Students value community and flexibility in open university education – quality development is systematic
At the Open University of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, quality in teaching is developed with both a practical and scientific framework.
"No matter your age or where you are in life, the Open University offers support and guidance for all students. We truly hold students at the heart of our work: For instance this year, we have launched a student board which helps us involve our students even more in developing JYUOpen," tells Education Coordinator Riina Kärkkäinen.
"Next year, we're also kicking off the development of our student feedback process, which will definitely improve the study experience further down the line," Kärkkäinen says.
JYUOpen has conducted research into student support and the progress of studies. This research will be utilised in the development of teaching practices. For instance, when asked to name what helps them complete their coursework, open university students identified the community spirit and flexible modes of completion as cornerstones.
"Studying at JYUOpen is flexible and it allows me to plan my study schedules so they suit my life overall. You need to be quite independent and plan ahead, but for me having the freedom to determine which courses I take and when has been great," tells education sciences student Wilhelmiina Harju.
Online studies that excel in quality and flexibity
In completed study credits, JYU Open University is the most popular open university in Finland, with 26,500 students annually (2021) from around Finland and the world.
The covid pandemic helped normalise distance learning, but JYUOpen has been a pioneer in flexible and largely online studies well before those exceptional circumstances. The well-functioning online teaching practices have enabled high-quality learning experiences for open university students throughout the pandemic years.
High quality in teaching is born out of collaboration
JYU Open University is the first university education provider in Finland to receive the E-xcellence quality label. The label is awarded to a university or its department that offers open, online or distance education.
"The quality label speaks to the longstanding, systematic work we've carried out in developing open university education at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥," says Open University Director Jukka Lerkkanen.
"We are proud of this achievement. It comes as a result of a quality development process which our whole university community took part in. This is why the E-xcellence award is not just an accomplishment of JYUOpen, but of the high-quality online education of Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ as a whole," tells Open University Vice Director Merja Karjalainen.
"The attainment by JYUOpen of this prestigious international audit is a remarkable testament to the high quality in how not just teaching, but the entire organisation of the Open University is operated. With JYUOpen being the leading open university in Finland in terms of education volume, we could not be prouder of JYUOpen's fantastic success while adhering to its values," says Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ Vice Rector Marja-Leena Laakso.
"In the midst of constant change and with increasing demands from our operating environment, the key task for our university is to keep prioritising quality in our development. Efficiency and agility are not among our stated core values, necessary though they may be – rather, as a multidisciplinary research university, all our development should be guided by a pursuit of acknowledged quality," Vice Rector Laakso elaborates.
The E-xcellence quality label is granted to JYUOpen on a fixed term basis: till end of 2025. Currently only three other European universities hold the label.
The quality audit carried out by EADTU (European Association of Distance Teaching Universities) started in 2021. The auditing process comprised of benchmarking, guided self-evaluation and expert analysis. EADTU experts visited Jyväskylä in May 2022.
JYU Open University received excellent evaluations in for example the design and delivery of courses as well as staff support.
Quality development at JYUOpen does not cease with the attainment of the quality label.
"We have already embarked on a three-year road map to implement further development at the Open University," says Director Lerkkanen.
Further information
Jukka Lerkkanen, Director
Open University of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥
jukka.lerkkanen@jyu.fi
+358 400 249 643
Merja Karjalainen, Vice Director
Open University of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥
merja.karjalainen@jyu.fi
+358 50 441 3687
Marja-Leena Laakso, Vice Rector
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥
marja-leena.laakso@jyu.fi
+358 40 805 4024
Riina Kärkkäinen, Education Coordinator
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥
riina.karkkainen@jyu.fi
+358 50 428 0805
Wilhelmiina Harju, student
wiltsu.harju@gmail.com
+358 44 970 9141
