Academic curricula in Finnish universities Case: University of Turku Riitta Pyykkö, Vice-Rector Visit of the FOSTERC-project delegation Turku, April 17th 2018

National framework HEIs autonomous and responsible for the quality of education and research; they shall by law take part in external evaluation of their activities and QA systems on a regular basis and publish the findings Ministry of Education and Culture prepares legislation and other regulations; deploys performance-based funding, informed by data from national databases Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) organises external evaluations and produces qualitative information which the educational institutions can use in developing their operations (enhancement-led evaluation); evaluation models in line with the European standards and guidelines

Legal background According to the Universities Act, universities enjoy freedom of research, art and teaching; teaching in the universities is public. Universities Act stipulates the three-cycle degree structure (Bachelor – Master – Doctorate) and right to provide other programmes & modules (incl. open university) Further provisions on the degrees awarded by the universities (educational responsibility) are issued by the Government Decree on University Degrees Government decree stipulates the generic aims (knowledge, skills, competences) of the degrees, their extent (mostly 3 + 2 + 4 years, 180 + 120 + 240 ECTS) and structure (basic, intermediate, advanced studies; language & communication studies; other studies, work practice) Separate sections on regulated professions, e.g. Medicine and Teacher education

National Qualifications Framework Finnish National Framework for Qualifications and other Competence Modules (NQF) Based on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Covers all education from primary until higher; not field-specific Increases the national and international transparency and comparability of qualifications (knowledge, skills, competences/attitudes) Promotes national and international mobility Eight levels; HE degrees Bachelor at level 6, Master 7, Doctorate 8

Academic Curriculum Curriculum contains Learning objectives for curriculum level and course level Learning and teaching approaches and methods Course material Methods of learning assessment Prepared and approved at university/faculty level Reflects also the strategic goals of the university

Curriculum process at UTU level Every faculty constructs its own curricula and is responsible for the quality of degree education Two-year, competence-based curricula Process of curriculum planning starts with so called Vice-Rector’s curriculum letter to faculties, giving guidelines for the units Units carry on their curriculum designing process in teams/groups; starts by evaluation of the previous curriculum and analysis of student feedback Curriculum groups comprised of teachers, researchers and students, also external advisory boards participate Units works with their curricula about 6-8 months; finally, they are dealt and accepted by the faculty board. Vice-rector visits the faculties 2-3 months before the dead-line After the acceptance of curriculum at faculty´s level it will be published in university webpages

COLLECTING STUDENT FEEDBACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TURKU form of feedback year 2. year 3. year 4. year 5. year n. year Stage of study after graduation course feedback survey at the beginning of the studies national student feedback survey follow-up on placement in the labour market career and employment survey (after the completion of the Bachelor’s degree) Approx. 1 year after the completion of the Master’s degree 5 years after graduation = evaluation of teaching and guidance = evaluation of entities that are larger than separate courses

Timeline for the planning (example) Vice-rector’s letter Faculties & departments start planning Open curriculum planning seminar for the University Vice-rector & Director of Learning & Teaching support services visit the faculties Curricula approved in each faculty June 2017 Autumn 2017 (latest) September 2017 January-February 2018 By 30 April 2018

University level support for teachers and counsellors Training in university pedagogy Studies up to 60 ECTS (course packages of 10 ECTS – 15 ECTS – 35 ECTS) UNIPS (UTUPS - UTU Pedagogical Support) online learning environment; during 2017-2019 further development as a national project, financed by the Ministry Training programme for teacher tutors (2014 - ) ”DigiUTU” Programme/Policy paper (2017) Promoting digitalisation of learning and teaching Technological and pedagogical support available by one contact University of the Future -action plan (2014 - ) Serie of seminars for the university teachers about new technology-enhanced learning and teaching Sharing experiences and best practices among teaching staff Engaging also the students in dialogue – project started as an initiative of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL)

Thank you! riitta.pyykko@utu.fi