Finland to enable higher education degrees through open teaching

The Finnish government has confirmed plans to enable the completion of full higher education degrees through open teaching. Under the proposed legislation, universities and universities of applied sciences will retain the autonomy to decide which specific degrees can be completed via open pathways and to what extent.

Science and Culture Minister Mari-Leena Talvitie stated that the Parliament will provide the framework, while individual institutions will assess which degrees are suitable for this model. The reform aims to increase the proportion of highly educated young adults from 39 percent to 60 percent by 2040, addressing a gap where Finland currently trails several EU counterparts.

A legislative proposal is being finalized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and is expected to be presented to Parliament in November. If implemented, the ability to start degrees through open higher education could begin as early as 2028.

The move has faced criticism from student organizations and rector councils, such as Unifi and Arene, who argue that the introduction of paid degree-seeking paths through open education lacks thorough preparation and risks blurring the lines between open learning and traditional degree studies.