Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

National cooperative network

(mainly sourced from: Ammattikorkeakoulujen verkostohankkeet. Opetusministeriön julkaisuja 2007:1. (FI))

The Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences (VirtuaaliAMK), formerly known as the Finnish Virtual Polytechnic, is one the existing networking projects among Finnish polytechnics. It is a national cooperative network formed by all Finnish polytechnics. Its objectives are to develop, produce and offer internationally recognized, high-standard and competitive educational services and study entities aiming at flexible studies. The education and services make good use of different teaching and learning methods and modern information and communications technology.

The activities of the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences are based on polytechnics’ network and cooperative development. The development unit coordinates the activities and develops various services together with the polytechnics. The activities of the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences are divided into separate projects: projects of the development unit and projects of the polytechnics. The development among the network has been both transparent and under regular evaluation throughout the project. Additionally, the cooperation has generated several models of good practice, which has also made the future development easier.

The support of financiers or network of financiers has also played an important role in the activities of VirtuaaliAMK. The Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, as well as by The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). Polytechnics' self-financing share is also significant.

History

(mainly sourced from: Ammattikorkeakoulujen verkostohankkeet. Opetusministeriön julkaisuja 2007:1. (FI))

The structural development of Finnish higher education system and, furthermore, taking advantage of its synergies have been a hot potato in the Finnish education policy recently. Especially in the development of Finnish polytechnics, a great emphasis has been put on the national cooperation and networking of polytechnics. In recent years, several networking projects have been launched in order to promote the polytechnics’ common goals, such as progress of studies, internationalization, launch of career services, and implementation of virtual studies.

The development of Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences is one of those projects and it was started in 2001, when the TAMK University of Applied Sciences was named as the project coordinator. As the coordinator, TAMK was responsible for the project implementation, organizing and coordinating the collaboration and supporting other polytechnics in the project. In years 2004 – 2006, the project got funding from the Ministry of Education, and the foci were on producing virtual study entities and developing the VirtuaaliAMK portal and its services.

The amk.fi -portal

(mainly sourced from: Ammattikorkeakoulujen verkostohankkeet. Opetusministeriön julkaisuja 2007:1. (FI))

The amk.fi –portal is probably the most visible part of the VirtuaaliAMK network. It operates as the information and cooperation forum, electronic service provider and marketing channel of the network. It offers services in all three languages (Finnish, Swedish and English) for close to 10,000 registered and tens of thousands of unregistered users. Additionally, there is an integrated eProduction Environment on the portal, which is developed for centralized education production. The environment is shared by all polytechnics, and it enables the collective production of study materials, study modules and entire study entities.

Pedagogical and technical quality assurance

(mainly sourced from: Ammattikorkeakoulujen verkostohankkeet. Opetusministeriön julkaisuja 2007:1. (FI))

The pedagogical and technical quality assurance of VirtuaaliAMK’s educational products and services are carried out with the help of various evaluation tools and supporting networks. In year 2005, quality criteria and evaluation tools for the quality assessment of VirtuaaliAMK’s materials on the portal were established together with the Finnish Virtual University. The criteria cover the quality assessment and development of teaching materials published on the portal.

Students and teachers at VirtuaaliAMK

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education and Ammattikorkeakoulujen verkostohankkeet. Opetusministeriön julkaisuja 2007:1. (FI))

From the student perspective, studying at VirtuaaliAMK means flexibility, freedom of choice and alternative forms of study. Students develop not only their substance know-how, but also skills that are essential in today’s network society. Studies at VirtuaaliAMK are free for the degree students, but also others interested in the VirtuaaliAMK studies can take studies online.

Both the number of applicants and study modules offered through VirtuaaliAMK (2003 – 2005) have steadily increased. In 2005, altogether 548 study modules were offered through the portal, whereas the equivalent figure for 2003 was 232. The number of applicants, in turn, was some 800 students (2005), whereas the equivalent number from previous year (2004) was some 600 students. In 2005, 650 students were accepted at VirtuaaliAMK. In 2004, the number was 450 students.

The goal of VirtuaaliAMK is that by the end of year 2012, all polytechnic students have the opportunity to take at least a quarter of their studies virtually. This requires that more virtual study modules are offered through the VirtuaaliAMK portal. Another important objective is the flexibility in studying across institutional boarders. This requires that the overall electronic services are further developed, and that both students’ and teachers’ information and media literacy are at the required level.

From the institutional perspective, VirtuaaliAMK increases the economic competitiveness, among other things. When a polytechnic is involved in the education production, its staff gains valuable experience in developing and producing online study material, adopts teamwork skills and gets to utilize those skills for the benefit of their own polytechnic later. Additionally, a polytechnic that is involved in the production loop, can use the study materials produced by other polytechnics, and adapt and supplement them for their own purposes.

However, concrete results may not always be achieved in the short run, but in the long run. Polytechnics that are involved in the VirtuaaliAMK network have such know-how, which can surely be turned into economic advantage later. Additionally, when a polytechnic sets its study modules available on the portal, it gets free advertising. Various VirtuaaliAMK projects have also added the collaboration between teachers and business life, which in turn, has given the students the opportunity to get in touch with the business life through various projects and assignments already in student days.

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