Evaluation of science education
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We invite you to discuss the preliminary conclusions and development recommendations of the evaluation in the development webinar 24.4.2025 at 13–15.
The purpose of the webinar is to gather perspectives from various stakeholders before the evaluation report will be published. The webinar is intended for university staff, students, representatives of working life, and other stakeholders.
The development webinar will be conducted primarily in Finnish, but one group discussion will be held in English.
The development webinar will be held via Microsoft Teams, and registration is required by April 22
PROGRAM
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Preliminary conclusions and development recommendations, prof. Jan Lundell, Chair of the Evaluation Team
1:30 PM – 2:20 PM Group discussions on evaluation conclusions and recommendations
2:20 PM – 2:50 PM Summary and joint discussion on group discussions, Return to the main Teams session
2:50 PM – 3:00 PM Final discussion
Participants will select a discussion theme when registering. The group discussions will take place in Microsoft Teams breakout rooms.
GROUP DISCUSSION THEMES
1. Developing and resourcing the degree programmes (in Finnish)
2. Attractiveness of the degree programmes, student engagement, and ensuring smooth progress in studies (in Finnish)
3. Competence generated by the degree programmes (in Finnish)
4. Relevance of the education to the labour market and ability to respond to changes in the environment and continuous learning (in Finnish)
5. Internationalisation of education (in English)
EVALUATION PROJECT PLAN
FINEEC will carry out an evaluation of science education in universities between the years 2023 and 2025. The evaluation project plan (in finnish) has been approved by the Higher Education Evaluation Committee on May 21, 2024.
The following persons have been appointed as the evaluation team at the Higher Education Evaluation Committee meeting on November 24, 2023:
- Professor Jan Lundell, University of Jyväskylä (Chair)
- Dean of Education Saana-Maija Aho, University of Oulu
- Director of Research Infrastructures Tero Eklin, Finnish Environment Institute
- Professor, Vice Dean Laura Hirsto, University of Eastern Finland
- Senior Lecturer Annika Meinander, Åbo Akademi University
- Professor, Vice Dean of Education Sami Moisio, University of Helsinki
- Student Arvi Tolvanen, University of Turku.
Evaluations in different study fields in higher education will produce an overall picture of the strengths and development areas in the examined degree programmes in relation to the competence produced by the qualifications and their relevance to working life as well as continuous learning. The evaluation will also produce information about the capacity of higher education institutions to develop the education they offer to correspond to the changing requirements for competence and the future operating environment. The evaluation aligns with Karvi's strategic objective of "Raising the level of competence and education."
The evaluation addresses the following questions:
- How is the development and resourcing of science degree programmes ensured?
- How is the attractiveness of education, student engagement, and the smooth progress in studies ensured in science degree programmes?
- What kind of competences does higher education in science generate, and how?
- What is the relevance of science education to the labour market, and how do the degree programmes respond to changes in the environment?
- How do the offerings and practices of continuous learning secure the development of competencies in the field of science for the future?
The evaluation in the field of science education covers the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programmes at universities.
This evaluation of science education covers a range of disciplines including chemical and physical sciences, bio sciences and environmental sciences, geosciences and geography and mathematical sciences and statistics. The education in computer sciences and information technology will undergo a separate evaluation at a later stage.
The timetable of data gathering
| Self-assessment survey for degree programmes of science education | 16.9.-28.10.2024 |
| Workshops for teachers, students and doctoral candidates of universities | 27.11.-10.12.2024 |
| Group interviews of university staff and representatives of labour market | 20.1.-3.2.2025 |
| Development webinar for all that are interested in the evaluation of science education | 24.4.2025 at 13-15 |
| Closing webinar for the evaluation | 12.6.2025 at 13-16 |
More information on the evaluation
