Four cornerstones that help a degree programme endure and flourish
At the heart of a flourishing degree programme are the people.
Tasks and roles related to degree programme management
The programme director builds the sense of community. The key competences for a programme director relate to interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to involve and engage others, and leading change. The role requires curiosity and a genuine interest in developing the programme and its teaching, as well as the ability to motivate and inspire the whole community to participate in this development. In addition, systematic process management skills and facilitation skills are needed in the programme director’s everyday work.
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Shared leadership
Managing a degree programme requires the programme director to be able to negotiate and collaborate both with their own teaching community and with other actors responsible for teaching. The aim of leadership in this context is to establish direct and smooth interactions with and support the pedagogical wellbeing of the community. The programme director works in close cooperation with other university actors, such as departments, research groups and administrative services. It is therefore important to identify the key partners for the programme and to build functional relationships with them. The programmed director does not have formal decision-making authority over resource allocation. However, the programme director might need to negotiate on behalf of the programme for teaching and staff resources.
Leadership of learning
A learning-centred mindset is at the core of leadership of learning. The programme director promotes the use of learning-focused strategies and practices within the programme and works towards a pedagogically sustainable culture. The programme director is responsible for the programme’s academic content, coordinates and leads curriculum development in line with the annual cycle, and ensures the quality and relevance of the curriculum.
Management of education
Continual development of the quality of teaching and learning is one of the university's key strategic objectives. Aalto University promotes a positive culture of learning. Special attention is paid to supporting the progress of studies and monitoring the study process to ensure learning outcomes.
Strategic planning and development
The programme director leads the programme’s long-term vision work and goal setting. They plan how the programme can evolve and remain up to date, taking into account developments in research and changes in working life.
Degree programme portfolio management
Regular evaluation and strategic planning is utilized to effectively manage the Aalto degree programme portfolio.
Strategy and quality
Aalto University's strategy and quality system are intertwined and together establish the foundations for our ways of working and pursuit of excellence. Aalto university's quality management is based on continuous development.
Evaluation of the Degree Programme
The programme director monitors and evaluates the performance of the programme using quality assessments, student feedback and statistical data, and implements necessary improvements to the programme together with the teaching community.
Quality assurance and evaluation of education
A comprehensive quality assurance framework is implemented to evaluate our educational activities.
The annual processes of the degree programme
In accordance with the annual cycle, the programme director is responsible for overseeing various processes related to students’ study paths. You can read more about these processes in the section Running a degree programme
Running a degree programme
The programme director is responsible, according to the annual clock, for taking care of or being aware of various matters related to students’ study paths. These are specified on this page.
International networks and peer support
Internationalisation is an important part of all Aalto University activities, services and operating principles, and it also strengthens our education. Aalto University has both university-wide and school-specific international partnerships and network memberships. Through these partnerships and networks, you can develop your own expertise, build peer networks and internationalise your programme. You can find more information about internationalisation in general on the service pages (the links take you outside the Programme directors' handbook). For more information on school-specific partnerships and networks, please contact the head of international affairs at your school.
Aalto University's international university partnerships, networks and alliances
Aalto University belongs to a wide range of international partnerships, networks and alliances with a university-wide scope. Each of the international partnerships, networks and alliances have a specific focus that supports Aalto University’s strategy, especially regarding shared research and education.
Unite! University Alliance
Aalto University is a member of Unite! alliance together with eight other European universities.
Stakeholder collaboration
The programme director often serves as a link to external stakeholders, such as industry and international partners. Through a collaborative approach between different actors and stakeholders, Aalto University strives to provide high-quality, future-oriented education that gives students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers.
Heads of majors
In degree programmes with majors, the implementation and development of education is carried out in collaboration between the programme director and the heads of majors. The tasks of the heads of majors are agreed at school and programme level.