Lively discussion on degree reform with students and stakeholders
20.12.2013
The Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture organised a stakeholder event where, among other things, the focal points of the new degrees and strategic partners in education were raised in the discussion.
The TOKYO Association and Guild of Architects also organised an event to discuss the degree reform. At the event, students wondered in particular how the new degrees would be reflected in their everyday lives.
At the stakeholder event, Vice Dean Ossi Naukkarinen, responsible for education, presented the key points of the degree reform. Representatives from the departments described their educational offerings and where the reform was targeted. The main changes include increased student options and transfer to a joint bachelor's programme with partly revised majors.
The stakeholder groups were interested in whether the focal points of the degrees would change. In the background to this debate lie the fresh degree reforms at the schools of technology and the concern that students will not have enough time to explore their majors enough during their bachelor's studies.
According to Ossi Naukkarinen the change in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture is not as great as in schools of technology.
‘Specialisation already takes place to a degree at the bachelor's stage, but not too much. Good elements from the previous degree programmes have been put into the new degrees, but opportunities for building wide ranging and personalised study paths are being included better than before. Our goal is to improve the communication between the different subjects.’
Representatives of the stakeholder groups raised the issue of the increase in master's level education.
From the view of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture it is a question of our school's development in line with the strategy of the university. Bachelor's level education is still being offered in those areas where we have no equivalent strategic partnerships in Finland, such as in the photographic arts. The School of Arts, Design and Architecture is already working in collaboration with both universities of applied sciences and other universities.
‘We have built platforms for collaboration, for example, in Pori and Vaasa. Cooperation can also mean academic and applied research according to the orientation of the education provider. We want to continue to discuss cooperation,’ says Helena Hyvönen.
The transition to the new degrees becomes the main subject of discussion at the TOKYO and Guild of Architects event
The new degrees will enter into force on 1 August 2014, and at the same time the current programmes will expire. During the transitional period students have the right to move to the new programme or continue in the current programme. During the event, the students wanted to know how the transition to the new degree courses would work in practice. A transitional phase is planned for students in personal study plan sessions, where they are advised to select a reasonable alternative for completing their degrees from an academic perspective. Course substitutions will be prepared in the spring. The goal is to make the process as smooth as possible from the students' point of view.
The event also discussed the art studies being prepared for general art studies, which will be carried out in art periods. Until now, art studies have consisted of relatively separate courses. Now, these will become closer to one another, so that art and theory support each other.
With the reform, the importance of personal guidance is central to planning the student's transition.