Learning outcomes

The Sibelius Academy has a competence-based curriculum. Learning outcomes are things that the student is expected to know, understand or be able to do as a result of completing the unit in question.  Learning outcomes must be defined so that they are achievable by the student. The teacher assesses the student’s progress by giving him/her oral and/or written feedback during the unit and after it is completed. A unit may also include peer review by other students or self-evaluation by the student. The goal of learning assessment is for the student to be aware of what competence he/she has and what he/she still has to learn.

Hierarchy of learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are defined:

- as shared learning outcomes for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (general learning outcomes),

- for main subjects,

- for main subject modules,

- for secondary subject modules and other modules, and

- for units.

These learning outcomes take priority in the order shown above, forming a mutually supportive framework. What this means in practice is that, for instance, the learning outcomes for a particular main subject are specified in more detail in the learning outcomes for each module under that subject. The learning outcomes for each module, in turn, are specified in more detail in the learning outcomes for each unit in that module. 

Unit learning outcomes and assessment

The content and tuition in any unit are derived from the learning outcomes defined for that unit. Progress in attaining the learning outcomes of the unit is assessed during the unit and/or in an examination or other unit completion.