In 2008, Joensuu celebrates its 160 years of existance! Joensuu is a university town and the lively capital of the North Karelia Region in Finland. The city was established in 1848 by the Czar Nikolai I of Russia and it has flourished in the estuary of a notable waterway. It is a vital city with a growing and relatively young population. Of the total population of 58,000 almost 20,000 are pupils and students. Joensuu is also growing area-wise: From the 1.1.2009 the neighbouring municipalities of Eno and Pyhäselkä will merge with Joensuu and increase the population up to 72,000.

Joensuu is located next to the Russian border and about 400 km North-East from the capital of the country.

Besides the university, science and business scene, Joensuu is also a city where a number of recent Finnish films have been made, where you can find the Karelian folk (the most talkative ones in Finland) and where the summer rock festival (Ilosaarirock) is sold out every year months before the event. When going out of the city centre you can find silence, peace and nature like nowhere else in Europe.

Joensuu believes in regional and international cooperation as one of the motors for the development. This cooperation is materialised in numerous projects in different areas of expertise, within various networks and between different players. One of the strengths of Joensuu is the excellent and lively collaboration between the different stakeholders in the city.

Look at video about Joensuu region