HELSINKI, Finland, March 13 (UPI) -- Nearly 300 students began a sit-in Friday at the University of Helsinki in Finland in the wake of countrywide protests, officials said.
Newsroom Finland reported the overnight protest at the university in the Finnish capital came after protesters gathered throughout Finland Thursday to call for an amendment of the 1997 Universities Act.
The proposed amendment would allow Finnish universities to be seen as legally independent of the state, meaning the schools could begin accepting private funding.
The amendment would also give the universities the ability to charge master's program students from outside the European Economic Area and European Union tuition fees.
Newsroom Finland said Friday's sit-in marked the most recent student protest at the Helsinki university, which endured a similar demonstration in February at its main administration building.
