The network of Organic Chemistry - Finnish Virtual University project

The Network of Organic Chemistry is part of the National Finnish Virtual University and it is comprised of three organic chemistry laboratories in Finland. The network was launched an in 2002 and it is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education.

Participants:

• Helsinki university of Technology (TKK)
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Turku

It is possible to universities and institutes in Finland and abroad to become members of the network.

The main goal of the project is to improve teaching of organic chemistry . The aim is achieved by giving high quality advanced-level courses via Internet and by creating web-based teaching material. Other aims of the network are:

• to assemble the educational and research activities in Finland
• to create a general view of the scientific community of the past and the present by using multidisciplinary expertise.
• to assembly multidisciplinary expertise to support education and research

The laboratories involved with the project are specialized in different fields of organic chemistry. It is therefore beneficial to all universities to share advanced-level courses. This also gives students more freedom to choose courses that they find interesting and useful considering their future career.

The network of Organic Chemistry offers a possibility to study the field regardless of location. In the 2004-2005 schedule there are 3 on-line courses provided by diverse units. Some of the web courses are given in English for example the course Introduction to Supramolecular Chemistry and Solid Phase Synthesis. Students in each of these three universities are entitled to participate on the courses of the network without costs. Students from other universities can apply JOO-right to study (.pdf).

• Form (.pdf)
• Instructions to apply (.pdf)

The virtual lab guide for Organic Chemistry

Benefits:

• Students can use it for independent studying
• before lab work (possibility to integrate pre course exams etc.)
• after lab work to refersh their memory
• interactive excercices
• videos of basic lab technicues -> possibility to link theory and excercices to relevant videos etc.
• demostrations by screen capture about using databases such as Beilstein
• general material which suits for all organic chemistry lab courses
• advertisement of the laboratories to high school students

Please notice the spelling in email addresses: (at) = @

Finnish Virtual University