Åland University of Applied Sciences (, HÅ) is a university of applied sciences (a polytechnic) in Mariehamn, Åland. It is housed in three different buildings, the North building (Neptunigatan 17), the Western Building (Neptunigatan 6) and the South Building (Navigationsskolegränd 2). It has approx. 550 full-time students, mainly from Åland and Sweden. The number of employees is around 60. Åland UAS is maintained by the Government of Åland. It is the only higher education institution in the Åland Islands. The education in the Åland University of Applied Sciences is conducted in Swedish. History Åland UAS is a merging of several schools, of which all have a long history in higher education in Åland. The Master Mariner education goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century, when the education in navigation started in Åland. The School of Navigation (Navigationsskolan), which changed its name to The Åland Institute of Marine Technology (Ålands sjöfartsläroverk) in 1943, incorporated in the 1930s a study programme for mechanical engineering. The mechanical engineering programme became a school of its own in 1968, called The Åland School of Technology (Ålands tekniska skola) and later, in 1988, The Åland Institute of Technology (Ålands tekniska högskola). A study programme of automation system engineering (electrotechnical engineering) was included in the Åland School of Technology in 1984. The Åland Polytechnic started as a pilot scheme in 1997. It was a collaboration between the Åland Institute of Technology, the Åland Institute of Marine Technology, the Åland Institute of Business Education, the Åland Institute of Hotel and Restaurant Education and the Åland Institute of Health Care Education. Åland UAS was established on January 1, 2003, through a consolidation between the Åland Polytechnic and the Åland Open University. At the same time The Åland Institute of Technology and The Åland Institute of Marin Technic ceased to exist and were incorporated in Åland UAS. The Åland Open University was renamed The Open University and became a part of Åland UAS. Degree Programmes Åland University of Applied Sciences offers seven degree programmes; Business Administration, Electrotechnical Engineering, Health and Caring Sciences, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, Marine Engineering and Marine Technology. The Open University The Open University is a part of the Åland UAS. The Open University offers courses at university level in cooperation with other universities. The number of course participants during 2020 was 2198. The Open University was established on June 1, 1969, as The Summer