Student Services Theme Group
The universities have assembled several theme groups to outline the forthcoming Innovation University.
The Student Services theme group has taken a broader perspective on the matter than that suggested by their title, by also examining the functions of a study administration that serves both students and studying. Accordingly, the group has renamed itself the Student and Study Services theme group.
The basic objectives for the group are:
- to plan an entirely new high-grade student-/customer-centred service concept for an international university
- to provide supporting services to supplant a performance-oriented study culture with a study culture in which outstanding achievement is rewarded
- to strive for planning in which the old ideas are replaced by new, even impossible ones, to be tested later by application and evaluation by other theme groups and experts.
One of the tasks for the theme group is to acquire information on such topics as teaching, factory projects, information management, and internationality, and to use this information in their plans. The reinforcement and development of the lifelong learning degree model is particularly important.
Another task for the group is to support the work of the subgroups and to evaluate the proposals put forward by them, with regard to the plans made by other groups.
The theme group will assemble once a week, or every two weeks. In addition they will work online and meet for innovation university morning coffee sessions and at other functions. The collaborative network is expansive. They will keep in contact with the theme groups for teaching, research, international affairs, information management, communications, and library and information services, among others. Networking and communications will benefit from a specific blog, to be found at http://www.uiah.fi/virtu/opiskelijapalvelut/, where anyone can follow the group’s progress, gain information on events, and participate in the discussion forum.
The object of the subgroups is to replace old services by creating new ones, as much as possible. They will strive to conceive new ideas broadmindedly, while at the same time utilising the good practices of various service providers.
The following principles have been laid down as a basis for consideration in the subgroups: equal treatment for all students by the student services, equal access to services, accessibility, innovativeness, up-to-date administrative services (electronic services, network utilisation, mobile phone services), and the unification of services.
Members of the theme group and the subgroups:
Directors of Student Affairs Offices:
Leena Koskinen TaiK, chair, leena.koskinen@taik.fi
Anneli Lappalainen TKK anneli.lappalainen@tkk.fi
Margareta Soismaa HSE margareta.soismaa@hse.fi
Student members:
Inka Valkeapää TaiK inka.valkeapää@taik.fi
Tiia Saloranta TKK tiia.saloranta@tky.fi
Tommi Ora HSE tommi.ora@kyweb.fi
Subgroups:
Face-to-face
Open University
Welfare services (incl. accessibility)
Further education affairs
International student services
Physical exercise services
Learning environments and student info services (Noppa Group/TKK, Onni/TaiK. + learning platforms)
Oodi Group
Teaching development
Study grants services
Student recruitment and selection
Study process and curricula
Electronic services
Career and recruitment services
Director of Student Affairs Anneli Lappalainen, TKK