Student's Compass (Opiskelijan Kompassi)
The Student’s Compass is a research-based virtual well-being and life skills programme developed by the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.
Sign into Student’s Compass with your TUNI's username and password.
The Student’s Compass (Opiskelijan Kompassi in Finnish) offers new perspectives and practical tools to everyday problems students encounter in their studies. The web-based programme consists of various themes and exercises that are available as both text and voice or video recordings.
What is Student's Compass?
The programme is based on value-, acceptance- and mindfulness-related methods. The programme aims to
- promote students’ psychological, social, and emotional well-being,
- find ways to prevent and alleviate stress, tension, anxiety, and mood problems,
- encourage self-development and self-care,
- introduce students to issues that are important and meaningful to them, and
- help students to cope more effectively with the challenges of academic studies, such as problems with concentration, execution of tasks, and motivation.
The programme gives students the opportunity to practice
- skills for coping with thoughts and emotions,
- mindfulness and observation skills,
- self-awareness and self-development skills,
- identifying their own values and goal setting, and
- self-care and recovery skills.
Completing the Student’s Compass (Opiskelijan kompassi in Finnish) online program increases well-being and reduces study exhaustion, anxiety and stress
The Student’s Compass online programme has been evaluated in the summer 2022 and 2023 by Tampere University.
The changes in well-being, symptom and process indications have been statistically very significant between the initial and final questionnaires.
The changes in well-being, symptom and process indications
- increased well-being and reduced study exhaustion, depression, anxiety, stress and experiences of loneliness
- improved awareness skills, increased psychological flexibility and life began to change according to own values
Furthermore, the University of Jyväskylä has conducted research on the effectiveness of the Student’s Compass. Active participation in the programme has been shown to reduce stress symptoms and depression. The programme can also have a positive impact on students’ emotional, social, and psychological well-being as well as help to improve self-esteem and increase mindfulness skills and life satisfaction. Read more information about the research related to Student’s Compass (the website of the Univerisity of Jyväskylä).
The Student’s Compass can be used independently or with support in every period
Students can use the Student’s Compass at their own pace, independently and anonymously. Independent use of the online programme is free of charge for all students at Tampere University.
Students can earn ECTS for using the programme by completing the independent Student Wellbeing and Life Skills study unit (1 credit). More information about the wellbeing coaching and support groups will come later.
Current information and schedules for the academic year 2024-2025
The information of the implementations that have already started/completed has been moved at the bottom of the page ("Previous implementations of the Student's well-being and life skills course").
3rd period - Independent implementation (1 ECTS) in English is available
The requirements for completing the Student Well-Being and Life Skills course (Jan 7 - Feb 23, 2025) include active independent use of the Student Compass online programme and answering well-being and feedback surveys.
It is possible for you also to participate in the lecture 'Introduction to Student's Compass' held by the Study Psychologist '. Participation in this lecture is voluntary but highly recommended. Additionally, students have access to a discussion platform on the course’s Moodle area, where they can ask questions and discuss the course themes anonymously.
More detailed information about the implementation can be found in the course description in Curriculum and in the Intra news item. Sign up for the course on 6.1.2025 at the latest
4th period - Independent implementation (1 ECTS) in English is available
The requirements for completing the Student Well-Being and Life Skills course (Mar 3 - Apr 27, 2025) include active independent use of the Student Compass online programme and answering well-being and feedback surveys.
It is possible for you also to participate in the lecture 'Introduction to Student's Compass' held by the Study Psychologist '. Participation in this lecture is voluntary, but highly recommended. Additionally, students have access to a discussion platform on the course’s Moodle area, where they can ask questions and discuss the course themes anonymously.
More detailed information about the implementation can be found in the course description in Curriculum and in the Intra news item. Sign up for the course on 2.3.2025 at the latest
Piloting and implementation of the Student’s Compass at Tampere University
More information, contact address: opiskelijankompassi.tau [at] tuni.fi (opiskelijankompassi[dot]tau[at]tuni[dot]fi)
Contact persons
Mauri Inkinen, Study psychologist
Education and Learning | Education and Learning Development Services
Email mauri.inkinen(at)tuni.fi
Phone
Suvi-Päivikki Ikonen, Senior specialist
Education and Learning | Education and Learning Development Services
Email suvi.ikonen(at)tuni.fi
Phone +358503011948
Erika Säynässalo, Specialist
Education and Learning | Education and Learning Development Services
Email: erika.saynassalo(at)tuni.fi
Phone: +358503186681