Statement: ÅAS Demands an Account and Impact Analysis Following the Outcome of the Restructuring Process 

Press release
9 October 2026
For immediate release

On 6 October 2026, the Board of Åbo Akademi University confirmed the outcome of the change negotiations, thereby taking decisions that move forward the reform of the university’s degree structure. The new broader bachelor’s programmes are set to be introduced from the 2027–2028 academic year. 

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) continues to understand that difficult decisions must be made to stabilise the university’s finances and create long-term conditions for its operations. At the same time, we remain concerned that the reform’s tight timetable and extensive scope risk affecting the quality, breadth and continuity of the degree programmes concerned. As the reform of the degree structure now enters its next phase, the focus must therefore be on how the reform will be implemented in practice and what consequences it will have for students. 

Students Must Be Given the Opportunity to Continue Studying Their Subjects 

The subjects affected by these changes all hold a particular significance within Swedish-language university education in Finland. Opportunities to study these subjects in Swedish are very limited or entirely unavailable at other universities in Finland. Musicology also has a long tradition at Åbo Akademi University and occupies a distinctive position in a Nordic context. Gender Studies as a major subject is likewise unique to Åbo Akademi University in Finland. Russian cannot be studied from beginner level in Swedish at any other university in Finland. 

ÅAS therefore demands that Åbo Akademi University provide a concrete account of how students enrolled in the new bachelor’s programmes will be able to acquire the knowledge and skills required for further master’s studies in subjects that will no longer be offered as majors at bachelor’s level. 

It is not enough for a subject to formally remain available as an option at master’s level. Students must be given genuine opportunities to prepare for these studies already at bachelor’s level. ÅAS therefore demands a concrete explanation of how all affected subject areas will be integrated into the new bachelor’s programmes, what opportunities students will have to specialise in these subjects, and how the university will ensure that students can still acquire the knowledge previously provided through bachelor’s studies. If a subject remains available at master’s level, students must be able to trust that the educational pathway leading to it is clear, accessible and maintains the university’s academic standards. 

The Transition to the New Programmes Must Not Put Students at a Disadvantage

Åbo Akademi University has announced that current students have the right to complete their degrees in accordance with the curriculum in force when they were admitted and within the target time for completing their studies. At the same time, current students will also be given the opportunity to transfer to the new bachelor’s programmes. ÅAS welcomes this opportunity but believes that it must be clarified how the transition will work in practice. 

Students must not have to bear the consequences of an educational reform they did not initiate themselves. Transferring to a new programme must not prolong a student’s studies, result in previously completed studies being lost, or create uncertainty about the possibility of completing a degree within the planned timeframe. ÅAS therefore demands that Åbo Akademi University clearly explain how the transition between the old and new programmes will be implemented and how the university will ensure that students are not placed at a disadvantage when completing their degrees. Transitional arrangements must be designed to minimise any impact on students’ progress. 

In the follow-up to the reform, the university must also consider the students whose study progress may, for various reasons, deviate from the target completion time. For students dealing with illness, family circumstances, or other life situations that may require an extended period of study or additional time to complete their studies, uncertainty about the future of the subjects risks creating further stress and anxiety. The university must therefore ensure that these students also receive clear information and have realistic opportunities to complete their studies.

ÅAS also wishes to highlight the importance of providing proactive support for students. As part of a previous project, Nystart (Article only in Swedish), students were contacted to assess their circumstances and offer support with study planning. Early contact and individualised support can have a significant impact on students’ ability to continue and complete their studies. In connection with the educational reform, the university should therefore ensure that similar proactive support measures are available to students affected by the changes who risk being unable to complete their studies.

The Consequences of the Reform Must Be Monitored 

ÅAS maintains the concerns expressed in its statement this spring regarding the risk that the reform’s accelerated timetable could affect the quality of its preparation and implementation. Now that decisions have been made, these concerns must not remain at the level of principle. The university must demonstrate how risks to students are being addressed in practice. 

ÅAS therefore demands that Åbo Akademi University conduct a concrete risk analysis of the reform’s consequences for students. The analysis should address, among other things, the quality of studies, workload, the possibility of completing a degree within the target timeframe, access to relevant courses, and opportunities to continue to master’s studies in the subject areas undergoing change. 

A reform of this scale cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of how the new programme structure looks on paper. What determines whether the reform works is how students actually progress through their studies. The university must therefore also monitor the consequences of the reform after the new programmes have been introduced and be prepared to make adjustments if students’ opportunities and conditions are found to have deteriorated. 

Student Participation Must Be Made Visible 

In its statement this spring, ÅAS highlighted the importance of student participation and the limitations that the tight timetable placed on students’ opportunities to influence the reform. Now that the change negotiations have concluded and the Board has confirmed their outcome, ÅAS demands a clear account of how students have been informed about and able to influence the process leading up to the decisions that have now been made.

It is particularly important for the university to explain how students’ views have been taken into account in areas where students are directly affected by the changes. Student participation is not simply about providing information after decisions have been made; it means ensuring that students’ perspectives genuinely influence the preparatory work.

As work continues on finalising the content and pedagogical structure of the new bachelor’s programmes, students must therefore continue to be involved in a meaningful way.

The Reform Is Not Complete Just Because a Decision Has Been Made

The educational reform is far from complete. The details of the new programmes still need to be developed, and the transitional arrangements must be finalised. At this stage, the university must ensure that the reform’s objectives are translated into an educational structure that works for students in practice.

ÅAS maintains that financial sustainability and a strong range of educational offerings must go hand in hand. The fact that the university needs to make difficult financial decisions does not mean that the consequences for students can be left without adequate monitoring and action.

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University therefore demands: 

• That the university ensures students acquire the knowledge and skills required for further master’s studies in subjects that will no longer be offered as majors at bachelor’s level. 

• A clear account of how the transition to the new programmes will affect current students and how the university will ensure that the transition neither prolongs their studies nor undermines their ability to complete their degrees within the target timeframe. 

• A concrete risk analysis of the reform’s consequences for the quality of studies, workload, study duration, relevance to working life, and opportunities for further studies. 

• An account of how students have been given opportunities to influence the reform and how their views have been taken into consideration throughout the process. 

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University wants to see an educational reform that is financially sustainable, but also academically sustainable and sustainable for students. Now that the direction has been decided, the university must ensure that the new structure not only works organisationally but also provides students with clear, equitable and realistic pathways through their studies. 

Students are not just part of the university; students make our university. That is why our opportunities, rights and ability to influence decisions must remain at the centre of the process, even as the reform moves from decision-making to implementation. 

For more information, contact:
Svea Välimäki
Chair of the Excecutive Board, ÅAS
so@studentkaren.fi
+358 50 401 3524