Reform of the degree structure at the University of Helsinki

Strategic choices

• Bologna Process
• Two-cycle degree structure
• Academic curriculum core analysis
• Joint degrees - double degrees
• ECTS and credit accumulation system

Bologna Process

The reform of the degree structure at the University of Helsinki is based on the so-called Bologna Process. This process was initiated in 1998 at the Sorbonne, where a group of European ministers of education launched an initiative for the harmonisation of the European higher education system. The next ministerial meeting held in Bologna in 1999 decided on the promotion of a European Higher Education Area and on the harmonisation of basic degree structures by the adoption of a two-cycle degree structure. In the communiqué of the Prague conference held in 2001, the ministers agreed on the preparation of national quality assurance systems. The 2003 conference held in Berlin focussed on the role of postgraduate studies and degrees in the degree system and on the promotion of European research cooperation. The status of the Bachelor's degree on the labour market was also discussed. The next ministerial meeting will be arranged in May 2005 in Bergen , Norway . The most central aims of the Bologna Process include increased mobility, transparency of education systems, comparability of degrees and quality assurance at various levels.

Two-cycle degree structure

The basic degree consists of the lower academic degree, the Bachelor's degree (180 credits/3 years), and the higher academic degree, the Master's degree (90-120 credits/2 years). The third cycle encompasses postgraduate studies (leading to a postgraduate degree).

Academic curriculum core analysis

The academic curriculum core analysis has been created to facilitate the planning and development of academic degrees. The purpose of this tool is to help teachers to piece together the hierarchies and relationships between the theories and practical skills of their subject and to ensure that these are in proportion to the time available for learning, the degree requirements and the curriculum.

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Joint Degrees - Double Degrees

The development of a system for the recognition of degrees is well under way all across Europe . Also, the possibilities of offering joint degrees are widely discussed. In these discussions, the emphasis seems to be on efforts to offer joint degrees rather than double degrees obtained through various recognition processes, resulting in a degree from another country.

ECTS and credit accumulation system

National credit allocation and accumulation systems will be replaced by the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). In this system, the annual student workload amounts to 1600 hours. The concept of the student workload refers to the time required to achieve the set learning outcomes of a programme. A total of 60 credits will measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. In practice, the reassessment of workloads and credits will mean pruning back the contents of most courses. The academic curriculum core analysis will prove useful in this work.

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