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Higher Education in Finland

Juha Ketolainen CIMO 25.9.2008 “Tea Team” Joensuu 9/2008

CIMO Age: 24 – 19 –

The Finnish education system

16 – 7 –

Universities

3 + 2 + 4 years General upper secondary education 3 years

Polytechnics (Universities of Applied Sciences)

3.5

–4.5 + 1

-

1.5 years Initial vocational education c. 3 years Comprehensive school 9 years 9/2008

CIMO

Finnish higher education offers plenty of choice

• an extensive network of institutions covering the whole country • 20 universities and 28 polytechnics (universities of applied science) • all institutions internationally oriented with special regional features • for the moment no tuition fees for regular degree students and exchange students 9/2008

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Finland has one of the densest networks of HEIs

9/2008

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Universities promoting research and artistic learning

• • • • 20 universities - 176,000 students 10 multi-faculty universities 3 universities of technology 3 schools of economics and business administration • • 4 art academies all institutions are state-funded, and for the moment state-owned • still they enjoy full autonomy in teaching and research 9/2008

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Universities promoting research and artistic learning

• • • • provide academic education based on research study time • 3 years to complete Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) • • • 2 years to complete the Master’s degree (120 credits) 4 years to complete the Doctor’s degree (240 credits) exception: medicine and dentistry continue with the system of one cycle (Licentiate ´s degree, 6 years and 360 credits) joint application system starting for international students for Master’s degree programmes (www.universityadmissions.fi) ECTS credit system fully adopted 9/2008

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Polytechnics geared towards professionalism

• • 28 polytechnics (

universities of applied sciences

) 8 fields of study: Natural resources and the environment; Natural sciences; Technology, communication and transport; Social sciences, business and administration; Tourism, catering and domestic services; Social services, health and sports; Culture; Humanities and education • • institutions are municipal/regional/private institutions, mostly state-funded 132,000 students 9/2008

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Polytechnics geared towards professionalism

• • • • provide professionally-oriented education tailored to the needs of the labour market study time • 3.5

–4 years to complete Bachelor’s degree (210–240 credits) • 1 1.5 years to complete the Master’s degree (60-90 credits) after 3 years of work experience joint application system for international students for Bachelor’s degree programmes (www.admissions.fi) ECTS credit system fully adopted 9/2008

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International students in Finnish HEIs

• Degree students (2006): • Universities: 5 434 • Polytechnics: 4 632

Total: 10 066

• Exchange students (2006): • Universities: 4 875 • Polytechnics: 3 316

Total: 7 697

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A large number of courses taught in English

• • • over 400 international study programmes taught in English courses ranging from short-term programmes to entire degree programmes an excellent choice of subjects spanning from high-tech know-how through to fine arts • internationally acclaimed expertise in many areas e.g. ICT, bio-technology, forestry and environmental sciences, architecture and design 9/2008

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Why Study in Finland ?

• • • • • • good and effective education system affordable higher education variety of programmes taught in English based on Finnish know how modern facilities and well trimmed student services peaceful and well-organised country advanced and unusual 9/2008

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More information

To discover Finland visit:

www.studyinfinland.fi

9/2008

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Proposal for the new Universities Act •

currently being prepared by the Ministry of Education • historic change 9/2008

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The proposal will change...

•Autonomy will strengthen: universities will have an independent legal status •Universities will take the place of the State as employers: civil-service employment relationships will become contractual employment relationships •Community relations will strengthen: half of the university senate members (including the chairman) will be persons “external”to the university community (professors, other personnel, students) defined in the act •Greater latitude with finances: donations, income from capital and business activities •New universities: Aalto University (HUT, HSE, TaiK), University of Eastern Finland (Universities of Kuopio & Joensuu) and the new Turku University (University of Turku, TSE) •Performance agreement procedure will be lighter •Charging tuition fees on a trial basis for separate master’s programmes from students from outside the EU/EEA 9/2008

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The proposal will not change...

•The freedom of research, art and education •Self-government and academic decision-making •Research and higher education remain as the main tasks of the universities •The State will guarantee core funding, taking into account the development of costs •Education leading to a degree will continue to be free of charge 9/2008

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Legal capacity - the core to the reforms

•Universities as independent legal personalities •Full financial responsibility •Universities may conduct business activities that support the performance of their main tasks: research and education •Universities may operate as a corporation under public law or as a foundation under private law (e.g. Aalto University) 9/2008

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Tuition fees on a trial basis

•Education leading to a university degree will continue to be free of charge •However, it will be possible to charge tuition fees to students from outside EU/EEA countries taking part in separate master's programmes •Arrangements for tuition fees should include a scholarship scheme •The aim is to strengthen the internationalisation of universities •The criteria for master’s programmes must be satisfied •Concerns separate master’s programmes •Piloting in place until the end of 2014 9/2008

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Steering and funding

•Performance agreement procedure will be lighter •The State will guarantee core funding,taking into account the development of costs •External financing will not decrease State funding •The Ministry of Education can finance joint operations of all the universities (e.g. information networks) •Annual reporting •Monthly payments 9/2008

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Finances

•Universities' own capital made up of basic capital, other equityand revaluation reserves. •The return on basic capital is available for the university’s use •The government may also make financial investments for the universities •Accounting obligation in line with the Accounting Act •The accounting of financial activities must be separate from thebasic functions under public law •Auditors must be approved by the Central Chamber of Commerce •The authorised agents appointed by the university’s collegial body verifies the financial statements and makes the decision on granting discharge 9/2008

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Timetable

•Circulation of the draft act for opinions: 15 August 2008 •Deadline for opinions: 15 October 2008 •Parliamentary proceedings in spring 2009 •The aim is for the law to come into force on 1 August 2009 •Organisation in line with the new act in autumn 2009 •Start of activities on 1 January 2010 9/2008