According to this article in Helsingin Sanomat (screenshot), all 29 polytechnics in Finland will start calling themselves universities in English language translations. For example; Jyv?ßskyl?ß Polytechnic will be called Jyv?ßskyl?ß University of Applied Sciences. In the time when differentiating yourself in the workforce is a definite must – polytechnics are shooting themselves in the head with this procedure.

Secondly, all they are doing is cheating their “customers” ie. students. People will surely begin to expect “university level” jobs with their new “university level” teaching. Oh, and with this translation gimmick, we now are supposed to have 49 universities, but the ministry of education that governs education in Finland still clearly distinguishes the difference between these 2 branches of learning.

Thirdly, what is the reason for doing this? In the future when you’re explaining the Finnish education system you have to try to explain that we have 20 official universities and then 29 “universities”. I mean surely with all the bureucracy and wise men and women in high positions this is a well though out solution. Also marketing Finland as a place to do your exchange (to foreigners) just became a lot more questionable – would you like to do your exchange in the “Jyv?ßskyl?ß University of Applied Sciences” or University of Jyv?ßskyl?ß?

While we’re at it, let’s start standardizing the work force and call everybody a manager of somesort – that will surely look good for foreigners and make Finland an attractive place to work, no?