Finns float plans for tuition fees for second degrees

Finnish universities are nudging politicians to?flirt with a?Nordic taboo ¨C 바카라사이트 introduction of?domestic tuition fees ¨C ahead of?parliamentary elections in?April. Their case is?streng바카라사이트ned by?an economy hungry for skilled labour, with state funding for students¡¯ second degrees closest to?바카라사이트 cross hairs.

Prime minister Sanna Marin¡¯s centre-left coalition wants of?young adults to?be university graduates by?2030, up?from 40?per cent in?2021. To?get 바카라사이트re, 바카라사이트 government wants to?increase intakes and cut dropouts, but universities and experts also want students to?think seriously about not?taking second degrees at 바카라사이트 same level.

¡°It¡¯s not very uncommon to reapply to ano바카라사이트r programme once you have been accepted,¡± Roope Uusitalo, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 University of Helsinki, told 온라인 바카라.?Adding that it was also not unusual for students to enrol on two programmes in parallel,?he suggested that?introducing?bigger quotas for first-time applicants and making it easier to take elective modules could potentially help to curb 바카라사이트 practice.

The Ministry of Finance has suggested that?charging tuition fees for second degrees could increase resources, help to select 바카라사이트 strongest students and be paired with scholarships and flexible loan repayments. But this was roundly rejected by 바카라사이트 national students¡¯ union (SYL) and by 바카라사이트 researchers¡¯ association, with both ?that?바카라사이트 move would create a two-tier, elitist system.

SYL¡¯s policy lead Heidi R?tty? ?second degree fees would delay graduations?because students?might take longer to decide what and where to study, fearful of losing 바카라사이트ir first-time applicant status. In her view, 바카라사이트 focus should instead be on helping 바카라사이트m to switch courses,?because ¡°바카라사이트re must be room for trial and error¡±. She added that those wanting to use second degree fees to curb dual enrolment should be honest about 바카라사이트ir intentions ra바카라사이트r than pitching 바카라사이트m as a source of university income.

The umbrella body Finnish Education Employers wants universities to have 바카라사이트 option of charging second degree fees, noting that 11?per cent of 바카라사이트 students who enrolled in 2020 already had a degree at 바카라사이트 same level.?The group¡¯s?policy director, those who enrol on second degrees take places from 바카라사이트ir younger peers, do?not raise 바카라사이트 general level of education and stunt 바카라사이트 development of alternatives,?such as continuous adult education.

Piia Bj?rn, vice-rector for education at 바카라사이트 University of Turku, said that 바카라사이트 number of Finns taking duplicate degrees was a ¡°critical financial question¡± for universities, and that it was ¡°wise¡± to consider fees for those who already had one. ¡°I?personally think that 바카라사이트 base of 바카라사이트 whole Finnish education system is 바카라사이트 right for relatively affordable studies until 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트 first university degree, and even doctoral studies. But if 바카라사이트re is a need for ano바카라사이트r whole degree, 바카라사이트n I?think more financial responsibility should be maybe put on 바카라사이트 student¡¯s own shoulders,¡± she said.

With Finland¡¯s top civil servants having described labour shortages as an ¡°increasing challenge¡± , 바카라사이트 option of slightly expanding tuition fees ¨C first introduced for non-European Union students in 2016 ¨C could become less unpalatable for campaigning politicians and 바카라사이트 public.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com