Study title

Evaluation of Degree Reform in Finland 2010: University of Applied Sciences Programmes

Dataset ID Number

FSD2680

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2680

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

• Nokso-Koivisto, Aleksis (Student Research Foundation (Otus))
• Penttilä, Johanna (Student Research Foundation (Otus))

Abstract

The evaluation survey examined how well the objectives set for the Bologna Process had been achieved in degree programmes at Finnish universities of applied sciences (UAS) and how well the new two-cycle degree structure functioned. Other main themes included student mobility and changes in degree requirements.

First questions investigated to what extent degree programmes had been aware of the goals set for the degree reform, what were the most important goals for them and how well these goals had been achieved in their field. Other topics included participation in field-specific projects connected to the reform at national or European level and the usefulness of such projects. Degree programmes were asked to evaluate the implementation of the reform in the university of applied science, to what extent different stakeholders had participated, how useful national level support for the implementation had been and how well the field had succeeded in transferring from the previous to the new degree structure. The functionality of the two-cycle system was studied with a number of questions relating to the status and feasibility of UAS bachelor and master degrees. Further questions investigated the impact of the reform on the length of study, that is, how quickly students complete their courses.

The next set of questions studied whether the reform had facilitated and increased domestic and international mobility of students and in what ways. Another theme focused on the impact of the reform on curricula and degree requirements. Questions covered, for instance, to what extent curricula had been changed, what factors had been taken into account in planning them, equivalence between credits and workload and whether the needs of working life had been taken into account. Finally, the respondents were asked to evaluate the implementation and success of the degree reform in their own field.

Background variables included the name of the institution (UAS) and field of study.

Keywords

curriculum; educational policy; educational systems; higher education institutions; tertiary education; university courses

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Educational policy (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council

Data Producers

• Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council

Time Period Covered

2002 – 2010

Collection Dates

2010-04 – 2010-05

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Organization/Institution

Universe

Degree programmes in Finnish universities of applied sciences (UAS)

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

The sample covers all eight fields of study in the Finnish universities of applied sciences and represents 29 degree programmes. Particularly those institutions which have participated in developing UAS master's degree from 2002 onwards were selected to the sample.

Fields of study and universities of applied sciences in the sample: Humanities and education (DIAK, HUMAK, Mikkeli UAS); culture studies (Helsinki Metropolia, KyAMK); natural sciences (VAMK, TAMK); natural resources and the environment (Novia, North Karelia UAS, Seinäjoki UAS); tourism, catering and domestic services (HAAGA-HELIA, Rovaniemi UAS, Kajaani UAS); social services, health and sports (Arcada, Laurea, Helsinki Metropolia, Oulu UAS, TAMK, Turku UAS); technology and transport (HAMK, JAMK, Helsinki Metropolia, Saimaa UAS, Satakunta UAS, Savonia); social sciences, business and administration (HAAGA-HELIA, Kemi-Tornio UAS, Central Ostrobothnia UAS, Lahti UAS)

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Semi-structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD2677 Evaluation of Degree Reform in Finland 2010: Higher Education Institutions

FSD2678 Evaluation of Degree Reform in Finland 2010: University Faculties

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC): Evaluation of Degree Reform in Finland 2010: University of Applied Sciences Programmes [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2011-10-28). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2680

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Niemelä, Jari & Ahola, Sakari & Blomqvist, Carita & Juusola, Henna & Karjalainen, Merja & Liljander, Juha-Pekka & Mielityinen, Ida & Oikarinen, Kerttu & Moitus, Sirpa & Mattila, Johanna (2011). Tutkinnonuudistuksen arviointi 2010. Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvoston julkaisuja 17:2010 [verkkodokumentti]. Saatavissa: http://www.kka.fi/files/1217/KKA_1710.pdf [viitattu 14.10.2011].

Related Publications

Niemelä, Jari & Ahola, Sakari & Blomqvist, Carita & Juusola, Henna & Karjalainen, Merja & Liljander, Juha-Pekka & Mielityinen, Ida & Oikarinen, Kerttu & Moitus, Sirpa & Mattila, Johanna (2011). Tutkinnonuudistuksen arviointi 2010. Korkeakoulujen arviointineuvoston julkaisuja 17:2010.