The Aalto University Student Union is disappointed that universities have decided to seek quick profits when trying to improve the fluency of studies. All universities are trying to increase the number of students that complete at least 55 study credits per year. After the education cuts, all universities are anxious to improve their relative positions with respect to other universities in order to maximize their funding.
As in some other universities, Aalto has also introduced financial incentives to encourage students to study faster. The financing model of the universities has led to a situation where the state money granted to the universities is used for scholarships, rather than for reforms used to improve the quality and fluency of studies in full. Large and good investments used to develop study ability and degree programmes at Aalto and elsewhere remain invisible if students see the development only as rewarding the top students with everyone’s money.
The basic tasks of universities are teaching, research and social interaction, and they receive their funding based on these tasks. AYY has constantly reminded people of the methods that are proven to improve study pace: the significance of study ability and dismantling various barriers to study. Universities and degree programmes that have utilized a combination of various reforms, such as improving counselling, reflecting on the curriculum, and changing the culture amongst students and staff, have had the most success. With scholarships, universities send a message that study success is only up to the individual, even though study progress is highly dependent on the contents of the studies and how they are are organized. The system is flawed if students cannot grasp why it is important to keep up with the target pace of the studies, and especially when students cannot study at the pace required by the student financial aid, even when they want to.
We have all the necessary scientific information to support the emergence of enthusiasm and commitment and to overcome a variety of learning barriers. Aalto has made big investments in student wellbeing and the reform of the degree programmes. AYY hopes that we would now dig up the material from the Kyky project, which is familiar also to Aalto. Enthusiastic students can complete an extra 9 study credits per semester, but the key to creating enthusiasm is not handing students scholarships. Universities also recently received money for their spearhead project, the development of student wellbeing. This is the right direction. Despite the financial pressure, we need to keep a cool head. The prize for studying is learning, and it is the universities’ task to teach, not to jump every time the financing model says so.
For more information and background, visit our blog: /blogi/2017/03/16/a-change-in-study-pace-requires-a-change-in-culture/?lang=en