# International Savonia - Savonia AMK

> Internationality is one of Savonia’s core areas extending to education and research activities as well as business services.

## Employer Brand Recognition
Savonia gained recognition for its attractive employer brand work when it was selected as a top three finalist for Rekrygaala’s Employer Brand of the Year 2023. 

Rekrygaala is an annual event organized since 2018, where the most important actions and best successes in the recruitment field are awarded. The Employer Brand of the Year award is given to an employer who has systematically built an attractive employer brand. The awarding criteria emphasize long-term and strategic employer brand work. The 2023 Rekrygaala jury consisted of nine experienced business professionals familiar with recruitment, employer branding and management.

## Best Workplaces Recognition
*   **Best Workplaces in Europe:** Savonia was ranked 14th in the Best Workplaces in Europe list, announced on September 22, 2023. To qualify, an organization must first be ranked in the national Best Workplaces list. There were 10 Finnish companies on the list in 2023.
*   **Finland’s Best Workplaces™:** Savonia University of Applied Sciences was selected as the best workplace in Finland in the category of large companies. This is a historic victory, as no educational organization had previously achieved first place. The win was driven by an excellent employee experience, with 93 percent of respondents considering Savonia a really good place to work, compared to the 38 percent average in typical Finnish companies.
*   **Great Place To Work® Certification:** Savonia received the Great Place To Work certification™ for the 2023–2024 season. This certification is based on the Trust Index personnel survey, reflecting the genuine experiences of employees regarding corporate culture and trust.

## Athlete-Friendly University
On September 21, 2023, Savonia University of Applied Sciences was granted the Athlete-Friendly University quality label by the Finnish Olympic Committee. The goal of this quality work is to improve the conditions for athletes to complete their university studies while focusing on their development in sports. The label is valid for five years.

## Quality Audit and Accreditation
*   **Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC):** In a quality audit conducted by FINEEC, strategy orientation, accessibility, and openness emerged as Savonia’s strengths. An approved audit confirms that Savonia’s operations and quality system meet national and European criteria for higher education quality assurance. Savonia received the quality label on March 16, 2022, valid for six years.
*   **EUR-ACE Accreditation:** Savonia’s Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s degree program has passed the EUR-ACE evaluation maintained by the ENAEE organization. This accreditation supports the quality development of engineering programs and increases the international comparability and recognition of Finnish engineering degrees.

## OAJ Honorable Mention
Savonia University of Applied Sciences received an honorable mention in OAJ’s "School, educational institution or daycare center of the year 2020" competition. Reasons for the recognition included:
*   Active involvement of staff and students in the development of the institution.
*   Strong study progression rates.
*   International appeal as a place to study.
*   Investment in student well-being through the hiring of a Welfare Counsellor.
*   Various measures invested in the well-being of the personnel.