1. The Student and her/his University: Before, During and After Learning Environment in a Broad Perspective
Presentation at the conference ”Making
the European Higher Education Area a
Reality: The Role of Students”, Moscow
Nov 3, 2006
Lars Ekholm, PhD

2. Outline
Join me in a journey with a student from school, into university, onto the labour market and after!
Before
-Links between school and universities
-The age of beginners
- Social justice and widened access
- The student´s choice of study program

3. Outline (cont´d) During - The classroom learning environment
- The importance of good teachers
- Infrastructure: Premises
After
- Employment statistics, life-long learning, role of laymen

4. Before University (School)
Schools and universities:
Harmonious collaboration or separate worlds?
Closer links!
The age of beginners: 20, 25 or 35?
Age matters!
Widened access: ”,,, quality HE equally accessible to all…”
A Swedish example

5. The Choice of Study Program
A mystery!
In theory: Information available at school, universities give correct, easily accessible information, rational decision-making
In practice: Influence from parents, friends, media, labour market prospects, individual preferences

6. The Choice of Study Program (cont´d)
What is the responsibility of the university - and of the student?
- Univ: Correct information about its
provision, also employment rates
- Student: Her/his decision. (Go by
interest, but do it well!)

7. Classroom Learning Environment
The ideal university learning environment: Well designed curricula, expectations and demands are clear, well trained and dedicated teachers most of them with a PhD, laboratories and classrooms in good shape, library, computing facilities
Financing studies: The ideal student can study full-time
How far away are we from the ideals? What choices do we make, what priorities?

8. Classroom Learning Environment: Teachers
The proportion of PhDs? 100 %? 50%?
The balance between teaching and research for academic staff?
The pedagogical training of academic teachers

9. Classroom Learning Environment: Premises
Don´t forget the hardware of university planning: equipment and buildings
Good teachers in poor classrooms - or poor teachers in good classrooms?!
Investment decisions are important in university management
Different models for providing funds: Centralised - decentralised

10. After Graduation Employment statistics: A must
The ex-students´ contributions to curricular changes and improved learning environment
As active professionals ex-students return to Alma Mater as part of life-long learning strategy, in another learning environment
The professional ex-student is invited to sit on a program board, with prior experience!