40 years of JYUOpen: From campuses to snail mail and e-learning

Where did it all start in 1984? From the University of Jyväskylä campus, and the then Centre for Continuing Education. Whereas nowadays you can study online even during a train journey, in the 1980's you studied face-to-face in lectures, seminars, exercises and group work. 

Back then, you would consult a study guide booklet to get your study plans and instructions, for notes you needed a pen and paper, and exams were written on scribbling paper.

Open studies became increasingly more accessible, as new teaching locations were added. In the year following its establishment, the Centre offered JYU open higher education in Kokkola through the Central Ostrobothnia Continuing Education Unit. Already in the early years, we made common cause with numerous cooperating educational institutions which could offer JYU's open studies: folk high schools, community colleges and summer universities. At its heights, the cooperation network included more than 150 educational institutions across Finland.

The need for continuous development of skills was recognised already in the early 1980's – as was the role of open university studies as a pathway to a university degree. In the 1987–88 academic year, the Board of the University of Jyväskylä made the decision that 60 credits of open university studies would allow you to apply for degree studies at the university. In 1991, Finland's Ministry of Education instructed universities that persons who had completed at least one-third of the studies in a higher education programme were to be granted the right to degree studies.Today we enable open pathways to all six faculties of the University of Jyväskylä.

Accessibility by mail - and then online

In the early years, the range of studies was made up of the basic study modules in education, special education and sociology, and for the first decade there was a minimum age of 25 in open university studies. In the 1990's, the range of studies expanded many times over, as did the popularity of the studies. One driver for the demand at the time was the recession and unemployment as well as society's strong support for open higher education.

During this time, the teaching and accessibility of open universities also started to change significantly. 

In the 1991–92 academic year, the basic studies in education were implemented for the first time as blended learning, which did not require a student's presence in the place of study.

During the 1990's, learning assignments became the central mode of delivery of studies at JYUOpen. Many a stamp was spent: after registering for a course by mail, students received a study guide containing instructions for study and course requirements. The learning assignments were likewise returned by mail to the teachers.

The learning assignment also enabled a new wave of popular education to come to fruition: anyone regardless of their previous education or place of residence could complete academic studies at the open university. Accessibility was also increased by the non-stop en that started in 1997: students could start their studies at any time.

Nowadays, studies at JYUOpen can be completed in a variety of ways. Learning assignments have retained their popularity. At its core, the learning assignment has survived the transition from pen-and-paper to the keyboard and the learning process moving to the online world. Us teachers are constantly reflecting on the best solutions for learning, always being mindful of developments in technology and communication.

True e-learning began in the 2000's, as e-learning made interaction between students possible in 2001. Since then, online learning has only continued to grow and by the 2010's teaching and learning were fundamentally electronic and web-based activities.

Student guidance at the heart of it all

At the JYU Open University, you get guidance – and that's how it's always been. At JYUOpen, we implement, develop and research how you succeed in your studies as well as possible at different stages of your studies.

Every student is an active learner, both in how they process information, and in the planning and assessment of their studies. Open university teachers and other experts support you throughout the learning process – from the planning of your studies onwards, if needed.

We strive to ensure that the threshold for taking up a course is at a suitable level, that studying is motivating and that starting your studies is made easy. During the learning process, students receive information, messages and tips that help them perceive the course content and the steps required for study. After returning the coursework, students have the opportunity to receive information and in many cases also feedback on their performance in relation to the course objectives and assessment criteria.

Physical encounters are less common in the daily life of today's open university than they were decades ago. The means and channels of guidance have changed, but regardless of technology, we want to continue to be an accessible and student-supportive open university.