Student mobility is increasing in Finland - universities agree on future cooperation
The rectors and presidents of universities and universities of applied sciences have signed a framework agreement on teaching co-operation. The agreement contains the principles and a statement of intent for new ways of working that will enable students to take more individualised studies from those offered by different higher education institutions. The new model has simplified the administration of teaching cooperation by taking advantage of changes in legislation.
In the future, the agreement will allow students to take studies at another university in a more flexible way based on their primary study right at the home university. In the process of implementing the agreement, higher education institutions will also review their existing cooperation networks and renew their operating methods in accordance with the objectives.
“It is good that the cooperation between universities will expand with the agreement,” says Riitta Konkola, Vice Chair of the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences Arene.
According to Konkola, cooperation means increasing opportunities for students to receive education and gain knowledge in accordance with their own plans for the future. From the societal perspective, cooperation means the potential to reduce overlapping studies and to use the resources thus saved to develop education further.
“The increased cross-institutional study opportunities will make studying more flexible. In addition, it encourages universities to collaborate in networks, engage in pedagogical development that is based on research and job market needs as well as use collective methods to produce learning materials,” says Helka-Liisa Hentilä, Chair of Vice Rectors for Education at Universities Finland UNIFI.
In order to promote student mobility, a joint national cross-institutional study information service has also been developed as a cooperative endeavour. It supports student mobility by automating the transfer of information between universities. The system support enables the expansion of teaching cooperation and the management of larger numbers of students. The introduction of the cross-institutional study information system will start in 2020 as universities begin to integrate their own information systems into the common information transmission service.
The cross-institutional study tools also include the EXAM software, which gives students the flexibility to choose their own exam time and place, including taking an exam in the premises of another higher education institution. Already in early 2019, the first exam was taken in this way (the so-called EXAM visit). A collaborative agreement is being prepared to expand the scope of the EXAM visits in higher education institutions.
The development of cross-institutional study project
- Building the cross-institutional study service has been coordinated by a development project funded by the Ministry of Education. Led by Tampere University, the project team has members from different Finnish higher education institutions.
- Cross-institutional study pilots, which represent a wide range of universities and universities of applied sciences from all over Finland, play an important role in the development of new policies and services.
- The website of the cross-institutional study development project provides a wealth of information on the common service (in Finnish).
Inquiries:
Mikko Markkola, Tampere University
Chair of the steering group on cross-institutional study development
mikko.markkola(at)tuni.fi
Sami Hautakangas, Tampere University
Project Manager of the cross-institutional study development project
sami.hautakangas(at)tuni.fiThe description of the project will be updated here.