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

2. 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

3. 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 years, 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

4. 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

5. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 further development as a national project, financed by the Ministry
Training programme for teacher tutors ( )
”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 ( )
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)

13. Thank you!