Degree Programme in Social Services (in Finnish): Oletussuunnitelma

Descriptions

Aim of the degree programme
The Degree of the Bachelor of Social Services is a polytechnic degree comparable with international, and especially, European polytechnic education. The aim of the degree programme in Social Services at Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia is to develop the operating system and methods of the social field together with other actors in the capital city area. Another aim is to create socio-pedagogical work methods that help to maintain and produce a good life for individuals, groups and communities.

The aim of socio-pedagogical work is to prevent social exclusion and to promote social pluralism. It emphasises the empowerment of citizens' activeness, initiative and self-help, as well as social influence. It is methodically based on empowering everyday activities: empowering individuals' and communities' identities and self-esteem and an operating culture activating participation. This kind of work requires multidisciplinary education, co-operation skills and an ability to examine and develop oneself as well as the social field.

Description of the profession
Bachelors of Social Services work with clients of various ages in pedagogical settings and in the social field. Their work can consist of varied supervision, guidance, projects and development in community and institution services, organisations or business. Their work can include co-ordination, guidance and managerial work with older and disabled people, abusers of drugs and alcohol, people with mental problems, in immigrant work as well as in home care. They can also work within labour administration and pension insurance.

The Bachelor of Social Services has a professional capacity described in the model of the Danish Bent Madsen (1993), which is the basis of the degree programme in Social Services at Stadia

Productive competence includes on one hand practical skills, and on the other hand new ideas and their implementation. A developing attitude to one's own work is emphasised in this area. It is also important to have the ability to look for new ways of working in everyday life.

Expressive competence is combined with aesthetic values and developing one's expressive skills. The employee should be capable of assimilating to another person, and in addition to oral and non-verbal communication, he/she should also be able to use other means such as music, visual arts, creative physical exercise and drama. It also means the sensitivity to understand the semantic world of the client and his/her environment.

Communicative competence means the employee's interactive ability: team work and co-operation skills as well as holding to common agreements. It means one's capability of equal dialogue.

In the area of scientific competence the employee examines work from the viewpoint of a researcher and developer, questioning dominant work practice. To reflect on and develop work often requires checking one's own concept of the world and the human being. Experimental and theoretical knowledge can be combined when having this kind of attitude to work.

In the degree programme in Social Services students develop their own personal working competence by studying skills in the productive, expressive, communicative and scientific area. The core of their working competence is a personal, professional, investigative attitude to work as well professional ethics.

Content of the degree programme in Social Services
The degree programme in Social Services is based on the most essential elements of socio-pedagogical knowledge and work in the social field. The study modules of the curriculum are divided into study units including scientific and functional parts. Learning processes passing through the degree programme are: growing into social pedagogy, ethical professional practice, co-operation with working life and investigative development of social services. The special character of the work in the social field is developed via these processes, i.e. the use of one's own personality as a working instrument, and the requirements of being aware of oneself in interactive work. The learning methods used in the degree programme support working in groups, co-operation with working life and critical thinking. The aim is to develop both teaching and work with the help of investigative approach. It is possible to take part of the studies in a virtual environment.

The extent of the degree programme is 210 ECTS credits. There are 115 credits of joint studies as to their aims and contents and 95 credits of optional studies (including practical training and final project). With the help of the optional studies students can support their own orientation in the field of work of their own choice.

Contact Information
Training Manager: Anne Rahikka
Mailing address: Helsinki Polytechnic,
PO BOX 4030 00099 City of Helsinki, Finland
Visiting address: Tukholmankatu 10, 00290 Helsinki
Tel:+358 9 310 80258 or +358 40 3341241
E-mail: anne.rahikka[at]stadia.fi
Training Manager: Soile Bergström
Post address: Helsinki Polytechnic,
PO BOX 4030 00099 City of Helsinki, Finland
Visiting address: Tukholmankatu 10, 00290 Helsinki
Tel: +358 9 310 81872
email: soile.bergstrom[at]stadia.fi
Homepage (in Finnish)

Further information

Syksyn 2007 saapumisryhmän työpohja