2 INFORMATION ON THE POLYTECHNIC

Higher education is provided by universities and polytechnics (ammattikorkeakoulu, AMK). The Finnish polytechnic system was built during the 1990’s to create a non-university sector of higher education. Polytechnic education emphasises close contacts with business, industry and services, especially at the regional level. The degrees are designed to meet the changing requirements and development needs of the world of work, having a pronounced occupational emphasis, and qualifying graduates for various expert duties. Polytechnics undertake research and development with an applied and practical emphasis.

There are presently 31 polytechnics in Finland, most of which are multidisciplinary and operate in several units. Polytechnics offer Bachelor-level higher education degrees equivalent to Bachelor of Arts (Hon) or Bachelor of Science (Hon) Degrees in the UK and the US, the French Licence, the German Diplom Fachhochschule and the Dutch HBO Diploma.

Studies are organised into Degree Programmes, which are confirmed by the Ministry of Education, the curricula are independently decided by the polytechnics. Each Degree Programme consists of 210 ECTS credits and takes 3.5-4.5 years to complete. For some fields of study the number of credits is 240 ECTS, such as studies in Natural Resources, Culture and Media and Public Health Nursing. The polytechnic degrees combine theory, practice and individual experience and qualify the graduates for planning, expert and managerial posts as well as for other professional tasks requiring a high standard of expertise.

Postgraduate polytechnic programmes, Master programmes, offer advanced education for persons who have a polytechnic degree or appropriate university degree and who have work experience in the field. These degrees consist of 60-90 ECTS credits, can be completed alongside a full-time job and include a working-life development programme.

Laurea operates in the Helsinki metropolitan area, one of the most competitive regions in the world. The area contains a significant concentration of higher education and research establishments, innovative companies and nationally important innovators, linked by various formal and informal networks. Due to the challenging nature of this innovation-packed environment, in order to promote development it is essential for professionals to become specialised in their areas of expertise and create wide-ranging networks.

The principle of networking has been chosen as a strategy for Laurea. Laurea’s task in developing its own areas of expertise is to operate as a provincial multi-faculty polytechnic for the whole metropolitan area. Laurea fulfils this task by bringing together teaching, research and development activities with regional development schemes. Each task is equally valuable, but the resources devoted to them vary within the polytechnic’s operations. In terms of content, Laurea focuses on welfare, business, ICT and sustainable development. Within the higher education system of the metropolitan area, Laurea is an example of an establishment which produces innovations within the workplace and transfers skills efficiently. Laurea’s operations are based on the following values: a student and customer focused approach, reliability, community spirit, openness and participation, social responsibility and innovativeness.

In terms of starting students, Laurea is the third largest polytechnic in Finland. In 2005 there are around 8,000 students at Laurea. Laurea is educating the professional experts and specialists of the 21st century and offers students a modern, stimulating and open learning environment. It is able to exploit the latest information technology and communications know-how and uses the Net for internal as well as external purposes. There is continuous interaction between Laurea, the wider community and the professional world. Our curriculum develops constantly and in 2006 we will adopt a competence-based curriculum “Learning by Developing” that responds to the needs of the labour market even better than before. It is a characteristic of the educational approach at Laurea that the students take responsibility for their own studies and personal growth. From the broad range of fields of study available, students draw up a study programme that is tailored to their own individual needs and objectives. Students at Laurea are sure to face many exciting challenges as they develop their professional skills and learn to apply newly acquired knowledge, as well as contributing to progress within their professional fields, and discovering an international perspective.

The activities of Laurea Polytechnic take place in three regional units: Espoo-Lohja, Central and Northern Uusimaa, and Vantaa-Porvoo. Laurea has units in Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Kerava, Lohja, Porvoo, Vantaa (Tikkurila), and two in Espoo (Leppävaara and Otaniemi).The Polytechnic’s central administration is run by the Board together with an Administrative Unit (in Tikkurila) that is supervised by the President. The regional units are run by Regional Principals.

Laurea offers Degree Programmes in six fields of study:
Culture
Hospitality Management
Natural Sciences
Natural Resources and the Environment
Social Sciences, Business and Administration
Social Services, Health and Sports

Thirteen Degree Programmes are taught in Finnish and three in English. All Degree Programmes include some tuition in English; full programmes in English are the Degree Programme in Business Management, Degree Programme in Nursing and Degree Programme in Social Services.

The Laurea Degree Programmes and degrees are listed below in their language of tuition, i.e. Finnish or English.

Degrees and Degree Programmes for 2005-2006