Study Guide

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).

Objective

The skills and knowledge of students graduated from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences are described according to the NQF, National Qualifications Framework, and the recommendations of the Rectors' Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.

General competences: competence descriptions

Learning competence
- lifelong learning competence: is able to self-evaluate and develop one's expertise in a versatile and focused way
- is able to retrieve, analyse and produce information and evaluate it critically from the viewpoint of different fields
- is able to supervise and mentor others and to share one's expertise
- is capable of taking responsibility for collaborative learning in a target-oriented way

Ethical competence
- is able to take responsibility for the actions of a community and their consequences as well as to evaluate the effects of the actions
- is able to apply the ethical principles of the subject field as an expert and as a developer of working life
- is able to make responsible and sustainable decisions, considering an individual and the community
- is able to contribute to the principles of equality in working life
- is able to contribute to the principles of sustainable development and social responsibility
- is able to leading socially influential activities based on ethical values

Working community competence
- is able to develop and lead the operation of a diverse and multidisciplinary work community and to improve its wellbeing and productivity
- is able to develop working life communication and interaction in a participatory way, taking diversity into account
- is able to apply technological possibilities in working life communication and interaction
- is able to create and lead networks and partnerships
- is capable of managing and supervising tasks and improving activities in complicated and unpredictable environments
- is capable of working in demanding expert, entrepreneur, management and supervision tasks. as an expert or entrepreneur, and has abilities for management and supervision tasks

Innovation competence
- is able to create new knowledge and improve existing working methods by combining expertise from different fields
- is capable of managing projects
- is able to manage research, development and innovation projects and masters the methods of research and development work
- is able to develop innovative, customer-oriented, sustainable and cost-effective solutions

Multicultural competence
- is capable of managing and developing multicultural, international networks and working communities
- is able to predict the effects of and opportunities for global development and phenomena in one’s own field
- is capable of demanding international communication and interaction

Technological competence
- is able to apply technological opportunities in management, expert and development work
- is able to predict the effects of technological development on one's field, work and operating environment
- is capable of promoting technological development and its utilisation in one's field