FINELC

THE NETWORK OF FINNISH UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE CENTRES

1

FINELC or the national Network of University Language Centres comprises 17 university language centres (LCs) and similar institutes: Department of Languages and Communication, Helsinki School of Economics; University of Helsinki LC; University of Joensuu LC; University of Jyväskylä LC; University of Kuopio LC; University of Lapland LC; Lappeenranta University of Technology LC; language studies at the National Defence College; University of Oulu LC; Department of Languages and Communication, Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration; Tampere University of Technology LC; University of Tampere LC, Language and Communication Centre, Helsinki University of Technology; Department of Languages, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration; University of Turku LC; University of Vaasa Language Service and the Åbo Akademi University Language Centre.

FINELC accepts new members. Any university with a language centre or similar institute may join the Network.

The University of Tampere acts as the coordinating university until further notice.

2

The aim of the Network is

• to strengthen European multilingualism by developing the teaching of languages and communication;
• to improve the opportunities for learning languages;
• to enhance evaluation practices and quality assurance by promoting networking between language centres and by making use of their common strengths as well as the opportunities provided by closer European co-operation.

3

An internal organisation, with representatives from the different language centres, is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Network’s operations. The power of decision lies with the Executive Group, which is the same as the Council of the Finnish Language Centre Directors.

FINELC has rules of procedure which have been internally agreed upon by the member LCs, and ratified by the Executive Group. (See the APPENDIX below.)

4

The member university acting as the coordinating university represents FINELC in the target negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the Network. Funding for the Network’s operations shall be allocated to FINELC through the coordinating university.

5

As the coordinating university until further notice, the University of Tampere is responsible for the distribution of FINELC's finance and policy plan to each of the member universities. The member universities shall mention their participation in the operations of the Network in their own finance and policy plans. As long as funding from the Ministry of Education continues the University of Tampere shall deliver FINELC’s official finance and policy plan to the Ministry together with its own finance and policy plan. When necessary, a report on FINELC's operations shall be included in the annual report of the coordinating university.

6

Any administrative matters regarding degrees and concerning students and courses organised by FINELC shall be dealt with by the faculties and other bodies responsible for such matters at each university, in accordance with their respective rules and regulations.

Degree objectives shall be agreed upon on a university-specific basis.

7

Equipment and instruments acquired with funds allocated to FINELC shall be located in departments and institutes of the member universities, according to decisions made by the Executive Group.

8

This agreement shall enter into force on the date of signing, and shall remain in force until further notice. If necessary, this agreement may be revised at the end of each target agreement period. A member university wishing to withdraw from FINELC must do so at the beginning of the calendar year. The resigning member must give written notice no less than six months prior to withdrawing from FINELC.

APPENDIX

In accordance with established practices and the internal rules of procedure mentioned in paragraph 3 of the agreement on the Network of Finnish University Language Centres, FINELC’s operations shall include the following:

• The highest decision-making body of FINELC, the Council of the Finnish Language Centre Directors, holds a meeting or seminar (lasting one or two days) at least twice a year.
• The Finnish Virtual Language Centre steering group within FINELC arranges several meetings and two or three seminars annually.
• A major two-day Language Centre Conference is organised every second year at one of the member universities of FINELC. The participants of these conferences total some 250 language centre teachers and administrative personnel.
• Finnish language centres arrange various other informal meetings annually, e.g. language-specific meetings for teachers of different languages, or meetings between language centre administrators.