School of Engineering to revise Finnish-language bachelor's degree education

In its current form, the Finnish-language Bachelor's Programme in Engineering includes three major subjects as study options: energy and environmental technology, mechanical and structural engineering and built environment. After completing the programme, students have an option to continue their studies in one of the school's eight master's programmes. 'Bachelor's programmes were previously revised roughly ten years ago, with emphases on general engineering education and reducing the number of courses in order to ease the teaching load and to improve quality. A corresponding reform to master's programmes was done roughly five years ago,' says Professor Jani Romanoff, the vice dean for education starting in August.

The need for reform originates in feedback regarding the bachelor's programme. According to the feedback, the paths between current undergraduate study options and master's programmes are unclear, and a part of the master's programmes are not getting enough visibility in undergraduate studies. This revision aims to tackle these issues by clarifying the path to master's degree studies and by improving the balance of visibility between the different master's programmes.

According to the bachelor's progamme's Planning Officer Saara Kanerva, the biggest changes will be in the contents of bachelor's studies, which are being revised to better serve the needs of the master's programmes. As the content of studies changes, the names of the study options will be revised as well. Structural changes will also lead to adjustments to student intake numbers.

Future students of the programme will benefit from much clearer paths between bachelor's and master's studies, while also being introduced to the various master's programmes in a more balanced fashion. The flexibility built in to the current programme will remain, and students will still have the freedom to chart their own paths through studies. 'We are taking full advantage of the strengths of the last round of revisions while shoring up its weaknesses with additional strengths,' says Romanoff, summarising the reform process.

The reforms are scheduled to take effect in autumn 2022, meaning that the revised study options will be available in the 2022 joint application process for degree programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish. 'Applicants should keep an eye out for these new study options,' comments Kanerva. The new study options will give applicants a better idea of the field they will be studying and what their study paths might look like when the master's programmes are made more visible.

Students who started their bachelor's degree studies in 2020 or are starting in 2021 will not be significantly affected by the reform, even though the contents of future courses may change. They will still be able to complete their studies according to the current programme.

Please share your ideas, comments and questions regarding Finnish-language BSc programme renewal through this link.

Contact for more information:
Jani Romanoff, Associate Professor
[email protected]

Members of the concept group:
Jani Romanoff (chair), Associate Professor
Mirka Jalonen, Manager, Academic Affiars 
Marko Keskinen, Associate Professor
Heidi Falkenbach, Assistant Professor
Olli Seppänen, Associate Professor
Kari Tammi, Associate Professor
Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio, Assistant Professor
Sampo Sainio, Student
Camilla Vornanen-Winqvist, University Teacher
Saara Kanerva, Planning Officer (Learning Services)