HUEE began with an agreement signed in 2021, and the program started in the fall of 2022. The collaboration will continue long into the future, as the agreement between the universities covers a ten-year period.

“This is a Joint Double Degree program organized in collaboration, in which students receive a degree from both universities. Core courses are taught locally in Chinese, while professional courses are taught by Savonia lecturers, explains Hannu Poutiainen, Head of Competence Export at Savonia.”

Finnish Environmental Expertise for Global Needs

In the Environmental Engineering program, students study largely the same courses as those in Savonia’s Finnish environmental engineering program. However, the content has been adapted to an international context.

The coursework covers topics such as wastewater treatment, environmental analysis, energy production, industrial microbiology, product life cycle assessment, and environmental risk management.

“The program provides a set of skills that can be applied in work settings anywhere in the world,” says Poutiainen.

Savonia’s teachers lead course modules in China, and the program also includes online instruction. International collaboration offers unique experiences for both students and teachers.

– Every Savonia lecturer represents not only Finland but also Europe there. For many students, this experience may be their first close contact with a foreign lecturer. Participating in the degree program gives students a genuine window into the international community.

Exporting education is also an investment in Savonia’s expertise

For Savonia, education exports are a business, but their significance extends beyond economic benefits.

“The opportunity to teach in international settings creates new career paths for our staff. Teaching periods in China also bring fresh perspectives to the teaching that takes place on Savonia’s campuses, which only improves the quality of education,” Poutiainen notes.

The experiences with the HUEE partnership have been so positive that Savonia is already expanding its operations in China. Studies at the new partner university began this fall, and the first Savonia lecturers will begin teaching on site next year.

Long-term cooperation builds the future

The ten-year cooperation agreement provides a steady foundation for the development of education. While the core content of the degree program will remain the same, operations will be continuously developed in collaboration with our Chinese partner.

– The educational program, teaching methods, and graduation processes are constantly being refined. The goal is to ensure that the education meets evolving competency needs both in China and around the world.

According to Poutiainen, this is precisely one of Savonia’s strengths in the international market.

– We continuously update our programs to meet the needs of the workforce. When the content is up-to-date and the pedagogy is of a high standard, international partners are also interested in collaborating with us. There is demand for Savonia’s pedagogical expertise and work-oriented higher education even beyond Finland’s borders.