Educational policy outlook for 2025

HYY’s educational policy sector is in for an inspiring year filled with work. We will continue our work to improve students’ opportunities to influence matters both at the University and in society. Member of our Board Venla Lehtinen reveals the outline for this year in this blog post.

I am excited for the upcoming year in charge of educational policy, especially getting to further students’ participation at the University and to strengthen university democracy. During the year, we will actively meet with the University’s employees and management. We will highlight the very themes that students consider important and that we wish to change.

Concrete advocacy work on students’ everyday lives: the new curricula

New curricula for 2026–2030 will be drafted at the University during this year. Work on the curricula is not just one of the University’s administrative processes – it is a great chance for students to participate in and directly influence what their studies will look like in the future. The steering groups of degree programmes will draft teaching schedules for the degree programmes based on the curricula. The teaching schedules provide more detail on matters such as the number of hours and location information for study units. At its best, curriculum work is a communal process in which students are strongly involved. We want teaching to serve students’ interests in the best possible way. This translates into accessible teaching and flexible completion methods, for instance.

In close contact with students

There is no university without students. We want to ensure that students’ influencing opportunities genuinely reflect this reality. The faculty tours where I meet with faculty organisations, people involved in academic affairs and students from different campuses are already under way. I want to meet you and hear about your thoughts, wishes and worries. In general, too, please do not hesitate to contact us in the educational policy sector. We are happy to help with everyday study affairs.

During the year, we will also strengthen the operation of the Study Network and the Student Representative Network and bring people involved in academic affairs together. The Study Network brings together the people in charge of academic affairs in subject and faculty organisations, for instance. The network is open to anyone who wants to influence academic affairs at the University. Join the network if you would like some peer support for advocacy work or would just like to know what kind of things others interested in educational policy are dealing with.

Student representatives

Student representatives have an invaluable role especially when decisions are made on matters that directly affect students. This year, we will launch another application process to find student representatives to the University Board, the University Collegium and faculty councils as well as organise supplementary calls for applications to the steering groups of degree programmes. Student representatives are an important link between students and the University Management. The selection of student representatives is a statutory duty of the Student Union, allowing us to, for instance, guarantee that students have opportunities to influence matters that concern their own studies. We will provide student representatives with training and support them during the different stages of the curriculum work, for instance.

Influencing matters in the University’s working groups and structures

The preparation of the implementation of the results from the assessment of the operating structure and management system (TOIJO) at the University will continue during this spring. This verbal monstrosity is at the core of both educational policy jargon and advocacy work. Work on TOIJO is about changing the University’s structures. Even though the process may sound dry and complex, it is a key opportunity to promote the improvement of students’ influencing opportunities in decision-making processes. According to the TOIJO report, students do not, for instance, see the University’s communication as meaningful, and they consider administrative processes somewhat shadowy. Through the further measures taken under TOIJO, we can improve the transparency of the operating structure and management system and ensure student representation in various working groups.

We will also be working on the University’s service model. The University’s new service model, University Services 2.0, will strive to better meet the current service needs of students and personnel in a changed operating environment. From a student perspective, University Services have not worked all that well. Students may easily feel like they are being directed from one service point to another at the University, and actually receiving help is difficult. We want to make the services more student-friendly when they are reorganised.

Attention should be directed to student wellbeing and improving communality at the University. In the new working group on sustainable wellbeing, we will strive to find ways to promote the holistic wellbeing of students. A close-knit, communal and caring University creates a good foundation for student wellbeing.

Be bold and influence matters!

I am personally worried about education and learning having lost their intrinsic value during the current era, which prioritises efficiency. Throughout the year, I want to draw attention to an alternative way of thinking where learning is seen as something that is valuable and worth aspiring to in and of itself. Students are not just financial resources for the University to prod to graduate quickly, nor are they mere tools for society. Students are builders of our community and promoters of societal change. They have the right to wander about, look for their own place and enjoy the time they spend studying and learning.

I want to encourage all students to take an active role in their student and university community. Developing a dynamic community takes all of us. Being active and influencing matters are not restricted to organisational activities, even though organisations are an excellent avenue to build communality. There are also opportunities in the University’s processes and structures, student representation and many other places. Get involved, influence matters and be part of a change that will make our community even more vibrant and participatory than it now is!

Best wishes for the spring,

Venla Lehtinen

Member of HYY’s Board in charge of educational policy