opintopistemääränä

Opintopistemääränä (OPP) is a term used in the Finnish education system to describe the number of credits or points awarded for completing a course or module of study. It is a standardized way of measuring the workload and effort involved in a particular educational activity. The OPP system is designed to ensure that students accumulate a consistent number of credits regardless of the specific courses they choose, promoting flexibility and individualization in their educational paths.

The OPP system is typically used in higher education, including universities and universities of applied sciences. Each course or module is assigned a specific number of OPP based on its content, workload, and duration. For example, a full-time course might be worth 5 OPP, while a shorter, less intensive course might be worth 2.5 OPP. Students must accumulate a certain number of OPP to graduate, with the exact requirement varying by degree program.

The OPP system allows for greater flexibility in course selection, as students can choose from a wide range of courses to meet their credit requirements. It also facilitates the comparison of workload across different institutions and programs. However, the OPP system is not without its criticisms. Some argue that it does not accurately reflect the diversity of learning outcomes and that it can lead to a focus on quantity over quality. Despite these criticisms, the OPP system remains a widely used and accepted method of measuring educational achievement in Finland.