Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences Secures €3.6 Million to Lead Ulysseus Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programme in AI

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, partner of Ulysseus European University, has received €3.6 million in funding to coordinate the NavigAIte EU project. With this achievement, Haaga-Helia becomes the first university of applied sciences in Finland to coordinate a European Commission-funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme.

NavigAIte EU will be implemented from 1 October 2026 to 30 November 2032 in partnership with two Ulysseus partners: the University of Seville, coordinator of the Ulysseus alliance, and the Technical University of Košice. The project builds on the successfully piloted UlysseusAI – AI for Business Transformation programme and will support its implementation within the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters framework. The development of this initiative has been strongly supported by Ulysseus European University. Likewise, its commitment to academic excellence and international collaboration has helped establish the foundations for this joint master’s degree.

Highlighting the significance of this achievement, Haaga-Helia’s Vice President Minna Hiillos stated: “Haaga-Helia is once again leading the way. We are the first Finnish university of applied sciences to coordinate an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme. We are also pleased that the funding provides an opportunity to award scholarships to a substantial number of students who perform successfully in the admissions process”.

UlysseusAI attracts strong global interest

UlysseusAI is an integrated, multidisciplinary two-year joint master’s degree combining artificial intelligence, business transformation, ethics and sustainability. It aims to educate professionals who can lead the responsible and sustainable adoption of AI in European and international businesses. This programme has already attracted considerable international interest, receiving more than 500 applications from Europe and other parts of the world.

The approval of NavigAIte EU marks a major milestone for Haaga-Helia and strengthens its pioneering role in international joint education. It builds on Haaga-Helia’s earlier achievement as the first Finnish university of applied sciences to receive European Approach accreditation which was awarded in 2024.

Last, but not least, NavigAIte EU becomes the second Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree within the Ulysseus alliance, following ImAGEin, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master on the Biology of Ageing, coordinated by Université Côte d’Azur.

For further information about NavigAIte EU, please contact Project Manager Ana Timonen.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 73 European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission under its flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. These alliances, co-funded by the European Commission, bring together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe.

Led by the University of Seville, the Ulysseus European University Alliance encompasses seven other partner universities: the Université Côte d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Münster (Germany), and the University of Montenegro (Montenegro).