The university is headquartered in Pori and offers additional instruction in Huittinen, Kankaanpää and Rauma.

[1] SAMK started its activities as a temporary university of applied sciences in the autumn of 1992.

[3] Education was provided in four fields in four localities: Pori, Rauma, Huittinen, and Kankaanpää.

Unlike other universities of applied sciences, SAMK had an enterprise accelerator for students, not a business incubator for graduates.

[6] In March 2014, Citycon won the competitive tender for the campus project organised by the City of Pori.

In June, Citycon sold the campus property next to the railway station to the Swedish real estate investment company Hemsö, to whom the premises were handed over upon completion.

[13] In its supplementary budget, the Finnish government granted 2,200 additional student places to higher education institutions, 85 of which came to SAMK.

SAMK's largest municipal owners are Pori (50%), Rauma (23%), Huittinen (5%) and Kankaanpää (2%).

The faculty is responsible for developing the aging services specialization, has strong expertise in accessibility and runs the learning centre Soteekki.

Of the emerging fields highlighted in the SAMK strategy, Tourism Business belongs in this faculty.

Of the areas of strength listed in the SAMK strategy, this faculty is in charge of maritime management and the emerging field of multi-disciplinary logistics.

Of the areas highlighted in the SAMK strategy, Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, and Smart Water and Environmental Technology are this faculty's specialties.

[20] The campus has 4,200 students studying business, tourism, social and health care, and technology.

[29] SAMK carries out research, development and innovation activities to support industrial renewal.

It sees its strengths as expertise in entrepreneurship and start-ups, digital campus and online teaching.

[39] In contrast, the bachelor's degree programmes taught in English can be completed only as full-time day studies,[2] whereas the master's degree programmes taught in English can be completed either as full-time or multiform studies.

In February 2016, the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (Karvi) awarded SAMK a quality label in its audit, which was valid for the next six years.