Face-to-face and remote start to the academic year
During the orientation events for new students arranged at the campuses, students will get a chance to meet each other as well as receive information about their own fields of education and the start of academic studies. Nearly 2,800 new students will be starting their studies. In the autumn term, the plan is to offer studies as contact teaching and remote teaching, through blended learning methods and hybrid teaching, depending on the pedagogical suitability. We are constantly monitoring the development of the COVID-19 situation.
At the beginning of the new academic year, the Rector of the University of Oulu Jouko Niinimäki welcomes all students and the university community to the new normal for studying and working: “The new normal differs from the old normal. It seems that hybrid studying, in which those who attend in person or remotely are treated as equally as possible, will be the new mainstream operating method.”
Rector Niinimäki has observed, while discussing with the university community, that students and teachers have different views on how to use the independence related to the time and place learned while remote working: “When shaping new working and studying cultures, the aim must be to ensure participation and try to create genuine participation irrespective of whether the person is studying remotely or at the university.”
Support for students, well-being tutors and diverse new studies
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote studying has already continued for a year and a half. The University of Oulu offers support and assistance for students in multiple ways, such as through the student and career counselling services. In addition to individual coaching, the university’s study psychologists arrange a variety of courses related to time management and studying skills.
The experts of the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) also assist students. OYY has launched a low-threshold well-being tutoring project in which the tutors introduce students to new sports and culture experiences and hobbies. OYY is currently searching for up to 40 new well-being tutors.
Students are also being offered new internationalisation opportunities – such as 150 virtual courses at European universities are available in the UNIC network. A new environmental research study module is available to University of Oulu and Lapland students. You can find out more about the wide range of online training opportunities in the News section.