Developing the dual system in higher education in Finland.

In 2002, the first students enrolled on part-time postgraduate courses in polytechnics (ammattikorkeakoulut) in Finland. These programmes were controversial; they were established on an experimental basis until July 2005, when the decision to make the degrees permanent (or not) must be taken. The Finnish Parliament required an evaluation of the programmes before this could happen, and it took place during 2003 and 2004 under the auspices of the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council. This article sets out some of the background to the development of the programmes and summarises the outcome of the final evaluation, published in late 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]