Quality assurance of educational programmesJune 10, 2014Leena Koskinen, Manager of Student Services ARTS

Why Degree Reform?Aalto University Academic Affairs Committee 20 November 2012

University-level guidelines on the master’s programme reform

The University Academic Affairs Committee outlined the reform of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the spring of 2010 and autumn 2011 (AAC decisions of 11 May 2010 and 20 August 2011). The guidelines focus particularly on the reform of bachelor’s degrees, but they also serve as a general foundation for the reform of the master’s degrees which has been launched along with the bachelor’s degree reform.

-strategy as a basis

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General guidelines on the reform of master’s degrees

1) The master’s programmes allow students to earn specialised and deeper skills in a certain area.

2) Defining the bachelor’s-level studies required for eligibility for a certain master’s degree.

3) The number of the master’s programmes is reduced and their names clarified

4) The focus of student intake is shifted gradually to the master’s programmes (long-term goal)

5) Master’s programmes are primarily given in English

6) The establishment and execution of master's programmes within a single field of study follows a standard practice.

7) The master’s programmes shall contain a minimum of 30 credits of alternative or elective studies

8) The master’s programmes contain Finnish language courses targeted at international students

9) The concepts used in the degree programmes leading to the master’s degrees in the fields of arts, architecture and landscape architecture, business or technology are clarified: degree programme, major, minor, obligatory, alternative, elective studies, area of specialisation 13.04.2023

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MinorsAalto internal mobility: apply for minors and individual courses

The application period for Aalto internal mobility begins on May 1st and will continue until May 15th. Now it is possible to apply for minors and individual courses at another field of Aalto University flr next academic year. Very interesting minors are offered, what would you say e.g. about Multi-Disciplinary Energy Studies offered by School of Science or studying Business Technology at the School of Business?

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Personal study plan (PSP) guidance a central issue when planning a student’s transfer

Personal study plan guidance will be organised to secure sensible transitions to new programmes. The info letter to be sent in March 2014 will include more detailed instructions on transition options and information on guidance regarding personal study plans and course substitutions. Such guidance will be offered in the spring of 2014 when decisions regarding course substitutions have been made in March or April 2014. Transitional paths from one programme to another have been approved by the Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture (TSAK).

Decisions regarding the transition period for the degree reform, transitional paths to new programmes, and transition principles for Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture were made by the Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture (TSAK) on 21 November 2013

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Transition Period and Course Substitutions

Studying during the transition period

During the transition period students have the right to either transfer to the new programme or continue their studies in their current programme. Whether a student will transfer to a new programme or continue with the pre-reform one depends on how far along the student is in his/her studies. The transition period for bachelor’s degree programmes is from 1 August 2014 to 31 October 2016 and the transition period for master’s degree programmes from 1 August 2014 to 31 October 2015.

While planning the curriculum in the spring of 2014, departments will define course substitutions so that it is possible for students to study in either new or discontinued programmes during the transition period. Courses will be remodelled to meet the new degree requirements, but some current courses can also be offered during the transition period.

Before the transition period ends, transferring to a new programme will be done by application. When the transition period ends, students still pursuing studies in discontinued programmes will be automatically transferred to the corresponding new programme and major

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Responsibilities in EducationPositition

Dean, Vice Dean

Academic Committee for ARTS

Educational Board EB

Head of Department

Head of Education in the Department

Director of Degree Programme

Professor, Lectures in charge of major, minor

Tutor teacher

Teaching Staff

Service organisation

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The change in the teachers´work

- More guidance for students- More monitoring- More feedback, more use of feedback (visible)- Teaching by strategy – learning centered culture – defined

learning outcomes- The possible moment to make the big leap towards 2020

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Student feedback reports and surveys

Aalto course feedback system – new system starts 2014

Survey for new students when starting studies

Survey for graduates

Survey for masters of arts, architects and landscape architects two years after graduating (worklife survey)

Surveys for doctoral students

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Service organisation

Services

Academic staff support (school and department)

Decision preparation for the dean and Academic Committee

Student intake and orientation processes (at different levels)

Curriculum planning process (at different levels)

Student feedback reports and surveys (at different levels)

Student guidanceStudy progress tracking

Admission services

(Service portfolio)

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Joint Operative Services

Leadership & Long-Term Development

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Faculty Services for:

- Recruiting- Orientation- Support for supervisors- Career planning- Evaluation and feedback- Competence development- International mobility

Teaching Services for:

- Curriculum planningat the departments and programs

- Course planning- Student tutoring instructions- Student evaluations- Transcript registrations- Evaluation and feedback- Development of teaching

Student Services for:

- Considering studies in Aalto- Admission- Starting the studies- Student counselling- Well-being - Courses and examinations- Starting a new

academic year- Exchange studies- Career planning- Graduation

Research Services for:

- Identifying research fundingopportunities

- Preparing and planningthe project

- Funding application and offer- Starting the project- Project management - Ending the project- Technical support- Publishing research results- Evaluation and feedback- Commercialization &

dissemination of results

Academic Services

Palvelukokonaisuus - Service Portfolio

Information & library services, Language services, Open university services

DRAFT

StatisticsStudents 2945 (international students 20 % )

Intake 2015 BA 193, MA 286/189

Graduates 2013 - 177

Students complete their studies

BA 4,4 years

MA 3,4 years

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The Bologna process

Background

The Bologna process started in 1998 when the education ministers of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom signed the Sorbonne Declaration concerning the harmonisation of European higher education degree systems. It was decided at the time that a new deliration would be prepared for the following year, inviting the education ministers of the largest possible number of European countries to sign it. The document, called the Bologna Declaration, was signed by the education ministers of 29 European countries in Bologna in June 1999.

Aims of the Bologna process 1. The ultimate goal of the Bologna Declaration is to create a common European Higher Education Area by 2010 with a view to improving the competitiveness and attraction of European higher education in relation to other continents. The means to this end are six objectives:

2. Easily readable and comparable degrees. The foremost tools for achieving this are ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) and the Diploma Supplement.

3. Uniform degree structures. The degree structure will be mainly based on a two-cycle model. The first cycle, lasting a minimum of three years, ends in a Bachelor-level degree, which should also be relevant to the European labour market as an appropriate level of qualification. The second cycle consists of Master's  degrees and postgraduate degrees are third cycle degrees .

4. Establishment of a system of credits - such as in the ECTS system. Many countries do not have a system of study credits and determine their degrees only in years or semesters.

5. Increased mobility. Obstacles to the effective exercise of free movement will be removed in order to effect essential increases in the mobility of students, teachers, researchers and administrative staff.

6- Promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance with a view to developing comparable criteria and methodologies. The European Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education plays a key role in this.

Promotion of the European dimension in higher education. Closer international cooperation and networks; language and cultural education.

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