Minor subjects as a competitive advantage for the University of Oulu
The University of Oulu aims to create interdisciplinary and globally unique study paths in its new strategy. This is a worthwhile and ambitious goal, through which we can differentiate ourselves from other universities in the eyes of prospective students. With the first-time applicant quota being 70-80% of available spots in many educational programs, it has become even more crucial for students to make the right choice when choosing their field of study.
As a multidisciplinary university we are in a particularly advantageous position to create a solid foundation for offering minor subjects that cross faculty lines. The majority of students already study under the same roof on the Linnanmaa campus, and it is not difficult to commute from Linnanmaa to the Kontinkangas campus. Degree structures should have more freedom to choose minors and study modules, which could help ease any uncertainty students have about choosing the right field of study.
Already, the accessibility of studies and courses are being developed by creating alternative ways to complete courses, providing opportunities for students to continue their studies regardless of other life circumstances (work, family, location). Part of this development has been the remote learning practices introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the various untapped possibilities that artificial intelligence could unlock.
With the introduction of a new funding plan for higher education in 2025, the University of Oulu’s internal resource allocation is also under assessment. It is crucial that the university ensures that faculties are provided with enough resources in the internal funding allocation to allow them to offer courses to students from other faculties without it causing additional costs for the faculty providing the courses.
In its strategy, the University of Oulu notes that they offer “multidisciplinary and globally unique learning pathways”. This gives our university the unique opportunity to stand out from other Finnish universities by offering students the opportunity to pursue minors of their choice, regardless of their field of study. This way, students are also better able to meet the demands of the future job market. Supporting this is the university’s acknowledgment of the importance of not only subject–specific expertise but also generic skills, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to define the common academic career skills for all degree programs.
The question remains whether our future society will be one defined by rapid change, requiring more interdisciplinary expertise in the job market for highly educated individuals, and whether universities are prepared to offer this. We could be the ones ready to do so.
The authors of the blog are OYY board member Jakov Lubenets and OYY’s specialist of academic affairs Mikko Hakoniemi.