What can be done to bridge the competency gap between upper-secondary school and university mathematics?

It has been observed that the mathematical skills of students entering university have deteriorated in Western Countries in recent decades. In the report of SEFI (The European Society for Engineering Education), [1] it is emphasized that this phenomenon prevails in Europe. Mathematical competency is a prerequisite for studying technical sciences. Most Finnish students completing advanced upper-secondary school mathematics continue their studies in universities and polytechnics. Student enrollment in technical sciences has increased which has caused decreasing in a proportion of students with sufficient mathematical competency. This creates a knowledge gap between upper-secondary school mathematics and university mathematics. Bridging this gap requires measures at the very beginning of mathematics studies at university. The purpose of the paper is to describe the actions and supportive measures taken at Tampere University of Technology (TUT) to improve the situation. The effects of the measures taken are likewise presented.

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