Follow-up evaluation of programmes taught through a foreign language at Finnish institutions of higher education

1
Follow-up evaluation of programmes taught through
a foreign language at Finnish institutions of
higher education

• Riitta Pyykkö
• University of Turku, FINHEEC

2
Teaching Through a Foreign Language From Tool to
Empowering Mediator

• FINHEEC 1999
• lt teaching through a foreign language grew
• gt quality of programmes?
• added value for students, employers and
  institutions?

3
A follow-up in 2005

• should not only examine how the recommendations
  have been fulfilled
• lt the changing role and context of international
  programmes

4
General remarks I

• from exchange studies to degree studies
• integration in Finnish society more important (lt
  demography)
• proportion of foreign students still low
• balance (outgoing-incoming) quite good

5
General remarks II

• exchange Europe centred
• most degree students come from China, Russia,
  Sweden, Estonia
• internationalisation at home
• programmes vs. research system competitiveness
  of Finland

6
The follow-up in 2005

• in 1999 15 institutions were evaluated
• in 2005 11 of them answered
• both universities and polytechnics
• questionnaire of 27 questions
• 8 for the central administration
• 19 to the programmes themselves

7
Preliminary conclusions I

• teaching information material, tutoring all in
  English
• tutoring of newcomers quite good
• language skills of teachers better than in 1999

8
Preliminary conclusions II

• programmes in English an integral part of
  teaching strategy
• gt not the same courses in Finnish and in English
  (esp. in universities)
• degree non-degree programmes both still needed

9
Preliminary conclusions II

• the meaning of the language of teaching?
• (only some and superficial answers)
• teacher training (language pedagogical) better
  organised in polytechnics
• teacher exchange must be encouraged
• only English?

10
Preliminary conclusions III

• contact hours vs. independent work
• more contact hours in polytechnics
• Finnish language and culture
• gt integration to Finnish society

11
Preliminary conclusions IV

• the role of foreign visiting teachers
  representatives of working life in planning
  process
• almost no use of national networks

12
Preliminary conclusions V

• students recruitment more systematic in
  polytechnics
• for university students the main channel CIMO,
  Study in Finland

13
The final report will be ready in October

• National seminar
• Helsinki
• October 24th