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Vaasa today represents the educational, cultural and tourist centre of Western Finland. Vaasa is also a many-sided industrial city offering good possibilities of development especially for the international energy industry. The city has invested considerably in these areas, in conjunction with various associations and businesses. The Western Finland Regional Centre of Expertise in Vaasa is based not only on the above-mentioned factors but also on the research activities within the international industry.
As a school and educational city Vaasa has centuries old traditions, e.g. J.L. Runeberg has went to school in Vaasa. Today the educational sector in the city may be characterised by its interest in new ideas and the various trials it undertakes, as well as by an increased internationalisation. In place of the Finnish matriculation examination, upper secondary school students in Vaasa may study for the International Baccalaureate examination at the IB-school, something which is possible in only a handful of places in Finland.
The city's educational flagship is the University of Vaasa with its four faculties and ca 4.000 students. There are also two Swedish units of higher education in Vaasa, i.e. the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration and the University of Ostrobothnia, with totally over 2.000 students. Besides these scientific educational institutions there are also two institutes of vocational higher education, one of them is bilingual (Vaasa polytechnic) and the other Swedish (Swedish polytechnic). At the scientific educational institutions and the polytechnics the number of students exceeds 10.000. Thanks to the large and many-sided choice of education the city of Vaasa is one of Finland’s most important educational cities.
Tourism and culture are both based to a large degree on local traditions and valuable art and museum collections, in addition to high class theatre productions at the city's two theatres. Considerable investment has also been made in tourist attractions. The indoor hot bath complex Tropiclandia serves tourists all year round, while Wasalandia amusement park attracts young families throughout the summer season. For the tourists service is provided also by high class hotels and restaurants.
Cosmopolitanism is part of Vaasa's everyday life. The inhabitants of the city have had many years of experience in internationalisation through e.g. the businesses in the city. The most important international enterprises are ABB, Wärtsilä, Vaasa Group, KWH Group, Scott Health & Safety and Kemira Vaasa plant. All these companies work in a global environment. The city of Vaasa has established many co-operative links with other European cities and regions. The Vaasa economic region is particularly well-endowed with many of the prerequisites needed to succeed in our fast-internationalising world and integrating Europe.
The belief in the future has led to the establishment of numerous new development projects in Vaasa, a development evident in the investment being made in future-oriented sectors. The level of commitment to the provision of good municipal services has led to the inhabitants being happy with their city and has played its part in the attraction of new inhabitants to Vaasa, which in turn has meant that the population in recent years has risen rapidly. Today, the population is almost 57.000, 72 % of whom speak Finnish, 25 % Swedish and 3 % other languages as their mother tongue. The bilingualism is an advantage for the city and its development. The tolerance and pluralism of the city can be seen e.g. as an increasing number of foreigners and their even more visible role in the development of the city. Besides refugees there is a great number of foreigners within the enterprises as well as the educational institutions in Vaasa.
For an increasing number of people and businesses Vaasa has become A PLACE IN THE SUN.
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