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Mathematics skill gap hampers academic progress

Natural science and mathematics have been recognised in national foresight work as key future areas of expertise across multiple sectors. Mathematical proficiency is a significant bottleneck in Finland, both among high school students and adult learners, and the skill gap prevents many students from progressing smoothly in university studies.

FITech's new development project aims to promote

• the development of mathematics education content,
• curriculum and teaching collaboration,
• the profiling of universities, and
• the reduction of unnecessary overlaps in basic studies.

The project seeks to increase the attractiveness of mathematics and engineering education and improve students' motivation to study mathematics as part of their degree programs.

During the project, the digital pedagogy in mathematics will be developed and high-quality teaching materials produced. The objective is also to increase the number of students graduating within the target time, for example, by making it easier for students to transfer between educational pathways.

“The decline in mathematical proficiency is evident both in university studies and professional life. With the support of this project, we can better address this challenge. The results will benefit high school students, university students and teachers, and adult learners who wish to refresh their forgotten skills,” says the academic director of the project, Senior University Lecturer Simo Ali-Löytty from Tampere University.

Project work started, duration until the end of 2026

The project started in March 2025, and its objectives will be advanced through four work packages. The content of the project is coordinated by project manager Jaakko Hyytiä, who has been recruited to the FITech team at Aalto University.

Over the past 10 years, Hyytiä has worked as a researcher and project manager in various research, development and innovation projects. He has extensive experience, especially in multidisciplinary and multi-organisational EU-funded projects. Hyytiä's particular expertise is in the area of continuous learning.

"As a curious generalist, I strive to live in the spirit of lifewide learning, and nothing is as educational as working with experts smarter than yourself. The project to develop higher education in mathematics is a completely new area for me, so it's great to be involved."

The project will last until the end of 2026. The participating institutions include Aalto University, University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland, University of Jyväskylä, LUT University, University of Oulu, Tampere University, University of Turku, University of Vaasa, and Åbo Akademi, and it is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC).