Bologna

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Bologna a top-down and bottom-up processat
the University of Helsinki?

• Markku Kivinen
• Director
• Aleksanteri-insitute

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University of Helsinki

• 11 faculties
• 38,000 undergraduate students, 60,000 continuing
  education and Open University students
• 7,300 employees, 4,700 of whom researchers and
  teachers
• Operates on 4 campuses in Helsinki and in 20
  other towns in Finland
• Aims at establishing its position among the
  leading multidisciplinary research universities
  in Europe

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Branches in Finland
Campuses in Helsinki
Helsinki
HY-KALVOSARJA XI/03 STRATEGIA 2002-06 3
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General aims of the Bologna Process

• Promotion of the European Higher Education Area
• Harmonisation of higher education in Europe
• Adoption of a two-cycle degree system
• Establishment of a system of credits (ECTS)
• Promotion of mobility
• Development of quality assurance systems for
  higher education
• Promotion of the transparency of education in
  Europe

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2003 - 2004 2005

• The Bologna process is seen more as a phase of a
  joint national analysis and evaluation of
  university degrees and curriculum than as a
  fundamental structural change.
• Many national networks and projects have worked
  together to develop and implement the new degrees
  programmes in Finland

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the Bologna Process at the Universities in Finland

• Preparatory working group in the Ministry of
  Education 2002
• Assessment of the study load and academic
  curriculum core analysis in faculties and
  departments 2002-2005
• Discipline-specific preparatory work in national
  coordination groups 2003-2006
• the Universities Act and Decree on degrees 2004
• The new degree system since 1 August 2005
• 2005-gt focus on doctoral degrees

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The national discipline-based co-ordination groups

• Networks in more 20 disciplines.
• The major groups
• in math and sciences
• humanities
• social sciences
• educational sciences and teacher education
• technical sciences
• laws
• economics
• psychology.

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General features of the Bologna Process at the
University of Helsinki

• Strategic Plan of the University of Helsinki
  2004-2006
• The Programme for the Development of Teaching
  and Studies 2004-06
• Evaluation on degrees and teaching (2002)
• The strategy for international activities
• The Ministry of Education provides project
  funding for reform work in the faculties and for
  co-ordination at the national level for 2004-2006
• The University of Helsinki has allocated its own
  special funding
• The Helsinki University Support Group for the
  reform of degrees (2003-)

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Two-cycle model for basic degrees

• The two-cycled basic degrees will consist of
• the Bachelors degree
• (180 credits / 3 years) and
• the Masters degree
• (120 credits / 2 years)
• The third cycle will consist of postgraduate
  studies (leading to a doctoral degree)

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Alternatives for the structure of basic degrees
Examples
Ph.D.
MA
MA
x
BA
x working life / supplementary studies
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Specific aims of the Bologna Process at the
University of Helsinki

• The quality of degrees in the faculties will be
  enhanced
• The emphasis on research
• The Strategic Plan of the University
• The Masters degree will be the primary aim, the
  Bachelors degree an interim aim
• The multidisciplinarity of degrees will be
  furthered
• Quality assurance systems will be further
  developed
• student feedback systems, follow-up of graduates,
  feedback from employers, the feedback systems
  will be used in the development of education

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Duties of the Support Group

• Coordination of the reform
• Organization of cooperation between faculties
• Preparation of decisions of principle at the
  university level
• Guidelines, recommendations and scheduling of the
  reform
• Organisation of dissemination of information and
  training at the university level (www, in-house
  publications, visits to faculties and
  departments, best practices)
• Promotion of national and international
  cooperation relating to the reform of degrees
• Follow-up and promotion of the implementation

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Composition of the Support Group

• Chair Vice-Rector Hannele Niemi (responsible for
  academic affairs at the University)
• 7-8 members
• 2 student representatives
• 3 professors
• 1 senior assistant
• student office member at a faculty level
• Head of Academic Affairs
• not all faculties are represented
• A team of three administrators is responsible for
  the preparation of matters dealt with by the
  Support Group

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Internal cooperation in the reform of a degree
system
Faculties
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Internal cooperation in the reform of a degree
system
Faculties
Support group
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Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Network of Deans
Support group
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Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Library Committee
Rectors Steering Committee
Virtual University Committee
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Network of Deans
Support group
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Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Library Committee
Rectors Steering Committee
University Senate
Virtual University Committee
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Faculty Councils
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Department Councils
Network of Deans
Support group
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Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Library Committee
Rectors Steering Committee
University Senate
Virtual University Committee
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Faculty Councils
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Department Councils
Network of Deans
Support group
Meetings betw. faculties the support group
Seminars, public events and traíning
Unofficial meetings and events
20
Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Library Committee
Virtual University Committee
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Rectors Steering Committee
University Senate
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Faculty Councils
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Department Councils
Network of Deans
Support group
National discpline-based coordination groups
Meetings betw. faculties the support group
Seminars, public events and traíning
National working groups meetings,
seminars, infromation sharing
Unofficial meetings and events
21
Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Library Committee
Virtual University Committee
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Rectors Steering Committee
University Senate
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Faculty Councils
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Department Councils
Network of Deans
Support group
National discpline-based coordination groups
Meetings betw. faculties the support group
Seminars, public events and traíning
Network of Experts of Educational Development Res
earch
National working groups meetings,
seminars, infromation sharing
Contact Persons for Specialists in ICT
-based Education
Unofficial meetings and events
22
Internal cooperation in the reform of degree
structure
Library Committee
Virtual University Committee
Academic Affairs Committees of faculties
Rectors Steering Committee
University Senate
Network of Vice-Deans responsible
for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs Committee
Faculty Councils
Network of facultiesHeads of Academic Affairs
Degree Reform Network (40)
Faculties
Department Councils
Network of Deans
Support group
National discpline-based coordination groups
1.8.2005
Meetings betw. faculties the support group
Seminars, public events and traíning
I
Follow-up 2008 Auditing of Quality Assurance
2007
Network of Experts of Educational Development Res
earch
National working groups meetings,
seminars, infromation sharing
Contact Persons for Specialists in ICT
-based Education
Unofficial meetings and events
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Policy decisions on studies at the HU

• Personal study plans to all students
• Minor subjects to be included in degrees
  (multidisciplinary)
• studies abroad to be recommended
• to be accepted as part of the degree programmes
• Teacher education as a part of the Bologna
  Process
• Pedagogical studies 60 credits (2535) MA
  gives a qualification
• Grading scales is standardised 0-5
• Students progress will be followed up regularly
  at checking points

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More joint decisions

• BA (180 credits) MA (120 credits)
• Basic level studies 25 credits
• Intermediate level studies 60 credits (Min.)
• including thesis (6 credits) in the major
  subject
• Advanced level studies research profile 60-90
  credits,
• Masters thesis (40 credits) in the major subject
  
• Study guidance and orientation to studies 1-3
  credits it the B.A.
• 1-2 credits in the M. A.
• Orientation to working life (Appr.) 3 credits
  in the B.A.
• A period of work placement at the Masters level
• Language, communication ICT (Min.) 15 credits
• Obligatory (Web-based) ICT licence to all students

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Transition period at the University of Helsinki

• Transition period 3 years
• Students will be encouraged to adopt the new
  degree system as soon as possible.
• Flexible, student-friendly solutions will be
  given priority.
• Students may choose between the old and new
  systems.
• Communications
• Faculties distribute information on the reform
  and the transition process to their students,
  applicants and partners.
• University Communications provide the general
  public with information on the reform.

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New multidisciplinary Master programs
(Instruction in English)

• Masters Degree Programme in Biotechnology 
•  Masters Degree Programme in Bioinformatics
•  Masters Degree Programme in Atmospheric
  Sciences and Biogeochemical Cycles
•  Masters Degree Programme in Geoinformatics
•  Masters Degree Programme in Forest Sciences and
  Business

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In addition to the above, several other
programmes are being planned

• e.g. programmes in
• Computer Science
• Agriculture
• Food Technology
• Art Research
• Intercultural Communication
• European Studies
• Development Studies
• Ethnicity, etc.
• Some of the programmes are delivered jointly by
  the University of Helsinki and partner
  universities in Europe.
• Information on the programmes will be available
  on the web site of the University.