Statement: Library services must be preserved on campuses!

The change negotiations at Metropolia university of Applied Sciences ended on March 6, 2026, and as a result Metropolia will reduce its staff by 40 employees. In a situation where the government has cut funding from higher education as well as from students’ livelihoods, laying off staff from the largest university of applied sciences in Finland is overall a very unfortunate decision. Although we understand the economic pressure, the outcome of the change negotiations is still a shock.

Yle reported on the layoffs on March 10, 2026. The article states that the libraries at the Karamalmi and Myyrmäki campuses will be closed. According to Riitta Konkola, the President and CEO of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, no final decision have yet been made about closing individual libraries. However, Yle has seen materials from an information session held for library staff, which state that the libraries will be closed after a transition period.

Metropolia’s Myyrmäki campus is the second largest campus of the entire university of applied sciences. Approximately 3,500 students study on the campus. Closing the library on such a large campus is short-sighted and weakens the position of students. Although all Metropolia campuses are located in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the geographical distance between them is considerable. As a result, the campuses located on the western side of the region would no longer have a physical library at all. The library is not just about borrowing books; it also assists students with research for their theses and other assignments. Library staff are skilled professionals in information retrieval, yet this decision does not seem to recognize their expertise.

We are particularly concerned about the Karamalmi campus. The campus lease was recently renewed for a longer period, during which there were significant discussions about improving the campus environment and facilities, The Karamalmi campus was originally established as temporary facilities after the closure of the Leppävaara campus. Some modifications have been made to the premises, but larger improvements aimed at increasing comfort and services have not been implemented, partly because the length of the campus lease was previously uncertain. The lease has now been renewed until 2035, yet the promises about developing the campus lose credibility if even the library is not maintained.

Especially in the case of the Karamalmi campus, services should not be reduced at all; instead, they should be strengthened. Karamalmi is already known to be in a weaker position in terms of services, and further reductions may soon affect the campus’s attractiveness.

Traveling from Karamalmi and Myyrmäki to access library services on other campuses would become unreasonably difficult. Many degree programmes still include courses that require a physical book or equipment that is only available in campus libraries. These nooks and pieces of equipment are allocated to different campuses according to the programme taught there. Libraries are also actively used for independent study.

The purpose of the change negotiations is to strengthen the financial foundations of RDI (research, development and innovation) activities. We see RDI activities as an important part of studies, but even in a difficult economic situation the core functions of a university of applied sciences should be prioritised, including sufficient teaching staff and support services. Metropolia’s announcement promises that the changes will not affect students, but this will inevitably happen when services are reduced.

These decisions are unfortunate and in many ways weaken the position of students. The staff who are facing layoffs also receive our full sympathy, especially in the current employment situation, from METKA and the student associations. However, what has been particularly unsuccessful is the communication of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences regarding the issue. When such difficult decisions are made, they should be communicated as transparently and honestly as possible, without embellishment.

Ossi Pirinen
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Student Union METKA

Samuel Klemetti
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian kulttuurialan opiskelijayhdistys Demoni ry

Konsta Vuori
Chairperson of the Board, Myllypuron Rakennusalan Opiskelijat MYRO ry

Anton Frejborg
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian Maanmittaustekniikan Opiskelijat Gooni ry

Matti Jussila
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian Maanmittaustekniikan Opiskelijat Gooni ry

Hilla Alakärppä
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian Rakennusarkkitehtuurin opiskelijayhdistys RAK ry

Pinja Keränen
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian Rakennusarkkitehtuurin opiskelijayhdistys RAK ry

Egor Ageenkov
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian Automaatio-opiskelijoiden kilta ry, AOK ry

Nea Tikka
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Metropolia Automaatio-opiskelijoiden kilta ry, AOK ry

Emilia Warséll
Chairperson of the Board, Bio- ja kemiantekniikan sekä energia- ja ympäristötekniikan opiskelijayhdistys Me BiEn ry

Milan Niskanen
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Bio- ja kemiantekniikan sekä energia- ja ympäristötekniikan opiskelijayhdistys Me BiEn ry

Mariin Koobas
Chairperson of the Board, Tradenomiopiskelijat Metropolian Bisnes Intellektuaalit Trombi ry

Jere Repo
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Tradenomiopiskelijat Metropolian Bisnes Intellektuaalit Trombi ry

Lotta Toivonen
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian talotekniikan opiskelijayhdistys TALO ry

Jonna Kaukoranta
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Metropolian talotekniikan opiskelijayhdistys TALO ry

Larissa Kylmämaa
Chairperson of the Board, Myllypuron Sosiaali- ja Terveysalojen Opiskelijat MysteRy

Otto Sillanpää
Chairperson of the Board, Karamalmin Aineopiskelijat – KaMA ry

Nea Paldanius
Chairperson of the Board, Helsingin Tekniikan Opiskelijat – HTO ry

Joakim Nyberg
Chairperson of the Board, Uudenmaan Insinööriopiskelijat -UIO ry

Nea Sorjonen
Chairperson of the Board, Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu terveys- ja hoitoalan opiskelijat ry – TXO ry

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