1 INTRODUCTION

Laurea Polytechnic welcomes students to join the Laurea learning experience. As Finland's third largest polytechnic, Laurea provides students, whether Finnish or foreign, a multitude of options with regard to what and where to study. Within 17 Degree Programmes in six fields of study, Laurea offers a great variety of study modules also in English. The Laurea curricula are designed so as to reflect the state-of-the-art in professional life within the national and international contexts, providing students with a critical, cooperative and developmental work approach.

International students are regarded as growing resources of cultural and professional insight for our institution, an ingredient that gives the necessary finishing touch to the Laurea learning environment. In return, we expect our international students to observe the professional ethos of Laurea. We look forward to all our students playing an active positive part in their new work community, even if they as exchangees stay only for a few weeks or months.

This handbook is Laurea’s seventh comprehensive Study Guide / ECTS Information Guide in English. I hope the Guide together with our tutor lecturers and international tutor students will help both our degree students with non-Finnish background as well as our incoming Erasmus or other exchange students in tailoring an optimal study path from among the English language study offer of our Institutes. I believe the Guide will also serve the academic staff of partner universities as a more in-depth orientation into Laurea and its learning strategies.

LAUREAMKO – the Student Union of Laurea Polytechnic – welcomes you to commence your studies at Laurea Polytechnic. The academic year 2004-2005 contains a great deal of events and happenings at Laurea as well as at the national level.

The main task of LAUREAMKO is to promote and secure the common interests and rights as well as improve the well-being of the students at Laurea Polytechnic. Watching interests is an ongoing process, which is enhanced by having student representation in all major working groups within Laurea Polytechnic. This is the way we get our voice heard just where the decisions are made. However, even we are not perfect and cannot always see and hear everything. That is why we also need your help. If you think that you have been treated in an inappropriate way, call or e-mail us! This way we can correct the mistakes and ensure that no-one else will face the same situation again. Remember that things will not get better if you only let them be instead of improving them yourself.

LAUREAMKO is a member of SAMOK – the Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students. When you join your Student Union, you will automatically become a member of SAMOK. It really is worth joining as you will get the Student Card that will entitle you to several benefits and discounts. You can print out the Student Card order form from our Web pages. As soon as you deliver it, the sooner you will get your card and be able to enjoy the benefits.

The task of SAMOK is to promote the interests and to secure the rights of polytechnic students at the national level. LAUREAMKO is working with the same tasks inside Laurea Polytechnic. In LAUREAMKO, matters are taken care of by the Board. We also have a Secretariat working full-time for the members of the Student Union. LAUREAMKO has sections within each Institute that are dealing with the local activities. So in most cases, there is someone who you can reach and who can answer your questions. Our Secretary General is together with the Chairman responsible for contacts with Laurea administration and other contacts plus the financing of the Student Union.

We have thousands of members, and we believe that among them there are experts from several fields and lots of active students. If you are interested in improving Student Union activity for example in form of different clubs, floor ball league or something else, or you wish to become a Member of the Board in the Student Union, feel free to contact LAUREAMKO or the section operating in your institute.

The new Board for the Student Union will be elected in November, so be active and stay tuned for the information. Active participation in student activities is fun and it may also be useful for you in your future career.
We wish you a happy, interesting and eventful study time at Laurea Polytechnic. Grasp on to challenges that are offered.

Laura Lindqvist

Chairman of the Board
Mobile +358 44 287 7151
mail to: puheenjohtaja@laureamko.fi

LAUREAMKO Office:
Vanha maantie 9, 02650 ESPOO
phone: +358 44 287 7161
mail to: laureamko@laureamko.fi
http://www.laureamko.fi/

The Laurea Polytechnic Study Guide / ECTS Information Guide has been edited not only for the use of the students who join the Polytechnic on a Socrates/Erasmus exchange or other exchange programmes but also to serve our non-Finnish speaking degree students. This guide enlists the Laurea Degree Programmes and courses that are provided in the English language plus a few courses in Swedish and German, the courses in Finnish are not included. The guide also contains some information on the educational policies and services of the Polytechnic, for more detailed information please see the Student Guide 2004-2005 or www.laurea.fi. Updated versions of both Guides can be found at www.laurea.fi .

Except for students, it is our hope that the teaching and administrative personnel in our partner universities and other interested institutions will find this document a useful guide into Laurea and its internationally oriented programmes.

The editors will be grateful for comments and suggestions that may help us improve this guide.

The Editors:
Arja Majakulma (Ms) Director, International Activities
ECTS Institutional Coordinator
Tel / fax +358 205 787 215 / 358 205 787 200
Email arja.majakulma@laurea.fi

Minna Haronoja (Ms) Assistant
Studies in Culture
Tel / fax +358 205 787 362 / 358 205 787 300
Email minna.haronoja@laurea.fi

Mari Syrjäpalo (Ms) International Coordinator
Studies in Hospitality Management
Tel / fax +358 205 787 913 / 358 205 787 901
Email mari.syrjapalo@laurea.fi

Tyyri Douthwaite (Ms) Head of International Relations
Studies in Natural Sciences
Tel / fax +358 205 787 422 / 358 205 787 401
Email tyyri.douthwaite@laurea.fi

Tanja Korteharju (Ms) International Coordinator
Studies in Natural Resources and the Environment
Tel / fax +358 205 787 703 / 358 205 787 740
Email tanja.korteharju@laurea.fi

Maarit Pirttineva-Muukari (Ms) Senior Lecturer
Studies in Social Sciences, Business and Administration
Tel / fax +358 205 787 428 / 358 205 787 401
Email maarit.pirttineva-muukari@laurea.fi

Irma Sarekoski (Ms) International Coordinator
Studies in Social Services, Health and Sports
Tel / fax +358 205 787 556 / 358 205 787 501
Email irma.sarekoski@laurea.fi

Mailing Address: Laurea Polytechnic
Lummetie 2 B
FIN-01300 Vantaa, Finland