Updates on Academic Affairs 2/25

5.11.2025

The third Updates from Academic Affairs of the year is here. This time, the topics include changes to courses in Computer Science, updates to the Bachelor’s thesis submission process, the cross-institutional study network, a new multidisciplinary Bachelor’s programme, and the progress of curriculum planning for 2026–28. Enjoy!

These updates are part of the guild’s goal to increase transparency. The guild’s Head of Academic Affairs acts as a student representative in several administrative bodies within SCI. Updates from Academic Affairs report on the discussion topics and decisions of these meetings, as well as general changes affecting Computer Science students, from individual course changes to broader curriculum-level developments.

• CS-E5000 Seminar in Software and Service Engineering
  Teaching periods change: I-II, III-IV → II
• CS-E4680 Quantum Machine Learning D
  Course discontinued (Period I)
• CS-E433003 Special Course in Information Security D: Mobile Phone Forensics
  Teaching confirmed for Period IV in the 2025–26 academic year (First held already in 2024–25)
• CS-C3310 Studio: ihmisten ja organisaatioiden tutkimus
  No teaching in 2025–26 (Period III)
  (No teacher available. Replaced in Information Networks basic studies by TU- A1160 Elämisen taito for 2025–26)

Meeting 6/​25

• Approved a proposal for curriculum and degree requirement changes to be confirmed by the Academic Committee for Science (see Changes to Computer Science courses)
• • The proposal was approved in the Academic Committee meeting 5/​25.
• Discussed CYBERSURE – Master’s Programme in Cybersecurity and Assurance (Erasmus Mundus)
• • Replaces the Master’s Programme in Security and Cloud Computing (SECCLO)
  • The Vice Rector’s decision to establish the programme was submitted in September and is still being processed
  • According to the current plan, students complete their first study year at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), and Aalto serves as the exit university, offering second-year specialization in Distributed Systems Security
  • First students are planned to start at NTNU in autumn 2026 and at Aalto in autumn 2027
• Approved Master’s theses.

Meeting 3/​25

• Learning Outcomes for Majors in the 2026–28 Curriculum
• • Possible changes to SCI Bachelor’s majors were reviewed
  • No changes planned for the Computer Science major learning outcomes.
• Supervised EXAM Maturity Test for Bachelor’s Thesis
• • Discussed the pilot conducted in Computer Science last spring
  • All SCI majors will include a supervised maturity test in the 2026–28 curriculum
  • Plan: Questions will be generic rather than personal (as in the pilot), but could vary between Bachelor’s thesis seminars.
• Language Policy in the 2026–28 Bachelor’s Curriculum
• • Discussed the implementation of language guidelines
  • Goal: The Bachelor’s degree should be completable in Finnish, with only one mandatory course taught in English (For CS, the English-taught course is Software Project, justified by its learning objectives)
  • The changes relate to broader national discussions on the role of Finnish in university teaching; Aalto is being seen as a precedent
• General Studies in Bachelor’s Basic Studies for 2026–28
• • Discussed how different majors use the 3 ECTS general studies section
  • Currently in CS: “Any 3–4 ECTS language or communication course from the Language Centre” (with few exceptions), or TU-A1160 Elämisen taito, CHEM-A1020 Akateemisen ajattelun alkeiskurssi, or NBE-C3001 Aivoaakkoset
  • Discussion suggested: majors may define their own general studies course, expand the list of options, or recommend specific courses. Majors will consider how to use the 3 ECTS and return to the issue in the next meeting.
• Bachelor’s Thesis in Salesforce /​ MyStudies
• • The final, assessed, approved and archived version of the thesis will be submitted through the MyStudies system on the Salesforce platform by the end of 2025
  • eAge will be discontinued
  • The new system launches 1 December 2025 and applies to autumn seminar courses (excluding BIZ)
  • Summer seminar students and those submitting before 1 December continue under the old process

Meeting 5/​25

• Approved the changes to Computer Science courses and CCIS curriculum (see above)
• Multidisciplinary Bachelor’s Programme
• • Discussed a new English-taught programme combining engineering, economics, and arts & design
  • Planned start: Autumn 2027
  • Students choose after the first year whether to pursue a BSc in Technology or BSc in Economics.
  • The programme had been under preparation but not shared with student representatives before the announcement; students have not been included in planning
  • Funding is secured and university leadership strongly supports the programme, but planning is still early and many open questions remain

• Electronic Degree Certificate Successfully Deployed at Aalto (see Aalto news)
• • Aalto has introduced the use of electronic degree certificates, speeding up the graduation process, making employment applications easier and improving archiving practices. Aalto deans will henceforth be able to sign degree certificates electronically regardless of time or place.
  • Introduced on 15 September, Aalto’s electronic degree certificate became a reality on 16 September when the dean of the School of Science signed the first certificate electronically. The graduating student received notification that their Bachelor of Science (Technology) certificate was ready and successfully downloaded it without problem. 
  • For more on electronic degree certificates, see Student Guide
• Cross-institutional study network: Secure Software (see Aalto news)
• • A cross-institutional studies agreement with Aalto University, Jyväskylä, Turku, and Tampere universities on the field of Software Security is signed.
  • The agreement covers the following courses:
  • • Aalto University: Platform Security
    • University of Jyväskylä: Introductory Penetration Testing and Security Assessment
    • Tampere University: Secure Programming 
    • University of Turku: Privacy and Security for Software Systems
  • Courses will be accepted as elective studies in CCIS SCI majors
  • More info on cross-institutional studies https:/​/​www.aalto.fi/​en/​other-studies/​cross-institutional-studies-ripa

Is there something wrong with a course? Annoyed by the practical arrangements of a course? Having a bad day?

Tell us about it here: https:/​/​forms.gle/​ceAk6r8C5JdrE1WPA

The form collects course experiences and helps identify recurring problems. Responses are handled confidentially. Telegram handle can be left for follow-up if desired.

Thanks for reading the third Updates on Academic Affairs of the year! Feedback is always welcome. You can reach the guild’s Head of Academic Affairs at opinto­vastaava​@tietokilta.fi or on Telegram ​@YliSamuli

Samuli Yli-Salomäki
Head of Academic Affairs '25