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The good practices introduced in the series were operating practices and processes that helped make work smoother and more meaningful, and improved its quality. Many of the tips were related to collecting feedback from students and strengthening interaction between teachers and students. The article series also introduced tips related to planning the activities and facilitating teachers’ work. Familiarise yourself with the tips and take advantage of them in your work!

Tips for collecting student feedback

Landscape think tanks reinforce students’ identity

At Landscape think tanks, students and teachers convene twice per academic year to discuss topical issues. Landscape think tanks are important for the identity of those who study landscape architecture because only representatives of this degree programme attend the event. The events are also important as a forum for students to bring up ideas and opinions related to studying.

Messengers give feedback to teachers

Course Messenger is a practise that has been developed for communication between the teacher and the students. This straightforward way to ensure that the teacher receives information about the feedback students give during the entire course started at the initiative of students.

Academic advising increases interaction between the student and the teacher

Academic advising supports goal-oriented studying. It promotes interaction between academic personnel and the staff of the Learning Services. the student is appointed an official contact person from among the academic staff and receives information and perspective of the advisor's field of science. In return, the academic advisor receives information about the ideas bachelor's degree students have regarding their studies and future plans.

Feedback party is a fun way of getting students to discuss together

feedback parties were originally parties that were organised twice a year. The practice increases and maintains communality. The official feedback channels are focused on individual feedback, but communality is highlighted in the feedback parties.

Tips for postgraduate studies and conducting research

One-stop principle helps professors to make funding applications

The one-stop principle clarifies the process and facilitates the work of academic staff because they do not have to work out who all the people are that they need to get in contact with. The principle makes it quicker to make applications. The service also has a human face because the academic coordinator works in the department and so is familiar to the staff. Also, the department is able to make maximum use of all the services at the school and university level.

Focusing on improving scientific communication makes publishing articles easier

The Scientific Communication meetings are intended to help postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers improve the way they communicate about their research. Participants learn things that will be useful when they write scientific articles or publish them. Their speaking and presentation skills improve in general and they learn to present their research in a way that is understandable and interesting to the target group.

Not food but the doctoral candidate is grilled at the Barbecue event

The Barbecue practice helps the postgraduate student prepare better for the public examination of the doctoral dissertation. The practice helps the doctoral candidate prepare for the public examination better. The candidate will learn to answer even surprising questions in a calm manner and anticipate what kind of topics may be discussed in the public examination.

Monitoring doctoral studies is caring about the student

Monitoring doctoral studies is not only about making studying more efficient, it also has a more important function: the student and the professor both receive support and feedback about the work they do. The student will know exactly what is expected of him or her. The group may also be helpful in terms of career planning.

Tips related to students and teachers’ work

Teacher’s guide is a tool kit of good practices

Teacher’s guide contains detailed and practical information on matters such as planning of tuition and teaching material and collection and utilisation of course feedback.  In addition, it offers tips for teachers to develop their own expertise.

Syllabus helps students plan their studies

More detailed course plan that allows students plan their work more accurately in advance. Syllabus promotes learning by providing detailed information about the course and how it is completed. When they enrol, students already know what is required on the course, and what the workload and the schedule are. Syllabus enhances the progress of studies because students are able to estimate better which courses they will be able to complete at the same time.

A questionnaire is an easy way for students to order services

The questionnaire is aimed at first, second and third year students and can be used to order a service. The student gets an easy opportunity for ordering a service or obtaining more information. The student structures his or her thoughts using the means of reflection and makes his or her goals concrete with the choices made.

Tips for planning the activities

Agreements between the school and the departments help communicate about shared goals

The agreement communicates to the departments what the dean and the management of the department have agreed regarding the department’s contribution to achieving the university’s strategic goals. The agreement ensures that everyone is aware of the goals. The practice supports the school in reaching the set objectives and provides the heads of departments with support in their management work.

The annual clock helps us do things in a systematic way

The annual clock of the university’s strategic management is a concrete tool for the systematic planning, implementation and evaluation of the university’s operation. The annual clock gives an overall picture of the events during the operational year and their schedule as well as makes it easier to understand the processes and how they are linked.

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