Preventing drop-outs through curriculum development

Higher education institutions are facing the same problem as many other schools: too many students drop out or their participation in educational processes is light. There is also a group of students who have difficulties in their studies even if they are present.

In Campus Conexus -project we have tried to find some solutions to this problem. This is what we have found out:
We have to take better care of students well-being.
We have to listen to students more carefully.
We have to know the world where students come from.
We have to offer students the support they need to succeed in studies.
We have to create a curriculum which implemants participation of students.

In our Budapest -workshop we will focus on these issues together.

Here you can find some more information about Campus Conexus -project:

http://www.campusconexus.fi/InfoinEnglish/tabid/2168/Default.aspx

Project's closing seminar 8th May 2014

DIP -project's closing seminar will be organised 8th May 2014. This seminar will be a part of the International Week for TAMK, School of Vocational Teacher Education. The closing seminar is open for everyone interested in the project and its themes. More information about the themes, program and registration will be given later. The information will be given in this blog and on TAOKK website. Especially DIP-project's international partners are welcomed in the seminar, but of course new contacts are hoped to participate as well.

Workshop materials - About TAMK and Finnish Education System

Allthough the participating organizations will be presented in more detail in the workshop in Budapest, here is some information in advance for those who are interested.

First about the city of Tampere:

Read more about Tampere

TAMK, Tampere University of Applied Sciences

About the Finnish Education system:

Read more about the education system

Supporting International Students in Higher Education

I have been involved in the development of our International Master’s Degree Programme in Business And Technology since 2006. Over the past years, the operative management and the development of the programme have been my responsibilities. Naturally I also teach several courses within the programme, mainly focusing on international sales and sourcing as well as research methodologies. In addition, I teach basics of industrial management to Erasmus exchange students.

My personal interest as a teacher focuses on teaching multicultural groups. International students sometimes perceive very different attitudes towards learning, which teachers of such groups should recognize. However, one of the easiest things to do is to make the course requirements, study process and grading as transparent as possible. In this way students coming from different university cultures can be “exposed” to the learning culture characterizing universities in Finland, hence helping them in their studies. It is important to note that the longer the cultural distance, the more there are differences in the university culture and, hence, learning habits too!

With regards to international degree students, one important challenge is related to very low employment. Without understanding the requirements Finnish society set on young graduates, international students are not able to convince potential employers in the job interviews. Thus, my teaching is mostly based on company projects to (1) help students understand the requirements Finnish corporate world sets for young graduates, (2) gain some work experience (most international students have very little, if any, work experience unlike their Finnish competitors), (3) help them build networks for employment and (4) get references to be used in the job search process later.

Both the cases I have tried to tackle in a small booklet “Them Finns” used in Tampere University of Technology as well as several other universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland. The booklet tries to point out the most important cultural differences in university studies, mainly causing problems for international students. Since many students are not familiar with using English in their studies, the booklet has many illustrations, helping students to get the most important content. In addition, the booklet also emphasizes that studying in Finland is an excellent opportunity to learn to understand Finns and Finnish working culture, hence facilitating the transition to Finnish corporate world, in case that is the student’s objective. 

 Text: Jouni Lyly-Yrjänäinen

Workshop: Myth busters

What is Myth Busters?

Myth Busters is a science entertainment television program created and produced by Australia's Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series are shown internationally, also in Finland from the year 2003. Each Myth Busters episode focuses typically on two or more popular beliefs, Internet rumors, or other myths. The list of myths tested by the series is compiled from many sources, including the personal experiences of cast and crew, as well as fan suggestions, such as those posted on The Discovery Channel online Myth Busters forums.

Working with the myths

In this workshop we’re discussing the myths around the themes of teaching and pedagogy in technical university, myths about the students who drop-out and the counseling services that universities are offering. Each group gets different myths to work through.

Myths chosen

I’ve chosen these myths carefully and they’re somewhat relevant now in Tampee University of Technology or in Finland nationally. I am interested to know if these myths are relevant in your university or if they are under discussion in Hungary in general.

The task

Every group has to decide if the each myth is confirmed, plausible or busted and give reasons for their decision.

Sharing the thoughts

In the end every group is presenting their myth and group’s solution about the myth and the discussion behind the solution.

Curricula process in Tampere University of Applied Sciences

The university-wide curricula process has now implemented in Tampere UAS. All curricula were renewed in perspective of future learning outcomes.

The curricula process as a university-wide process is managed by following organization:




The steps of the process could be described as:



Academic year 2013 started with the new curricula.

Text: Juho Tiili

Materials for benchmarking workshop in Budapest

At the moment the Finnish delegation for the benchmarking workshop in Budapest (25-27.11.2013) is preparing the materials and concreting the program and the working methods. The Finnish delegation consists of the following participants:

Mr Pekka Kalli, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, School of Vocational Teacher Education

• Principal Lecturer
• Teacher of teacher-students. In particular, I am interested to connect face to face teaching / learning and e-learning. I have been involved in many innovative projects. Their purpose is to empower students in their own development as teachers and as human beings. Edifying photography is also of particular interest in the subject.

Ms Hanna Ilola, Lic. in Education, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, School of Vocational Teacher Education

• Principal Lecturer
• Main interests are in developing inclusive education and student-centered learning environments

Ms Maija Joensuu, M.A. (Educ.) Tampere University of Applied Sciences, School of Vocational Teacher Education

• Project coordinator, project manager in Disseminating Inclusive Practices –project
• Work tasks related to development projects and continuing education in the field of teacher education

Mr Juho Tiili, MSc, Physics Education, Tampere University of Applied Sciences

• Special Planner, Lecturer (Physics)
• Main fields of interests are in Physics education in engineering education and physics education research. I am a member of curriculum working group in Tampere UAS, representing the School of Industrial Engineering. Main part of my work is done in Tampere UAS’s internal development unit, in which responsibilities are in the field of pedagogical development and curricula development.

Ms Ira Vihreälehto, M.A., Tampere University of Technology

• Working as a Student planning officer in department of Student Services at Tampere University of Technology
• Major responsibilities are organizing pedagogical training for TUT-teachers, planning student counseling services and modern learning environments. I am also co-operating closely with the private employment agency Adecco in terms of career services for our students.

Mr Jouni Lyly-Yrjänäinen, Tampere University of Technology

• Senior Lecturer, Industrial Management

Read more about the Tampere University of Applied Sciences and Tampere University of Technology.

More information and materials for this workshop will be presented in this blog soon.