The Student Union of Haaga-Helia Helga has issued its statement on the draft Government proposal for acts amending the Universities Act, the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, Section 4 of the Act on Student Financial Aid, and Section 2 of the Act on Healthcare for Higher Education Students (degree as open higher education).
Helga takes a critical view of the draft proposal, as it would mean a significant change to the fundamental principles of the Finnish higher education system by bringing a fee-charging degree pathway as part of domestic higher education. Although the objective of the proposal is to increase the accessibility and flexibility of higher education, Helga sees that the proposed regulation contains substantial risks regarding educational equality, student equity, and tuition-free Finnish higher education. Consequently, Helga opposes the proposal on the right to award degrees through open higher education and proposes its cancellation.
Helga’s key observations are the following:
- The proposal in practice builds a parallel fee-charging degree pathway, the accessibility of which is largely based on an individual’s ability to pay.
- Fee-charging degree education may increase socioeconomic segregation in higher education and strengthen the intergenerational transmission of education.
- Helga does not consider it appropriate that fee-charging degree education organized as open higher education would automatically fall under student financial aid or FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service) services, as this could blur the primacy of tuition-free degree education in the Finnish higher education system.
- The impact assessments of the proposal identify several problems, but the protective structures included in the proposal do not sufficiently eliminate these risks.
- Helga considers the development of continuous learning and flexible study paths important, but deems that they should primarily be implemented within the framework of a publicly funded and equitable higher education system.
Helga considers it important that educational equality, equity, accessibility, student well-being, and the principle of tuition-free degree education continue to remain the foundation of the Finnish higher education system in the future. The development of continuous learning and flexible study paths is important, but they should not be implemented in a way that increases educational inequality or shifts the responsibility for the costs of higher education to individuals. Helga deems that the accessibility and educational capacity of higher education should primarily be strengthened through means of public funding.
More information
Otso Muhonen
Chairperson of the Board
Student Union of Haaga-Helia – Helga
[email protected]
