My salute to Finnland

[grywolf627]

There was a really good article in the Wall Street Journal about how Finnland's educational system kicks everyone's ass. I wish they would at least take some examples and apply them here. But that's never going to happen.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB120425355065601997-lMyQjAxMDI4MDA0NDIwNTQzWj.html

 

[Torniojaws]

The problem is that everyone here is an unemployed PhD It's difficult to find a job.

But one thing I was surprised to find out about the US (higher) education system is that they only have school for a few hours per day? In Finland, the school days are 8 hours (and more at higher levels) even for the 6-7 year old kids just starting school. My next period at the Univ (BSc Technology) consists of three 10 hour days, one 9 hour day and one 8 hour day every week for the entire period (2 months)

 

[Metaltastic]

Holy god Tornio, that's ridiculous - the way it works here is by a credit-hour system, where in a 15 week semester, the majority of classes account for 3 credit hours, or 3 hours of that class a week. At my school, the minimum credit hours to be a full-time student is 12, or 4 classes, each one meeting for (around) 3 hours per week. So my schedule is definitely a lot thinner per week, but lasts a whole lot longer!

 

[Torniojaws]

So my schedule is definitely a lot thinner per week, but lasts a whole lot longer!

We have shorter periods (roughly 2 months per period), but the school year is just as long (8 months). At my school, one school year is 4 periods in total. This is for example my current school year:

Period 1 - 3 September to 26 October
Period 2 - 29 October to 21 December
Period 3 - 14 January to 14 March
Period 4 - 17 March to 9 May



The credit system here is the ECTS one nowadays. That is, usually one period consists of 4 or 5 different subjects, and each subject is usually worth 3 ECTS (which means 6 hours of the subject each week). Some projects are worth double that at 6 ECTS (12 hours per week, or more usually divided into two different periods with 6 hours per week each period).

The whole degree programme for me is 240 ECTS. Technically 4 years, but usually a bit longer due to lack of work practice vocations at summer (yes, we have mandatory work practice as a part of the degree programme).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Credit_Transfer_and_Accumulation_System


My next period should be fun. The subjects are:

- Programming of Embedded Systems
- Web Application Development with PHP
- Advanced Physics
- Digital Technology Project
- Digital Technology

Digital technology is basically about logic chipsets, binary calculations, combination logics and such. Embedded systems are about embedded microprocessors in microwave ovens, elevators, keyboards, mobile phones and all stuff like that.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

Jeeeeeze ten hour days????!?!?!?

I'd be raging like none other.

 

[Eddy]

In Finland, the school days are 8 hours (and more at higher levels) even for the 6-7 year old kids just starting school.

Err, if i remember correctly we didn't have schooldays longer than 6 hours until high school. During comprehensive school the days were four to six hours long (gradually lengthening during the first few years). Of course, that was last century so what do I know

 

[AStacy2]

Damn Torino...after a week of school for that fucking long, I'd have to get hammered out of my mind every weekend.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

High School was from 8 am to 2:30 PM for me.
College varies, but I am taking 19 credit hours this semester with one class having a lab included.

Monday I'm in school from 10 am to 11 am then home till 3 pm then back to school for another hour then strait to work till 11 pm.
Tuesday I'm in school from 9:30 am to 2 pm without any breaks (this is fine I am not complaining at all actually) then it's either home or staying at school to do homework, usually around 4-5 hours of homework.
Wednesday is same as Monday except scratch work and I come back at 1:30 instead of 3 and stay till 3:20pm. Then it's the same thing as after school tuesday, a shit load of reading and homework.
Thursday is exactly the same as Tuesday except at 11pm I have to work and get out on Friday morning at 9 am.
Friday there is nothing but sleeping the night prior off and working the same overnight shift.
Saturday is same as Friday.
Sunday at 9 am I am done with work and stay up and do nodda damn thing or something relaxing like fucking or drinking or something then it's some more homework in the evening.

Although last Sunday and this Sunday is a 1 credit hour class from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

It looks like I have time, but in reality I have no fucking clue how I am doing this, plus I am moving next month and planning my wedding for December.

 

[Metaltastic]

Thanks a lot for the lowdown Tornio, it's cool to see how things work in other countries! And Loren, dude, I'm impressed - that's a helluva work ethic you've got there (though I guess as fas as employment goes, it's kinda unavoidable; still, the fact that you're able to juggle all that is damned amazing)

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Err, if i remember correctly we didn't have schooldays longer than 6 hours until high school. During comprehensive school the days were four to six hours long (gradually lengthening during the first few years). Of course, that was last century so what do I know

Strange. In my case, I had 4-6 hour days on the three first years of school at most. After that it was 7 or 8 hours min. 'til the end of high school.

 

[Eddy]

Strange. In my case, I had 4-6 hour days on the three first years of school at most. After that it was 7 or 8 hours min. 'til the end of high school.

Interesting... I guess it really depends a lot on where you are living and how many pupils/students the school has.

I could make an educated guess about the differences but I can't think straight as there's a beer in the fridge calling my name.