How Europe’s northernmost applied sciences university is shaping the future of digital talent
What if the next wave of digital transformation was taking shape above the Arctic Circle? At Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS), the northernmost university of applied sciences in Europe, students are preparing for a digital working life that evolves faster than ever.
To stay ahead, Lapland UAS works with a broad network of partners. Among them, the BT Forum which brings the Business Technology Standard (BTS) into teaching, giving both students and teachers a clearer way to understand how digital services are built and governed. As Senior Lecturer Tuomo Lindholm puts it, “Information management can feel abstract. We wanted to bring something more concrete around it.”Practical structure for modern learning
BTS helps teachers design courses that reflect real industry needs. It also supports a diverse student group, from experienced professionals to those starting their first IT studies. Senior Lecturer Marko Leinonen notes that even beginners benefit from the model: “Students often tell us that, even if the concepts felt unfamiliar at first, the framework helps them understand the bigger picture surprisingly quickly.”
Certification that builds confidence
Students can also complete the BTS Foundation certification free of charge. Interest has grown steadily, and this autumn saw the highest participation so far. The certification gives students a concrete way to demonstrate their competence when entering the job market.
From the arctic to the world
For Lapland UAS, the collaboration is part of a bigger mission to prepare talent for the skills of the future. Curriculum updates are guided by industry dialogue and emerging themes such as governability in digital environments.
As Lindholm reflects, “IT is in constant transformation. Without a way to structure that world, building focused education would be incredibly difficult.”
This northern story has a global impact. From Lapland’s unique environment, students gain the mindset and tools to support digital transformation far beyond Finland, proving that world-class talent can grow in places you might not expect.
About Lapland UAS
Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS) is located in the cities of Rovaniemi, Tornio and Kemi in Finnish Lapland, making it the northernmost university of applied sciences in the entire European Union. Its unique Arctic location shapes its identity: the university is known for resilience, practical problem-solving and a strong connection to the surrounding environment and industries.
Lapland UAS offers applied, work-oriented higher education that blends classroom learning with real-world projects and close collaboration with regional and international partners. Many of its degree programmes, including several taught in English, attract students who want to combine high-quality education with a truly distinctive northern living and learning experience.
With recognised strengths in digitalisation, service design and applied research, Lapland UAS prepares graduates who are adaptable, globally minded and ready to meet the demands of modern working life.
About the BT Forum and the Business Technology Standard
The Business Technology Forum (BT Forum) is a professional community, part of the Sofigate Group, that develops and governs the Business Technology Standard (BTS). The BT Forum brings together organisations from both the public and private sectors to co-create practical models, learning resources and best practices for business technology management.
The Business Technology Standard itself is an open, industry-aligned framework that helps organisations plan, build and run modern digital services in a structured and value-driven way. It provides a common language and practical operating models for areas such as governance, service management, digital development, data practices and AI-enabled operations, making it widely used across industries and the public sector.
Interested in joining the BT Forum’s education partner network? Just contact us and we’ll get back to you.