Advocacy tends to be pretty invisible if you don’t need it yourself. That is why we have compiled a list of advocacy successes—both big and small—from recent years in this post.
Passing on information
The flow of information from Metropolia to students can sometimes be slow and vague. METKA always endeavours to gather the facts as quickly as possible and to issue clear statements on matters. This helps to minimise the spread of misinformation.
Changes and exceptional circumstances always give rise to a range of emotions. However, there are often understandable reasons behind such situations. We at METKA believe that openness is always the best approach when communicating.
For example, in spring 2025, we compiled information and issued an article on increasing distance learning in the healthcare education, as there was conflicting information circulating on the subject.
Students know their rights
Section 41 of the UAS Act states that the tasks of student unions include preparing students for active, alert and critical citizenship.
To ensure that all Metropolia students are also aware of their own rights, METKA regularly shares tips on studying and compiles the most important sections of the Degree Regulations and Study Guidelines.
METKA has a good understanding of all kinds of Metropolia guidelines, as it has been involved in creating many of them. We are happy to guide students towards the correct information. We’re like Google, but better!
Preventing bigger challenges
METKA also carries out a lot of work aimed at preventing bigger challenges that may arise during studies. For example, METKA has emphasised that, when applying, individuals must already have a clear idea of the type of studies they are applying for. What e.g. does blended studies mean in practice? How much physical attendance is required? How much of the study is done online? Do the courses include many courses that are not taught in the language of the degree program?
In the past, METKA became aware of numerous instances where teachers’ response times to enquiries were unreasonably long. This led to a snowball effect, creating further challenges, such as students being unable to progress with their studies. The matter has been discussed on numerous occasions with the Directors of Schools, and the number of cases reported to METKA, at least, has clearly decreased!
The right to retake exams
When the Degree regulations were last updated, the section allowing students to retake an exam twice and to improve their exam grading once was to be removed. The aim of this change was to shift the assessment of studies away from end-of-course exams towards continuous assessment, in which the final grade would be based on multiple pieces.
An assessment method that is not based on a single moment (in which one must succeed!) is, in principle, a good idea, but the change would have been pushed through without adequate preparation time. All courses would first have to be redesigned, and in an organisation the size of Metropolia, this would take months, even years. METKA managed to prevent the idea.
Challenges in scheduling
Occasionally, lessons or entire courses have had to be cancelled, for example due to a teacher’s illness, an unexpected retirement or some other reason. There are several such instances each year, in which, usually through constructive dialogue, replacement lessons are arranged and the course is brought to a successful conclusion.
Occasionally, timetables have included long days of up to 12 hours. This matter has been discussed with the study coordinator and the head of the degree program, and lessons have been organised again, so that the burden is smaller on a single day.
Excessive workload
In one degree programme, the workload has consistently been excessive. According to the ECTS criteria, one (1) credit corresponds to 27 hours of student’s work. Students’ days were constantly stretching beyond 12 hours, leaving no time for leisure activities, job or rest. This was also supported by the observations of the relevant student association and the results of the AVOP survey, conducted with every graduating student.
Thanks to constructive dialogue, the workload and content of the degree programme were reviewed, resulting in an immediate 10 % reduction.
Name change matters
If a student wishes to change their name in Metropolia’s register, the official name-change process must have been completed and the decision from the Local Register Office must be in order. However, using one’s official name can be difficult and even painful for many people. The official name-change process takes time, and it is not always possible to initiate the process.
Metropolia’s Student Services cannot change a name in the systems without official documentation, but this can be arranged through the responsible person at the Student and Admission Services *) As METKA has been involved in the process of updating the Degree Regulations, these guidelines have been set out in writing and made publicly available to all.
*) E.g. a student’s Metropolia username and email address will consist of the name they have chosen, but for legal reasons, their degree certificate will be issued in their official name.
Education agents and international students
Metropolia and other Finnish higher education institutions are seeking to increase the number of international students from countries outside the EU and the EEA. Tuition fees help to secure funding following cuts to state funding. Finland may be marketed to international applicants, for example, as a country where it is easy to find work and life is only lovely and pleasant.
Yle’s investigative journalism unit, MOT, produced a documentary on the subject, and shortly afterwards METKA published its own statement on the matter. Following this, Metropolia ceased its cooperation with certain education agencies.
Does it seem as though METKA isn’t doing anything?
METKA’s advocacy team receives around 100 enquiries from students each year. We always respond to every enquiry. However, not all of them progress to becoming what we call ‘cases’.
- First, we need to gather the facts and establish whether this is an one-time incident or a wider issue. We don’t rush into battle!
- For data protection reasons, matters are usually dealt with only between the parties concerned.
- Sometimes there is nothing that can be done about the matter. A teacher may have a particular way of organising their lessons, but this is neither wrong nor prohibited, in which case METKA is unable to influence the situation ⟶ In these situations, it is important to give as much course feedback as possible
- It takes time to turn the ship around ⟶ Sometimes changes only come about after months, or even years
- If you have been in contact with METKA, please also remember to reply to any messages. METKA will not take any action until it has received clear permission from the student to do so
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