The Aalto University General Rules on Teaching and Studying are supplemented by the degree regulations of the schools and further instructions by the President, the Provost and the Vice President for Education.
Organisation of education
The Vice President for Education is responsible for Studies. The Teaching and Learning Steering Group (LeSG) prepares and coordinates the implementation of the university's strategy and joint development projects and prepares issues related to education for the university's deciding bodies. The University Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) decides on the University's curricula, degree requirements, admissions criteria as well other general rules related to teaching, research, art and creative practices, and appoints the bodies necessary to carry out research and teaching. In addition, the AAC is responsible for appointing the members of the University Board.
The management, development and monitoring of learning and teaching as well as the related Learning Services (LES) unit are based on the university strategy in accordance with legislation in the field of education, MEC instructions and other guidelines. These are available on aalto.fi and student website Into.
Schools are responsible for the quality of qualifications they award, the results they achieve and the specific allocation and prioritisation of resources. Schools are also responsible for having functional systems to ensure the quality and development of degrees, teaching and their support services.
Decision makers and other actors in the area of learning and teaching at the university and school level:
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University-level actor
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Roles and responsibilities
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Communication
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University Academic Affairs Committee (ACC)
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Makes decisions about the university's curricula, degree requirements, admissions criteria and other general regulations pertaining to education
Sets up the official bodies for education, appoints their chairpersons, members and deputy members, decides on the rules and regulations governing those bodies
May delegate the above tasks to the schools' academic committees (Aalto University Bylaws, Section 13)
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Minutes on aalto.fi
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President
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Decides on the introduction and termination of degree programmes and their areas of specialisation and annual student intake numbers
Decides about any written reprimand requested by the Dean to be given to a student
Approves regulations concerning the Student Financial Aid Committee
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President's decisions on aalto.fi
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Provost
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Oversees all processes related to the university's education.
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Provost's decisions on aalto.fi
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Vice President for Education
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Manages bachelor's and master's-level education at the university and the university's development of teaching and LES
Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and multidisciplinary nature of teaching
Decides on university-level matters relating to the practical arrangement of studies, such as schedules for periods of the academic year
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Vice President's decisions on aalto.fi
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Academic Appeals Board
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Processes petitions for correction of study attainments
Processes appeals directed against the decisions taken on the basis of the correction petitions made under the provisions of Section 82 of the Universities Act
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Student Financial Aid Committee
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The tasks of the Student Financial Aid Committee have been defined in the Student Financial Aid Decree
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School-level actor
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Roles and responsibilities
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Communication
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Dean
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Manages the education activities of the school
Appoints the directors of the degree programmes
Admits students to the school, handles rectification matters related to student admission and rights to study, makes decisions related to extension to the maximum time of the right to study and to reinstatement of the right to study
Grants degrees
Acts as the chairman of the school's academic committee
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Dean's decisions on aalto.fi
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Vice Dean in charge of Teaching
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Handles the Dean's education-related matters as delegated by the Dean
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Reports to the Dean
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School Academic Affairs Committees
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Approve the curricula and degree requirements (delegated by the university-level AAC)
Submit proposals on school-specific degree requirements and admissions criteria and on other matters related to academic activities
Perform other tasks assigned by the Dean and the AAC
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Committee minutes on aalto.fi
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Degree Programme Director
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Plans, implements, evaluates and develops the programme; coordinates and develops the curriculum process; monitors student progress, time to degree, and course and programme feedback; negotiates financial and other resources for the programme with the heads of departments; and collaborates in education within the school, with other Aalto schools and with important interest groups in the education
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Vice Dean
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Head of Department
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Provides the resources for teaching activities, responsible for the planning of teaching and for monitoring and developing the effectiveness and quality of teaching at the department
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Reports to the Dean
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At the schools, the Deans are responsible for education, but may transfer decision-making power in teaching matters to the Vice Dean in charge of Teaching. Each school is responsible for the appropriate allocation and prioritisation of resources needed for teaching, and for achieving the annually agreed performance targets related to teaching.
Aalto LES provides services that enable the smooth progress of studies. The aim is for each student to get the support they need at the different stages of their studies and to graduate by the target time. Co-operation groups for coordination and development ensure the efficient preparation and management of operative and long-term matters related to teaching between the university and the school levels.
Learning Steering Group (LeSG) bodies, roles, responsibilities and communication:
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Actor
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Roles and responsibilities
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Communication
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Learning Steering Group (LeSG)
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Prepares and coordinates implementation of the university strategy and joint education-related affairs
Prepares all education-related affairs to the university AAC and PMT
Conducts the strategic management of learning-related affairs
Coordinates all joint education-related development efforts
Provides a platform for the sharing of best practices across schools
Enhances the harmonisation of learning-related processes and actions
Coordinates quality management in learning areas
Conducts the performance management of learning and LES (including KPI development)
Conducts the management of permanent and temporary task forces related to learning and teaching
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aalto.fi
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Learning Services Advisory Board
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Leads the operative management of LES at the university
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School Teaching Competence Assessment Committees
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Evaluates the teaching competence of employees applying to or advancing in the tenure-track and lecturer-track career systems
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