Vamia

What Vamia does

Vamia is a publicly funded vocational education institution operated by the City of Vaasa, Finland, organized under the city's Education Committee (Koulutuslautakunta). It serves approximately 5,000 students annually across three languages (Finnish, Swedish, English) and 25 vocational qualification areas spanning technology, healthcare, business, hospitality, construction, and services. Student acquisition flows through Finland's centralized Opintopolku joint application, continuous (rolling) admission, and employer-driven apprenticeship recruitment. Customer segments include youth completing comprehensive school, adults pursuing career changes or upskilling, regional employers seeking qualified workforce (including through the Vamia Stainless program), and international applicants seeking integration into the Finnish labor market. The business model is government-funded: Vamia does not charge tuition, and revenue derives from municipal and state appropriations (City of Vaasa, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment via the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Jatkuvan oppimisen ja työllisyyden palvelukeskus), supplemented by EU funding (ESF+ SILTA, Next Generation EU Vamia Stainless) and private-public apprenticeship partnerships such as ISS Palvelut. Employer-paid wages for apprentices and Kela-administered student social benefits shape the broader funding ecosystem rather than direct fees to Vamia. The technology stack is built on Moodle (LMS), Microsoft 365 with mandatory Authenticator-based MFA, StudentaPlus (student administration and benefits), Atomi by Studyo Oy (DVV-authenticated electronic diplomas), and Slice (digital student card and canteen integration). Operations are distributed across two campuses — Hansa (Ruutikellarintie 2-4) and Sampo (Sepänkyläntie 16) — plus the Silveria student training restaurant and Studio Parcos beauty salon as real-world learning environments. International exchange extends to roughly 20 partner countries, sending ~100 students abroad per year.

Name

Vamia

Legal name

Vamia, Vaasan kaupunki

Website

https://vamia.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vamia is a publicly funded municipal vocational education institution in Vaasa, Finland, operated by the City of Vaasa. It delivers 25 vocational qualifications across Finnish, Swedish, and English to roughly 5,000 youth, adult, employer, and international students annually, with no tuition charged.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vaasa

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Vocational Education: Vamia operates as a public educational institution funded by the City of Vaasa and Finnish government. Education is free for students. Revenue comes from municipal and state funding allocated for vocational education, including funding from Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (Ministry of Education and Culture) and Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment) through the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and Jatkuvan oppimisen ja työllisyyden palvelukeskus.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vamia is a multi-sector vocational education institution in Vaasa, Finland, delivering upper-secondary vocational qualifications across 25 fields (technology, business, healthcare, hospitality, construction, ICT, etc.) to approximately 5,000 youth, adult, and corporate students annually. Programs are offered in Finnish, Swedish, and English through school-based study, apprenticeship (workplace-based) training, and international exchange pathways, with supporting services including admissions guidance (VamiaGuide), academic support (VamiaBoost), IT helpdesk (DigiHelp), and electronic diploma issuance (Atomi).

Product overview

Vamia is a multi-disciplinary vocational education organization in Vaasa, Finland, offering comprehensive vocational training programs. The core offering consists of 25 vocational qualifications (perustutkinnot) across diverse fields including technology, business, healthcare, hospitality, and services. These can be pursued through traditional study, apprenticeship training (oppisopimus), or international exchange. Supporting services include VamiaGuide (admissions), VamiaBoost (academic support), and DigiHelp (IT support). Digital products include the Slice digital student card, Atomi electronic diploma service, and eVamia online platform. The organization also operates specialized services like Vamia Stainless (international workforce training) and practical training facilities including Silveria restaurant. Approximately 5,000 students study annually, with programs available in Finnish, Swedish, and English.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vocational Qualifications (Ammatilliset perustutkinnot) Upper secondary vocational degrees covering 25 qualification areas including automation, automotive, ICT, cooking, mechanical engineering, beauty, welding, social/health, construction, tourism, media, business, software development, and hairdressing. Qualifications prepare students for specific professions and can be completed through apprenticeships or workplace learning.
• Apprenticeship Training (Oppisopimus) Workplace-based learning approach where students train at a workplace while studying theory. All vocational qualifications can be studied through apprenticeship training, either partially or fully. Students earn wages while learning and employers may receive training compensation.
• TUVA Preparatory Education Preparatory education for vocational training, lasting 38 weeks (maximum one year). Designed for those needing time to plan their further studies and career. Suitable for immigrants whose Finnish skills are not yet sufficient for vocational studies.
• Vamia Stainless Training program addressing skilled worker shortages in technology companies, particularly for welding, machining, bending, and industrial assembly tasks. Provides international workers with skills assessments and apprenticeship training opportunities.
• Silveria Restaurant Restaurant operated by Vamia students providing practical training in hospitality and culinary arts. Open to the public and serves as a real-world learning environment.
• International Exchange Programs Foreign exchange opportunities for students to study or work abroad. Approximately 100 students annually participate in international exchanges. Vamia has partner schools in nearly 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• Slice Digital Student Card Free digital student card serving as official proof of studies at Vamia. Available as blue (entitling to VR and Matkahuolto benefits) or green card (other student benefits). Used in school canteen for daily meal credits.
• Atomi Electronic Diploma Service Electronic certificate service by Studyo Oy for downloading digitally signed diplomas and transcripts. Certificates use authentication from Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) and can be verified via Atomi Validator or DVV's validation service.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISS PalvelutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ISS (ISS Facilities Services) is a major employer partner collaborating with Vamia through the ESF+ funded SILTA project. Vamia acts as a liaison, identifying suitable trainees and providing primary support for students. The partnership facilitates employment for immigrants through internship programs, with ISS hiring employees found through Vamia internship placements. Nearly a dozen employees were hired through this pathway within one year.
• Studyo Oy (Atomi)coreTechnology or IntegrationStudyo Oy provides the Atomi electronic diploma and certificate service used by Vamia. Atomi automatically adds electronic signatures authenticated by the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to student documents.
• Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia (Osterbottens välfärd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority provides student health care services to Vamia students, including public health nurses, doctors, psychiatric nurses, and dental health care through campus-based services.
• International Partner SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproximately 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa host Vamia students for international exchange. Partnership schools enable 2-week to 6-month foreign study and workplace learning periods.
• Kela (Kansaneläkelaitos)coreOthersSocial Insurance Institution of Finland administers student financial benefits including school transport subsidies for eligible students. Students apply through OmaKela e-service.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Keuda: Keuda (Keski-Uudenmaan koulutuskuntayhtymä) is a Finnish municipal vocational education federation serving the central Uusimaa region. It offers multi-sector vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and adult education, paralleling Vamia's municipal vocational model.
• Gradia: Gradia is a Jyväskylä-based vocational education institution formed from JAMK and Jyväskylän aikuisopisto. It offers vocational qualifications across multiple sectors with apprenticeship pathways, making it a close direct peer to Vamia in size and structure.
• OSAO: OSAO (Oulun seudun ammattiopisto) is a large Finnish vocational education institution in the Oulu region offering qualifications across many sectors and apprenticeship training. Comparable to Vamia in scope of vocational qualifications served and public-sector operating model.
• WinNova: WinNova is a Finnish vocational education provider in the Pori/Satakunta region offering vocational qualifications and apprenticeship training across multiple sectors. Direct municipal peer to Vamia in structure and curriculum breadth.
• Sedu: Sedu (Seinäjoen koulutuskuntayhtymä) is a regional vocational federation in South Ostrobothnia offering multi-sector vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and continuing education. Direct municipal peer to Vamia with overlapping regional industrial employer base.
• Kpedu: Kpedu (Keski-Pohjanmaan ammattiopisto) is a Finnish vocational college in the Kokkola region offering multi-sector vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and continuing education. Direct municipal-sector peer to Vamia with a similar model of regional employer integration.
• Omnia Education: Omnia is a Finnish municipal vocational and upper-secondary education consortium in the Espoo region offering vocational qualifications, apprenticeship training, and adult education. It is a direct peer to Vamia as a publicly funded multi-sector vocational institution serving youth, adults, and employers.
• Tredu: Tredu (Tampereen seudun ammattiopisto) is a Finnish vocational institution in the Tampere region offering qualifications across numerous sectors with strong apprenticeship and employer partnerships. Comparable to Vamia in scale, multi-sector coverage, and municipal funding model.

Broad incumbents

• City & Guilds: City & Guilds is a UK-based vocational qualifications and certification body serving training providers and employers globally. It is a broad incumbent peer because Vamia issues government-recognized vocational qualifications and operates within a comparable competency-based vocational framework.
• TAFE (Australian vocational system): TAFE is Australia's publicly funded technical and further education network offering vocational qualifications across many sectors with strong apprenticeship and employer integration. Broad incumbent peer to Vamia given shared public-sector, multi-sector, apprenticeship-centered vocational model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu_58K4ZakkKSPo_ge6pF3w
• Facebookfacebook.com/vamiavaasa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vamia-vaasa-vocational-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/vamiavaasa
• TikToktiktok.com/@vamiavaasa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vamia