Åland University of Applied Sciences in Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, was founded in 1997 by the Åland Provincial Government as a co-operative network for vocational higher education certified with a polytechnic diploma. On 1 January 2003 Åland University of Applied Sciences became permanent, when it merged with Åland Open University and changed its Swedish name into “Högskolan på Åland”. The university offers seven degree programmes with a total of 400 students.