Thinking Differentially - from a Course to an Entrance Exam, Case Master's Degree in Beauty and Cosmetics
Poutanen, Marjo (2023)
International Association of Technology Education and Development
2023
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2023032733346
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2023032733346
Tiivistelmä
The COVID-19 pandemic during the last few years changed dramatically the chances of conducting teaching and entrance exams at Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Laurea UAS). Educational institutions and universities were closed, and entrance exams traditionally held on campus were no longer possible. Decisions on the implementation of the entrance exams had to be made quickly.
Laurea’s Master’s degrees have already considered the implementation of entrance exams courses (EECs) based on a core competence course. The reasons were e.g., improvement of the quality of entrance exams, raising the motivation of students, and raising awareness of Laurea’s education portfolio and the contents of education. The financial implications of the solution were also discussed. One goal was to increase the ratio of credits performed in the Open University of Applied Sciences (Open UAS). The COVID-19 pandemic justified the implementation of this solution further. Conducting the student selection with the EEC has numerous advantages. The online course enables the teaching of large groups of students. The Open UAS credits are accrued for all participants who pass the course. Students with the best grades will be selected as degree students. They will have the credits included in their studies.
During the EEC, students become acquainted with the main contents of the Master’s degree they apply for. Students who complete the course and are selected as degree students are motivated. They can immediately take part in Laurea’s Learning by Developing (LbD) projects based on authenticity, partnership, experiential learning, creativity, and research.
Designing the curriculum for Master’s Degree in Beauty and Cosmetics was presented in ICERI 2018 [1]. The Degree has been one of the degrees utilizing this new way to conduct student selection. Core competence courses have been chosen as the entrance exam, and different courses each year. This article presents the development, structure, and experiences of the entrance exam courses based on three years of experience. The discussion is based on a SWOT analysis.
Laurea’s Master’s degrees have already considered the implementation of entrance exams courses (EECs) based on a core competence course. The reasons were e.g., improvement of the quality of entrance exams, raising the motivation of students, and raising awareness of Laurea’s education portfolio and the contents of education. The financial implications of the solution were also discussed. One goal was to increase the ratio of credits performed in the Open University of Applied Sciences (Open UAS). The COVID-19 pandemic justified the implementation of this solution further. Conducting the student selection with the EEC has numerous advantages. The online course enables the teaching of large groups of students. The Open UAS credits are accrued for all participants who pass the course. Students with the best grades will be selected as degree students. They will have the credits included in their studies.
During the EEC, students become acquainted with the main contents of the Master’s degree they apply for. Students who complete the course and are selected as degree students are motivated. They can immediately take part in Laurea’s Learning by Developing (LbD) projects based on authenticity, partnership, experiential learning, creativity, and research.
Designing the curriculum for Master’s Degree in Beauty and Cosmetics was presented in ICERI 2018 [1]. The Degree has been one of the degrees utilizing this new way to conduct student selection. Core competence courses have been chosen as the entrance exam, and different courses each year. This article presents the development, structure, and experiences of the entrance exam courses based on three years of experience. The discussion is based on a SWOT analysis.