Final days for overlapping degrees

Society and education policy have many recurring goals that persist from decade to decade. One of these goals is raising the level of education.

Since Finland has fallen behind compared to OECD countries, it must produce more individuals with higher education degrees. In the past, Finland set an objective for 50% of those under 35 to hold a higher education degree by 2030. At times, this objective was even higher, but it has been regarded as impossible to achieve, at least at this pace. However, raising Finland’s level of education remains a shared objective. 

This is by no means a poor objective. However, the efforts to raise the level of education focus on the idea that current and former students are obstacles to new students at higher education institutions. Additionally, many students are approaching the age of 35 more quickly than expected, as the average age of students is actually higher than assumed. This time, the sledgehammer is falling on those students who have the passion and desire to educate themselves with multiple higher education degrees.

What will happen next?

In accordance with the Government Programme, the Ministry of Education and Culture is preparing the so-called provision of a single study right, as ‘more than 25% of the available student places each year go to individuals who already have a study right or a degree’. Additionally, multiple overlapping study rights are considered problematic due to graduation times. Along with the provision, students accepting new study rights would have to waive their previous ones.

Last November, the preparers of the provision of a single study right drafted a memo for Vice Rectors for Education, referencing the Multiple study rights report published in 2019. The memo highlights key issues from the report but omits sections that oppose the provision. According to the report, 66% of individuals with two study rights who were nearing graduation mentioned professional skill development as their reason for pursuing multiple degrees, and as much as 70% stated they were simply driven by inner motivation. 

Over the years, research has shown that completing two higher education degrees does not necessarily lead to higher individual income development. If the drive to pursue another degree comes from inner motivation rather than hypothetical lifetime earnings, can we truly enhance multidisciplinary expertise, as well as Finland’s innovation capacity and competitiveness, by restricting this opportunity?

Often, those with multiple higher education degrees are highly motivated to contribute to society. Whether it is business and law, engineering and social sciences, or arts and environmental sciences, multidisciplinary expertise always benefits society, even when the degrees overlap partially. 

Specialist’s suggestions    

To conclude, I’ll present two suggestions.

The Government and Ministry of Education and Culture: Appreciate hard work. Treat education as a form of civilisation, don’t focus only on statistics when raising the level of education.

Students – you right there: Apply for another field in this spring’s joint application to higher education by 25 March. The field you have always wanted to study. The field you think is connected to your current studies. The one you just happen to think of. This might be your last opportunity to apply smoothly. 

Teemu Palkki
AYY’s Advocacy Specialist: Education Policy 

The writer has recently explored the education policy of the 1970s and noted that nothing ever changes.