Abstract:

Background
A total of approximately 1 000 new students start their studies at the University of Kuopio in Finland each year, the number includes international degree students hailing from all over the world. To ensure successful learning experiences and outcomes, the students need support in learning academic study skills. Furthermore, the students in the university’s international Master’s degree programmes have their specific needs, as they might need help in getting familiar with the Finnish university system and its practices, in becoming integrated into the academic culture, and in creating their social networks.

The students’ sufficient knowledge of and skills in academic studying positively affects the launch and progression of the studies, and promotes their motivation to learn. Insufficient study skills may result in decreased studying capacity which, in turn, may be linked to problems in well-being. The students’ start in university studies and the development of their academic study skills can be enhanced by offering study skills training. This is also a method for improving the quality of the studies and the students’ learning outcomes. Supporting the students' well-being is included in the Strategy (2007-2015) of the University of Kuopio. The students’ possibilities to participate in study skills training vary within the Finnish system of higher education.

Promoting academic study skills
At the University of Kuopio, the smooth start of the students’ academic studies has been promoted by study skills courses offered by the Learning Centre in collaboration with the “Five Years, Two Degrees” -project funded by the Ministry of Education. Different forms of teaching academic study skills have been piloted since the year 2007. The goal has been to make study skills training available to more students.

The course in academic study skills for Finnish degree students has included contact lectures and online studies. The online assignments have involved both individual working and group efforts. During the course, the students have conducted interviews to become familiar with their field of study and they have learned new and more efficient study methods by trying them out in practice. Furthermore, the students have become familiar with study planning by making time management exercises, and learned about internationalisation by getting to know the student exchange processes. The students have also learned the ethical issues relating to studying.

The course in academic study skills for students in the international Master’s degree programmes has been tailored to meet the specific needs of international students. Moreover, the students have learned about the ethical issues relating to studying, gotten to know new study methods and become familiar with the characteristics of Finnish working life. Master’s degree students have also been offered a course on information and communication technology skills, which introduces the very basics of using a computer, and the electronic systems and online teaching used at the university.

The courses have attracted some 150 students so far, and student feedback has been gathered on the courses. The student feedback indicates that the organised courses have promoted the students’ academic study skills. Furthermore, the feedback on the study skills courses has been encouraging: the students have experienced them as useful and supportive at the beginning of their study path.

Keywords:

university of kuopio, finland, finnish, academic learning skills, ability to study.