12 - Finland - Teaching methods

Universities design their own instruction according to national statutes and their own degree regulations. Universities have recently organised evaluation projects serving the development of their instruction. Alongside the traditional forms of teaching – lectures, demonstrations and examinations based on lectures and literature – instruction makes increasing use of other methods, such as essays, projects, seminar and group work. The use of new information technologies in instruction has also increased. In recent years, polytechnics have strongly developed their teaching methods.

The aim has been to increase students’ independent and self-motivated study. There are various forms of project and teamwork and studies have also increasingly been transferred outside the institution. The role of the teacher has clearly become more instructor-oriented. Compulsory practical on-the-job learning, worth a minimum of 30 ECTS, enables many students to combine their diploma project included in the degree programme with hands-on work experience and to apply their theoretical knowledge in real situations. Topics for diploma projects come primarily from real problems in working life and, in addition, they are often commissioned by representatives of working life. Teachers have full autonomy regarding their teaching, as well as the materials and methods used.

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Date: 2009
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