The Student Union and student organisations of the University of Lapland are concerned about the increase in distance learning and its impact on students and the university. The student organisations believe that as a matter of principle all undergraduate education should be organized as contact teaching.

 Following the corona pandemic, attendance rates have not returned to normal levels as a result of the introduction of distance learning. The reduction in contact teaching has a number of negative effects, both for the student and for the university community as a whole.  

 Distance learning leads to a reduction in social contact and thus to student isolation, which has many negative effects on student well-being. Isolated students do not network and do not receive peer support from other students in their daily lives. In the worst case, isolation can lead to loneliness and marginalisation, as well as other mental health problems. 

The University should not just be an institution where you get a degree, but a social forum where different views meet and networks are built. Learning is not confined to lecture halls and the library, but takes place in all kinds of encounters, such as communal lunches. Particularly in areas of expertise, the interactive nature of learning is a key element of learning and becoming an expert.  

 The home as a place of study does not provide sufficient tools for distance learning to enable learning to take place without distractions. The campus environment and the encounters that take place there play an important role in supporting students’ learning and well-being. Shared experiences build confidence in one’s own work and create a sense of belonging in the student community. It is essential that students get to know each other within their own disciplines so that peer support is available.    

 The lack of contact learning has serious effects from the perspective of the university community. With the increase in distance learning, people are moving away from Rovaniemi more quickly than before when attendance courses are not available. Student attrition, in turn, leads to the desertification of the campus and the withering away of student organisations, which are fundamental to the existence of the university and its student culture. 

The quality of teaching is also often better with contact teaching, as it allows for direct interaction between teachers and students. The threshold for asking questions is lower and it is easier to make lectures interactive. Active interaction, in turn, promotes deeper learning and understanding of the topics being taught. It also makes it easier for teachers to address the individual needs of students in contact teaching.  

 Together, we insist that contact teaching should be the starting point for university teaching at undergraduate level. We call on the university to understand the importance of contact teaching and to take steps to increase the number of students attending classes. However, this must not be done by overly restricting the flexibility of studies. For example, a drastic increase in compulsory attendance courses will backfire when studies become more protracted.   

It is also in the university’s interest to increase contact teaching, as it supports the university’s sense of community and students’ mental health and improves the image of the university as a provider of quality education. 

Additional information:   

Roope Rantala  

 Chair of The Executive Board 

 The Student Union of The University of Lapland  

 puheenjohtaja@lyy.fi  

 +358(0)45 137 9026  

 Krista Ulkuniemi  

 Specialist in Student Affairs 

 The Student Union of the University of Lapland  

 Edunvalvonta@lyy.fi  

 +358(0)45 138 4190  

 The statement was signed by the subject associations of the University of Lapland: 

Artikla ry – Law students   

Jalot Villit ry – Students of tourism studies   

Kosmos Buran ry – Students of political science and sociology   

Lapikas ry – Student organization of teacher students 

Lastu ry – Students of educational sciences, adult education and media education   

Lyhty ry – Students of social work   

Remburssi ry – Students of administrative science, management, and the psychology of leadership. 

TAO ry – Students of art   

Diverssi ry – Students of special education and special teacher training