News in English

Unemployment of fresh new Masters sank

Only three percent of MasterÂ’s graduates from UTA in the spring 2006 were left unemployed one year after their graduation. After a year, 41 percent had a permanent job and 42 a temporary one. Six percent of the respondents found that their current job did not equate with their educational qualifications at all.

The unemployment rate is the lowest in recent years: Last yearÂ’s average rate for graduate leavers after a year was 4.3 percent. The rate for the previous yearÂ’s graduates was as high as 5.7 percent. These figures came up in a follow-up study by UTA Career Services.

Every third freshman carries a papillomavirus

As much as a third of new students carry a papillomavirus. Infections are the most common in the age group 18-22. The virus has spread so wide that secondary school pupils will start receiving vaccinations to prevent a future infection.

People are mostly exposed to these infections during the first three years after their first sexual intercourse.

Infections are asymptomatic, but despite this, the virus is anything but harmless. Although the majority of the infections heal without treatment, they can cause cervical cancer and other cancers in the genital area. Cases of cervical cancer among the age group 30-39 have doubled in the last 15 years.

Lyyra strives to become the Facebook of students

Last week, a national student card service, Lyyra, opened an improved website that strives to work as a social site, similar to Facebook and LinkedIn. Lyyra cards are used in 13 Finnish student unions. They are not used in Tamy, thus the website, requiring user identification, will not become familiar to UTA students.

On the Lyyra site, students can create their own personal profiles, search for friends, write a blog, chat, buy and sell things on a marketplace as well as update their own photo album.

A Lyyra card costs 15 euros, whereas TamyÂ’s card costs 2.5. Both cards aim to expand their services.

Few students finish their MasterÂ’s programmes in target time

Only ten percent of MasterÂ’s degree students of UTA graduate in the target time of two years. The delay can cause trouble to departments, as the amount of Master graduates affects their financing.

‘Extended time to complete the degree should only be permitted in exceptional cases. However, it seems that nowadays an extension is more like a rule than an exception’, says Mikko Markkola, head of the Department of Academic and International Affairs.

MasterÂ’s degree studentsÂ’ studies drag on due to the fact that people who continue their studies are often already in working life. Many seek for formal proficiency and see the MasterÂ’s programme as free further education.

Several programmes are international. ‘Degree programmes taught in English form an important part of the University’s international dimension. They also improve students’ opportunities to take courses in other universities, both in Finland and in Europe. The EU encourages this kind of progress as well’, Markkola says.

Government in favour of customised education

Universities and polytechnics are a little closer to their goal to sell degree-aimed education abroad. On the 4th of October, the Government presented a bill concerning a modification in the Universities and Polytechnics Acts, which would enable universities to sell education outside the European Economic Area. As a next step, Parliament will decide on the matter.

Customised education could be arranged for a group but not for a single student. The ordering instance could be, for example, a company, an association or a state.

According to the Ministry of Education, there is a demand for chargeable, degree-aimed export of education, given by Finnish universities and polytechnics. The amendments should take effect next year.

Evangelist strikes again

More leaflets by Herätysseura have been found in between Aviisi issues in the station tunnel, despite the fact that Aviisi journalists have tried various methods to prevent illegal advertising. Previously, the evangelists stuck their advertisements in between the centrefold. In the recent issue, leaflets can be found on the third page - exactly where an illustrated piece of news concerning unlicensed advertising is placed.

Katri Suhonen new Secretary for International Affairs

Katri Suhonen, 27, has started as a new Tamy Secretary for International Affairs on the 10th October. The Council of Representatives did not even have to vote for her, as her impressive CV was convincing enough. Katri is currently writing her MasterÂ’s thesis on Environmental Policy. Besides her studies, she has gained a considerable amount of trust both with Tamy as well as the National Union of University Students in Finland.

The Secretary of International Affairs is responsible for seeing to international students’ interests and coordinating Tamy´s development cooperation project.

TamyÂ’s decision-makers content with the distribution of power

Due to the oncoming election of the Council of Representatives, Tamy has sent a survey to all the representatives, vice-representatives and members of the Executive Board. The survey inquired if the Council of Representatives is too powerful, too weak or in proportion with the Executive Board. In addition, the respondents were asked if Tamy employees - that is the Secretary General, permanent employees and the Aviisi editorial staff - affected their political decision-making too much, too little or just enough.

17 respondents replied to the survey, which found that the majority were happy with the distribution of power. 12 of the respondents thought that the power relation between the Representatives and Executives is just right. 13 respondents are content with the effect that the employees have on their political decision-making.

Translations: Varpu Jutila