Accessibility is driving the Sisu updates – what does this mean for students?

Sisu will introduce two student-focused improvements at the turn of the year: a renewed study structure view and a new study timing view. The aim of these changes is to make study planning clearer and to ensure that the service works smoothly in different situations.

Improving accessibility benefits everyone. A clearer, more consistent service is easier to understand and use, regardless of the device or circumstances.

These changes are guided by the EU Accessibility Directive, which requires higher education institutions to ensure that their digital services accessible to all users. For Sisu, this means developing structures and features that support students who use assistive technologies, while also improving clarity and usability for all students.

The renewed structure view clarifies the overall study structure

For students, the study structure view is primarily a tool for creating a personal study plan. It helps to understand the overall degree structure, available choices, and study progress at different stages.

The study structure is a complex whole, where individual choices affect one another and are closely connected to other parts of Sisu. For this reason, improving accessibility and clarifying the structure has been a substantial and carefully planned development effort.

While the previous version supported study planning in many ways, the new structure view offers a clearer and more accessible way to examine the degree as a whole. Better accessibility supports all students: a logical structure builds confidence, makes navigation easier, and helps students progress in their studies.

The new structure view has been designed to be accessible from the outset. The goal is to provide an equal user experience, where the structure of studies, choices, and guidance information are logically organised and understandable, regardless of device or usage situation.

The first version will be available for testing at the end of 2025 and it will be actively developed throughout the following year based on user feedback.

From a student's perspective, the new view makes it possible to:

• create and review study plans
• clearly view degree program structures and their contents
• select courses according to curriculum rules
• create approval applications for studies that deviate from the curriculum
• create and manage study plans
• choose completion methods and equivalencies, and apply for substitutions
• request guidance and review comments from advisors

Not all features from the previous structure view are available immediately. For example, personalised study paths, cross-institutional study options, and separate graduation notifications will be introduced at a later stage as part of ongoing accessibility and usability work.

The new timing view supports smooth and accessible study planning

Another major improvement concerns the study timing view. Many students use this view to plan their studies across semesters and periods. From an accessibility perspective, the main challenges of the previous version were related to its structure, which did not support all usage situations equally well. For this reason, a new scheduling view is being introduced to replace the previous one.

The new view is designed to function smoothly across different devices and usage methods. A clearer structure benefits all students, not only those using assistive technologies. Improved visual structuring and guidance make the view easier to understand, especially in situations where students need to make quick decisions, such as evaluating workload or placing courses within the academic year.

From a student's perspective, the new timing view offers:

• functional keyboard and screen reader support
• smooth mobile use
• a clearer visual structure aligned with the rest of the Sisu interface
• the option to hide past semesters
• guidance that supports adopting the new view and understanding its structure

All key functionalities remain available. The only feature removed is the option to add personal notes to the timeline, which was rarely used according to usage data.

Why does accessibility matter?

Sisu is used by a large number of higher education students in Finland. Improving the accessibility of key study planning views is not merely a technical update, but a way to enhance the overall student experience.

Improving accessibility supports:

1. Equality: students can plan their studies regardless of device, situation, or individual needs.
2. Clarity and guidance: it is easier to understand the overall structure of studies when information is presented logically.
3. Legal requirements: the EU Accessibility Directive r requires digital services in higher education to be accessible, and Sisu plays a central role in this ecosystem.

What's next?

The new views will be introduced in Sisu in phases. The new timing view will be available to students at the end of 2025. At the same time, the first version of the new structure view will be released for use alongside the existing one. Both views will continue to be developed actively in collaboration with higher education institutions and students.

Students are encouraged to share feedback on the new views when opportunities arise. User experiences play a key role in guiding Sisu’s ongoing development and ensuring that the service meets a wide range of needs.