As international interest in data center investments continues to grow in Finland, Mikkeli is strengthening an important part of its investment readiness: access to a skilled workforce and applied research, development and innovation capabilities.
Alongside reliable energy infrastructure, available sites and efficient permitting processes, the city is continuously developing its skilled workforce and innovation ecosystem to support data-intensive industries.
At the heart of this development is the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), where education is closely aligned with the needs of modern data center operations.
At Xamk’s Mikkeli campus, the English-language Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology reflects years of specialized expertise in educating engineers for modern digital infrastructure. The curriculum focuses on networking, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and other digital infrastructure technologies, preparing graduates for a wide range of roles in modern data center environments.
“Our goal is to ensure that students understand how modern data centers operate as complete systems from networking and server infrastructure to power supply, cooling, resilience, cybersecurity and cloud environments,” says Matti Juutilainen, Senior Lecturer at Xamk.
The four-year degree program attracts students from Finland and abroad, creating an international study environment and providing companies with access to graduates who are accustomed to working in English and collaborating in multicultural teams.
A practical partnership with industry
The program has been developed in close cooperation with industry and places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning. Students work with real networking equipment, server technologies and cloud platforms while completing projects, internships and bachelor’s theses that address real business challenges.
For companies, this offers an opportunity to engage with future professionals long before graduation.
Businesses can collaborate with Xamk by offering internships, commissioning thesis projects, presenting real-life business cases, participating in recruitment events or working directly with students on development projects.
“We encourage companies to contact us early. Together we can identify students whose skills match their future workforce needs,” Juutilainen says.
Xamk also works closely with companies to help students develop expertise that reflects real business needs, making collaboration beneficial for both employers and future professionals.
Supporting long-term investment readiness
As Finland continues to attract new data center investments, access to qualified professionals will become an increasingly important competitive advantage.
Mikkeli combines an expanding data center ecosystem with a University of Applied Sciences that continuously develops its education together with industry. This creates a sustainable supply of skilled engineers while giving companies direct access to future employees already during their studies.
As new data center investments emerge, companies need more than suitable sites and reliable energy. They also need professionals who understand modern digital infrastructure and are ready to contribute from day one. In Mikkeli, that workforce is already being educated and companies have the opportunity to become part of the process long before their future employees graduate.
For more information
Senior Lecturer, PhD (Tech.) Matti Juutilainen, matti.juutilainen(at)xamk.fi
Director of Investment Promotion, Jussi Heinimö, jussi.heinimo(at)mikseimikkeli.fi
Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd drives regional vitality by enabling business success, tourism growth, and a thriving local operating environment. Promoting investments in South-Savo region -project seeks and promotes investments in the region and at the same time develops the region’s capacity to attract investments. The project is co-funded by the EU, and the funding authority is the Regional Council of South Savo.
