Master’s Degree Programme in Development and Leadership of Acute Care: Akuuttihoitotyön kehittäminen ja johtaminen

Descriptions

The aim of studies leading to Master’s Degree in Development and Leadership of Acute Care is to offer students an opportunity to deepen their competence to apply theoretical knowledge into practice, to increase their analytical skills and project leadership skills, to participate in research and development projects and to improve their social skills. The objective of the Master’s thesis is to develop competence in applying research knowledge into practice and to utilize applicable research and development methods in the work environment as well as to acquire competence in obtaining demanding expert positions. The Master’s degree develops the students’ competence to hold existing or future expert and leadership positions thus promoting their career development. The Master’s degree provides the students with skills that enable them to work as developers and reformers of the work environment with the required R&D competence.

Taking the Master’s Degree in Development and Leadership of Acute Care provides the students with a high-level professional competence in developing the care of patients requiring acute or life-saving care and enables them to work as developers, reformers, experts and leaders in varying work environments as well as to obtain social and health care expert positions both at national level and internationally. The Master’s degree renews and develops the knowledge foundation of acute care and provides fresh knowledge. The aim is to gain competence in the leadership and development of acute care processes as part of the social and health care services as well as to determine and implement the processes of acute care service levels by analyzing different quality and care assessment models. In addition, the students are competent to work in various acute care expert and management positions.

The students can gain competence in the public and private sectors in changing operational environments. The degree programme consists of RDI studies, social and health care leadership studies to build up common knowledge base, advanced studies and elective studies.

The studies are based on Metropolia’s curriculum framework highlighting work life-oriented competence, exploratory learning and the development of RDI, internationality, life-long learning and versatility. All students are working professionals with the minimum of three years of health care work experience at the beginning of their studies. The students utilize their previous expertise and workplace connections throughout the studies and form expert networks with peer students, UAS lecturers and other speakers as well as alumni. During the studies the students develop their self-reflection, self-management and overall management skills, and increase their communication and interaction skills at national and international level. The international approach to studies is realized in the form of international guests, student exchange, field trips and multidisciplinary international studies. The purpose of the studies leading to Master’s degree is to provide the students with a comprehensive and deep knowledge of social and health care and the required theoretical knowledge to hold demanding expert and leadership positions or work as entrepreneurs. The education also emphasizes the development of good communication and linguistic competence required by the work environment.

The competence level of Master’s degree graduates from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is NQF 7 (National Qualifications Framework) in accordance with the recommendations of Arene (Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences).

Development

The curriculum will be inspected and approved by the Master’s degree advisory board.

Further information

Head of Degree Programme Jukka Lehtimäki
Degree Programme Coordinator Outi Sorri

Objective

Generic competencies: Competence descriptions

Learning skills
The student
• can assess and develop one’s own expertise in a goal-oriented and diverse way
• can adopt a critical and multidisciplinary approach to acquiring, applying, sharing and assessing knowledge
• can assume responsibility for goal-oriented learning of community

Ethical competence
The student
• can assume responsibility for community actions and bear the possible consequences for it
• can apply the ethical standards of professional conduct as an expert and developer of the work environment
• can make decisions considering individual and community aspects
• can promote the implementation of principles on equality in the workplace community
• can promote the implementation of principles on sustainability and social responsibility
• can lead socially valuable actions based on ethical values

Workplace community competence
The student
• can develop workplace community actions and work welfare
• can develop multifaceted communication and interaction in the work environment
• can apply information and communication technology at work
• can form networks and partnerships
• can lead and renew activities in complex and unpredictable operational environments
• can hold demanding positions as a leader and an expert or work as an entrepreneur

Innovation competence
The student
• can provide fresh information and renew modes of action by adopting a multidisciplinary approach
• can manage projects
• can manage RDI projects and can employ R&D methods
• can develop client-oriented, sustainable and cost-effective actions

International competence
The student
• can establish international communication related to work tasks and reforms
• can be an active participant in the international setting
• can anticipate the impacts and possibilities of international development regarding one’s own field


Specific degree competencies:

Development competence of acute care
The student
• can show the wide-ranging and specialized acute care competence responsibly in work tasks
• can comprehend the concepts and methods of acute care, forming the basis for individual reflection and/or the development of acute care
• can assess and justify his/her evidence-based actions in the multifaceted and changing operational environments of acute care

Leadership competence
The student
• can carry out high-level leadership actions ethically
• can lead the implementation of strategic competence
• can lead diverse workplace communities
• can assess the results and success of leadership

Service competence
The student
• can develop the sought-after social and health care services in cooperation with clients and other interest groups
• can apply and combine various areas of knowledge to produce services
• can apply market research results of the provision of services and is proficient in marketing communications
• can participate actively in service procurement and tendering processes of the field
• can solve demanding challenges of the service business