TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Finnish Graduate Schools - Competition and Cooperation in Ph.D. Education Poika Isokoski and Kari-Jouko Räihä Graduate School on User Centered Information Technology, Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction, and Department of Computer Sciences University of Tampere, Finland

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Contents The Finnish Graduate School System UCIT

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction The Finnish “Graduate Schools” Gymnasium Univ. Of Applied Sciences (higher vocational training) University 12 years in school Bachelor’s degree (3 years) Master’s degree (2 years) Doctoral degree (4 years) Graduate School

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Pre-Graduate School Ph.D. Education Graduate students supervised by professors Students worked as research or teaching assistants in universities –Often short-term appointments –Some five-year assistantships with teaching inclination available in most departments. Many students working in companies –Progress in studies and thesis work often slow

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Reform needed? There was political pressure in the 80’s and 90’s for more efficient Ph.D. ”production”. Work in committees and ministries led to Graduate schools added on top of the old system –The old system remains operational –The five-year assistant positions have gradually been discontinued in most universities.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Graduate Schools A government funding scheme. Funding for the first 722 positions in In 2010 paid positions for 1600 doctoral students in about 110 graduate schools. Graduate schools offer funding for 4-year full-time doctoral studies

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Graduate Schools Organize Ph.D. education for their members. Are similar to research projects in the university administration. –Receive funding and spend it to achieve their goals. –May emerge or be discontinued according to the wishes of the funding source (Academy of Finland), discontinuation rare. –May involve many departments in many universities. Do not award degrees – faculties do.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Goals Shorter duration of Doctoral education Higher quality of Doctors Better national and international networks for faculty and graduates More doctoral degrees

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Paid and Unpaid students In addition to students with salary funding Graduate Schools may involve other doctoral students –Graduate school has the opportunity to involve all Finnish doctoral students in its discipline. Unpaid students typically work as researchers or research assistants in universities or other research institutes.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Competition Graduate schools are evaluated every 2 years – the best are funded –Evaluation is done by a panel of experts. –Evaluation based on: plan for future operation statistics on past performance self-evaluation. Positions in graduate schools are given to the most promising applicants. –A large portion of Ph.D. work remains outside graduate schools.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction More Competition The graduate student ”owns” the funding once granted –can shop for the best supervisor –can also shop for the best department –can shop for the best university in the graduate school –In practice shopping is rare.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Cooperation Graduate schools are cooperation organizations of university departments –Competition for students and research funding. –Cooperation in the graduate school –Cooperation makes sense because the graduate school funding is otherwise unavailable.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Professor’s View Plusses: –Money for hiring doctoral students. –Some of the visitor/seminar/course load can be shared between professors. –Graduate schools offer peer support for professors and students. Minuses: –Complexity: many schools and students outside schools –Must participate in the administration of graduate schools.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Student’s View Plusses: –Four years of funding –Few distractions - can concentrate on the Ph.D. work –Peers in one’s own sub-discipline can be found in the graduate school. Minuses: –The salary is not competitive. –Possible to remain detached from the real world -> poor job prospects.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction UCIT University of Tampere - Dept. of Computer Sciences (TAUCHI) - Dept. of Social Research - Tampere School of Public Health Tampere University of Technology - Dept. of Electronics - Dept. of Software Systems (IHTE) - Center for Safety Management and Engineering Aalto University, Helsinki - Helsinki Institute for Information Technology - Dept. of Media Technology - Dept. Of Computer Science and Engineering (Stratus) - Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research - School of Design University of Helsinki - Dept. of Psychology - Helsinki Institute for Information Technology Nokia Research Center VTT UCIT – Graduate School on User Centered Information Technology

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction What does UCIT Do? Courses: –Research methods –Scientific writing –Annual UCIT research seminar Funding for research visits by students Funding for student-organized events Summer schools Visiting lecturers Joint events with domestic and foreign peer organizations.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Practical Challenges ”Take the money and run” strategy. –Some prefer staying in their offices instead of joining the educational program. –The graduate schools do not have much power over universities or individuals in them. Recruiting international students. –Paid positions available only periodically. –Result of an application unsure. Long wait for the results and for the next opportunity.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction More Practical Challenges Operating graduates schools is complicated –Network of independent organizations is difficult to steer. –Sometimes difficult to fit together the needs of the multiple fields of science. Different practices in different disciplines –E.g. the four-year doctoral program is not universally ideal. –Some departments make the students work harder than others.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction UCIT – What Works Well HCI is a marginal area in many departments –UCIT brings the otherwise marginalized students (and teir supervisors) together. Ph.D. education in HCI in different disciplines is compared in UCIT. –Leads to harmonized requirements. Graduates know the key people in Finland. ”Outside” position allowed significant investment in HCI researcher training without painful politics inside universities.

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Results Shorter duration of doctoral education –Graduation faster in graduate schools. (Is this due to student selection or good work in the schools?) Higher quality of graduates –Difficult to measure Better national and international networks for faculty and graduates –Most likely true. More doctoral degrees –Yes

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction iSchool/UCIT/Future? Universities in Finland are under reform –Some universities are merging –Several cross-university faculty/department splits and mergers are underway. –Ministry of education is encouraging the universities to take the lead in shaping the graduate schools –It is a good time to change things. How should we set up our doctoral programs? What can we learn from iSchools?

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction Further Information UCIT: Academy of Finland: