27 Guild University opens for business in Helsinki 23 August 2030 The GDA (Guild for Data Analysts) University in Finland, the first campus university opened by a Guild in Europe, will welcome its first residential students next month. The GDA announced in 2026 that it was to invest €35m in developing a university dedicated to data analytics research and teaching in response to growing demand from its members. The new GDA University is set on the former site of Urban ‑ M etro University, which closed its doors in 2027. The campus was purchased by the GDA in 2028 and has undergone an extensive refurbishment and digital upgrade. “We can offer our students the very latest learning technology and infrastructure,” said GDA University Vice Chancellor Eino Virtanen. “As you would expect from a Guild that represents the finest talents in digital analytics, our campus is state ‑ o f ‑ t he ‑ a rt.” The GDA is the largest and fastest growing of the Guilds with more than 18m members worldwide. It has run an extensive programme of training courses since it was set up in 2021; its library of MOOCs (massively open online courses) is heavily used by members and non ‑ members alike and a selection of short residential courses for Guild members was launched in 2025. The university will initially offer modular courses and accreditation which build into the three levels of Guild Certification, today’s gold standard for data analysis professionals. While applications are accepted from all, those students that are already members of the GDA will enjoy subsidised fees. “As a Guild we are constantly striving to help our members develop the skills that have made them so valuable in the workplace,” said Julia Hawley, chief executive of the GDA. “Our new university will track the skills demands within the industry and move quickly to make sure that our students leave their education ready to add real value to businesses worldwide.” Read more Yellow World Guilds have extended their responsibilities for their members, including wellbeing, pensions, training and by 2030, university education. Here’s what an education news forum could report in 2030. F u t u r e v i e w