Irina Lahti Research Unit for the Sociology of Education

SURVIVING THE FIRST YEARS: FINNISH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES IN

THE TWO-TIER DEGREE STRUCTURE

23 to 26 August 2009, Vilnius, Lithuania

Irina Lahti

Research Unit for the Sociology of Education

BACKGROUND

Bologna process

Establishing the European Higher Education area by the year 2010

GOALS:

"Harmonizing" European HE (common degree structure), better cooperation

Improving transparency and comparability

Facilitating student mobility

NATIONAL GOALS FOR THE TWO-TIER DEGREE STRUCTURE

Reducing drop out

Improving flexibility

Shortening study times

Improving international competitiveness

Better integration to labour market

MEANS:TWO-TIER DEGREE STRUCTURE OBLIGATORY LOWER UNIVERSITY DEGREE LIMITED STUDY TIMEBETTER STUDY GUIDANCE

FIRST SURVEY IN 2005

Was send to 4500 students who began their studies in 2005.

6 fields of study, 12 universities.

Topics: background information, basic data.

SECOND SURVEY IN 2008

Was send to the same students as in 2005.

The purpose: to get an idea of how the new degree structure is working in practise.

Topics: transitions, drop out, internationalization, future plans etc.

THREE PRONGED STUDENT SURVEY:

• education /work history

• socialselection

SURVEY 1Autumn 2005Study start

• knowledge• beliefs• needs• plans

FOLLOW-UP 1Spring 2008Approachingfirst degree

• experiences• mobility

(domestic / int.)• dropout• plans

FOLLOW-UP 2Spring 2009After Bachelor degree

• master studies- traditional route- domestic and

internationalmaster programmes

• employment

University as a study environment:• study styles and strategies• hidden curriculum

• education /work history

• socialselection

SURVEY 1Autumn 2005Study start

• knowledge• beliefs• needs• plans

FOLLOW-UP 1Spring 2008Approachingfirst degree

• experiences• mobility

(domestic / int.)• dropout• plans

FOLLOW-UP 2Spring 2009After Bachelor degree

• master studies- traditional route- domestic and

internationalmaster programmes

• employment

University as a study environment:• study styles and strategies• hidden curriculum

RESPONDENTS MAIN ACTIVITY AT THE TIME OF SECOND SURVEY

Over 90 % continues to study full-time or part-time.

Drop out has remained at the same level than before the reform, about 7 % of the respondents had dropped out.

Drop out is either permanent or temporary. 10 % are now studying elsewhere (e.g. vocational institutions).

Student work has stayed at the same level if not risen a bit. 56 % of students are working during the academic year. This has no noticeable effect on drop out nor does it delay studies notably.

MAIN ACTIVITY OF THERESPONDENTS

Respondents in 2008

n=1630

Studying 86 %

n=1408

Employment 10 %, n=159

Other activity 4 %, n=63

Also working 55 %, n= 778

Also studying 42 % n=67

Also studying 28 % n=18

Has dropped out completely or for

the time being n=13

Has graduated 23 % n=36

Has dropped out completely or for

the time being 35 % n=56

Has dropped out completely or for the time being 62

% n=39

Has graduated 10 % n=6

EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND TRANSITIONS

Excess demand in Finnish HE difficult to enter, under a third of the applicants are accepted to universities.

17 % of the respondents did not receive their primary study place in 2005 of whom 64 % continued in the same field of study as previously at the time of the 2nd survey.

83 % received their primary study place of whom 92 % continued as previously at the time of the 2nd survey.

Overall 13 % has decided to transfer to another field of study, university or both after 3 years of studies. 8 % are considering the option.

EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS

Respondents in 2005/08

n=1171

Received preferred study place

in 2005 83 % n=973

Did not receive preferred study

place in 2005

17 % n=198

Continues in the same university and in the same

field of study 92 % n=894

Different university and a different

field 1 % n=14

Same university, different field

5 % n=49

Same field of study, different university

2 % n=16

Will transfer 12 % n=106 Probably transfers 6 % n=58 Will not transfer 82 % n=730

Will transfer n=0 Probably transfers 13 % n=2 Will not transfer 89 % n=14



Will transfer 25 % n=3 Probably transfers n=0 Will not transfer 75 % n=9


Continues in the same university and in the same

field of study 64 % n=126

Same field of study,

different university 6 % n=12

Same university, different field

20 % n=39

Different university and a different

field 10 % n=21



BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND IT'S COMPLETION

2005 estimates: 82 % will complete the bachelor's degree in the given time limit of three years.

At the time of the 2nd survey: 15 % had completed the bachelor's degree. Only 34 % will complete by the fall semester of 2008.

Because of flexible transitions delaying bachelor's degree does not often put back master's degree studies possibility to overlap lower and upper university degree studies.

Exchange period doesn't significantly delay studies in home university yet fear of delays are seen as a main obstacle for applying to exchange programmes.

INTERNATIONALIZATION AND EXCHANGE STUDIES

In 2005 a third of the respondents were planning to attend an exchange programme.

By the time of the follow up every 10th had taken part in an exchange programme.

Decrease in enthusiasm from 2005 to 2008.

Obstacles for not attending: family related, economical, fear for delays in studies, poor language skills, work etc.

EXCHANGE STUDIES

PLANS IN 2005: SITUATION IN 2008 SURVEY:

Respondents 2005/08 n=1274

Yes, almost certain

30 % n=382

Not sure, could consider the

option 46 % n=581

Has already studied abroad

23 % n=89

Has already studied abroad 2 % n=8

Is planning exchange

studies 24 % n=139

Has already studied abroad 6% n=32

Not interested 70 % n=410



studies 48 % n=181


studies 6 % n=18



INTERNATIONAL MASTER'S DEGREES

Ministry of Education's goal: Internationalization and interaction with foreign universities, teachers and students.

Students are encouraged to complete the upper university degree entirely in a foreign university.

6 % had already applied or started international studies by the time of the 2nd survey.

9 % in total reported to be very interested in the matter in 2008.

PLANS AFTER THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Ministry of education's aims:

to make more flexible study paths

to create labour market niche for the lower university degree graduates

About 70 % will continue in the chosen study programme.

Nearly a fifth are thinking about changing a field of study.

Only 4 % considers entering the labour market.

TRADITIONAL STUDY PATHS

PLANS AFTER THE

BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Respondents

2005/08 n=1027

Will continue in the same study field to master’s degree 67 % n=686

Could consider entering the labour market 4 % n=39

Will continue to master’s degree, but considers changing the filed 17 % n=177


Will enter the labour market 1 % n=4

Will continue to master’s degree but considers changing the field 3 % n=19

Other plans 4 % n=32

Can not say yet 12 % n=125








Other plans 5 % n=2





INITIAL PLANS IN 2005:

REVISED PLANS IN 2008:

SUMMARYThe new degree system hasn't quite sank in

student seek traditional study paths.

Bachelor's degree is still seen as an intermediate phase

students move straight to master's degree studies and mostly in the same field of study as the bachelor's degree.

Transfers between major subjects and study fields still cause delays

inflexibility has somewhat remained.

Attrition has stayed at the same level.

Internationalization has increased somewhat.

Employment after the bachelor's degree doesn't seem tempting.

Master's degree is the first option for the most

Irina Lahti Research Unit for the Sociology of Education

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