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Itä-Suomen Yliopisto

Joensuu, Kuopio

Education policy and education system, 2026-2027

Open university
Date:
1.10.2026 - 23.3.2027
Credits:
5 ECTS credits
Location:
-
Continuous learning category:
Teaching, education and psychology
Teaching format:
Distance teaching, Independent learning, Online teaching
Price:
-
Jatkuva oppiminen verkkosivut

The course looks into the Finnish education policy and education system, and global trends in education policy.


After the course, students will:

  • Be familiar with current development trends in education policy
  • Recognize the relation between global and national education policy
  • Be familiar with the significance of economic factors in policy formation.
  • Reflect on the questions of equality and social justice in education system and education policy.

Please check Peppi study guide for more information about the course.

This course is a part of the basic studies Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development that also offer an open university route to a Bachelor Degree Programme of the same name at the University of Eastern Finland. Read more here.

Study methods:
Online book exam 2 h; independent work 135 h. The book exam and guidelines are available on course online environment, which is open from 01.09.2025 to 31.03.2026. There are two online exam days: 12.11.2026 14.00 - 16.00 pm and 23.03.2027 10.00 am - 12.00 pm. There are no other exam days for academic year 2026-2027.

Books for online exam:

- Zajda, J. I., & Majhanovich, S. (2022). Discourses of globalisation, ideology, education and policy re-forms. Springer (available as e-book)

- Thrupp, M., Seppänen, P., Kauko, J., & Kosunen, S. (2023). Finland’s famous education system: Unvarnished insights into Finnish schooling. Springer Nature. (available as Open Access online book)

Additional list of literature that can be used in study circle is available in course online environment.

This course is a part of the Basic studies in Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development. You may register for each course individually or by purchasing a study right for the whole basic studies module for the academic year 2026-2027. The price for individual courses is 20 €/ECTS credit and the price for the whole study module is 375€ (15€/ECTS credit point). This registration option for the whole study module is available until 31.10.2026.

After registration, please log in to the Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development Moodle environment. You can find a link to the environment on the New Open University Student instructional site, which you will have access to after completing the course registration. You will receive the instructions via email.

The study fee is 20 euros per ECTS credit for individual study units, and 15 euros per credit for study modules. The study fee is paid at registration.

Please find more information: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi) There is no separate registration or fee for study modules; register for each course individually.

By paying the study fee, the student receives a temporary right to study that entitles them to attend a particular course. The right to study is course-specific, and is required to complete the course as specified in the syllabus for the term, covering both teaching and course exams. If the course is continuously open for registration, the maximum time to complete the course is from 1 August to 31 July for that academic year.

Irrespective of time

There are two online exam days: 12.11.2026 and 23.03.2027.

English

Register for studies

Registration instructions

How to register for Open University Studies 

1. Choose your studies 

Go to the registration service using the button on this page. You will see information about the course, which you can review before registering. Add the course to your study cart. You can also add other courses to the cart before proceeding. 

2. Identify yourself and pay 

Log in via the Suomi.fi service, fill in your personal details on the registration form, and confirm your registration. Pay for the studies at the time of registration. 

Registration is binding. Please read the Open University payment and cancellation terms before registering. 

If you cannot identify yourself via the Suomi.fi service, but you are able to pay using one of the following methods: Google Pay or Apple Pay, Visa or MasterCard, please register in the online service (choose ‘Skip identification’). Otherwise, contact the academic affairs coordinator (contact details below). Be prepared to verify your identity with an official ID after registration. 

If your employer is paying the course fee and you do not have access to a company credit card, contact the academic affairs coordinator before registering. You can find the contact details at the bottom of the page. 

Studies paid with a study voucher: the voucher must be activated in the Opin.fi service before registration and payment. 

3. Wait for confirmation and start your studies 

Processing the registration usually takes 2–5 business days, and at most 10 business days. After processing, you will receive an email with a link to the instructions for starting your studies. Please read the instructions carefully. 

UEF username 

  • If you are studying at the University of Eastern Finland for the first time, you will receive separate instructions on how to activate your UEF username. 
  • If you already have a UEF username, change your password. 

Your username will receive the necessary access rights once your study right begins. 

Didn’t receive the message? Check your email’s spam folder. If the message is not there, contact the Open University. 

Registration starts:
2026-08-06 09:00
Registration ends:
2027-02-21 23:59
Registration

More information about education

Profile picture: Sanna Vikla

Vikla, Sanna

Continuous Learning Specialist

Centre for Continuous Learning

+358504666591

Profile picture: Iina Airaksinen

Airaksinen, Iina

Academic Affairs Coordinator

Centre for Continuous Learning

+358504649747