What is the learning environment?

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A good learning environment is important in day-to-day studies and crucial to the quality of studies. The learning environment, study environment and working environment are often used as synonyms. For the sake of simplicity, only the term “learning environment” will be used here. The term “learning environment” is a complex one and can be understood on the basis of psychosocial, physical and organisational factors.

Psychosocial learning environment
The psychosocial learning environment covers psychological and social factors that have consequences for satisfaction, health and ability to perform at the place of study. This includes interpersonal cooperation and security against harassment and mental harm. The social environment, culture and welfare help to promote a good psychosocial learning environment.

Physical learning environment
By the physical learning environment in this context is meant all physical, ergonomic, chemical and biological stress factors that may affect a student’s ability and capacity to learn. The students’ safety is important and, when planning, building, fitting out and running tuition buildings, tuition rooms, laboratories and study workplaces (reading rooms, PC rooms, offices for higher degree students and etc.), it must be ensured that the requirements for the physical learning environment are fully implemented and that established quality is maintained.

Organisational learning environment
The organisational learning environment involves system-related factors such as facilitation, allocation and management of work. The information flow to students and feedback are important factors. Health, safety and the environment are a line manager responsibility, in which the following entities are included: the University Board, the Rector, the University Director, the faculties and the departments.