News in English

Dear reader. News in English is a new service we have launched this year, and now we would like to hear your opinion. Have you found the news useful? Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Have you read the news at all? Tell us what you think! Email: aviisi(at)uta.fi.


Number of visits to FSHS Gynaecologist has doubled in a year
The number of patients to see a gynaecologist at the FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service) has increased with 95 % since last year.
“One of the reasons for this substantial increase is last years’ exceptional shortage of staff. The situation has now been partially fixed," explains Timo Taivalsalmi, Chief Physician at FSHS.
The shortage of staff is due to the resignation of one gynaecologist and the sick leave of another. Since August, private gynaecologist Terhi Vainio has worked approximately one day per week at FSHS in order to substitute for the gynaecologist that resigned.

Only half of students enrolled present at summer examinations
Only 60% of the students enrolled arrived at their summer examinations, as has been the trend during previous years. The number of absences went down slightly. According to feedback, some of the students thought that summer examination enrolment and participation help to receive study grant even when you have no intention of passing the courses in question.
Some considered the problem to be too long enrolment times and the easiness of online-enrolment. The students proposed an email reminder that would arrive some time before each summer examination.
“We take these ideas into consideration, but students should nevertheless take more responsibility," says DS Coordinator Mikko Markkola.
Some teachers have reduced the number of summer examinations brcause of absences. “The summer examination system cannot be abolished since it could delay students’ graduation," Markkola explains.

Study grant monitored only in new credits
This autumn, the University of Tampere Financial Aid Office will monitor study progress for the first time only in new credits (opintopiste). The old study credits (opintoviikko) of the old degree system will be converted into new credits by multiplying them by 1,8, as is stated in the Act on Financial Aid for Students.
"This national factor gives all students an equal starting point regardless of their faculty," explains Eini Mäkelä, Student Financial Aid Officer.
The factor varies according to each facultyÂ’s study guide. It can be 1,5, 2 or even 3. If you count your credits according to the information in a study guide, you might end up in financial aid follow-up with too few credits.
A follow-up letter will be posted to 490 students of the University of Tampere in the next few days. Last year the number of letters was 340.

Tamy has changed its English name
Tamy has changed its English name. The new translation for “Tampereen Yliopiston Ylioppilaskunta" is "Student Union of the University of Tampere". The old translation was “Student Union of Tampere University" which in Finnish would be "Tampere-yliopiston ylioppilaskunta".
“The change was necessary because there is no such thing as Tampere University,“ explains Tamy’s Secretary General Mikko Aaltonen.
Another change made was synchronizing TamyÂ’s financial year with the calendar year.

Problems with signal in Linna
Some parts of the UniversityÂ’s new Linna building have poor mobile phone signal.
“Audibility is weak especially in the lifts and on floor -1. However, customers haven’t complained," reports Kaarlo Tenho, janitor undergoing non-military service.