Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services: Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services

Descriptions

Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services is intended for a student with a degree in social and health services who wishes to expand his/her knowledge of ageing and gerontological development and management skills in a multidisciplinary group of students. From the students, two years of work experience are required in a field that corresponds to the UAS degree.

The title of the degree is determined by the student's previous degree, which is accompanied by the designation Master. The following qualifications are available in the Metropolia UAS Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services: Master's Degree of Assistive Device Technician; Master's Degree of Emergency Care Paramedic; Master's Degree of Physiotherapist; Master's Degree of Gerontologist; Master's Degree of Podiatrist; Master's Degree of Optometrist; Master's Degree of Osteopath; Master's Degree of Nurse; Master's Degree of Social Services Professional; Master's Degree of Dental Hygienist; Master's Degree of Public Health Nurse or Master's Degree of Occupational Therapist.

Objectives of the Education
Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services aims to strengthen expertise in understanding ageing and gerontological research in the development and management of services for older people. It emphasizes an understanding of the diverse needs of older people and the importance of the customer and service experience in enabling good ageing. The development and management of future services for older people will require multidisciplinary skills and an understanding of the relationship between societal activities and change and the implications for the development and management of services for older people. You will develop your competence in both managing and developing multidisciplinary and diverse working communities, services and client contexts.
The studies will enable you to anticipate and assess future needs, issues and developments in the development and management of services for older people. The development and management of services will focus on issues such as digitalization of services, user-centered development and the need to take into account the requirements of sustainable development. In the course of their studies, students will reform services and environments for older people in their work communities, taking into account the diverse needs of older people and the conditions for ageing well. The development and management of the work community will strengthen the well-being of employees and the attractiveness and retention of services for older people.
Students develop services to meet future needs in different living and working environments for ageing. Preventive and capacity-building services strengthen the agency and inclusion of older people. Through their development activities, students will strengthen their own gerontological competences and those of their work communities.

Content and Implementation of the Studies

The degree includes the following modules and periods of study:

Gerontological competence and development 25 ECTS
o Gerontological competence and service development 5 ECTS
o Age-friendly environment and services 5 ECTS
o Ageing society and services 5 ECTS
o Research Methods and Skills 5 ECTS
o Advanced Research Strategies and Methods in Human Ageing and Services 5 ECTS

Development and Management of Services for Older People 30 ECTS
o Managing and Developing Ethical Competence 5 ECTS
o Digitalization of Work and Development of Services 5 ECTS
o Strategic Management in Diverse Work Communities in Human Ageing and Services 5 ECTS
o Sustainable Leadership in Promoting Well-being 5 ECTS
o Interactive Leadership in Changing Work to Promote Well-being 5 ECTS
o Managing the Development of Welfare Services 5 ECTS

Master’s Thesis 30 ECTS

Elective Studies 5 ECTS

The studies are conducted as a blended learning program, consisting of in-person and remote learning days, as well as independent online study. On average, there are 2–3 in-person and/or remote learning days per month. At least half of the instruction takes place remotely via the Zoom online platform. Studies are carried out in collaboration with working life, focusing on developing services for older people. Learning assignments are designed to address the development needs of the workplace. The degree can be completed alongside work, and the duration of the program is approximately 1,5 years.

Career opportunities

Master's Degree Programme in Human Ageing and Services aims to develop and learn from working life. Graduates will be able to work in demanding roles in the development and management of services for older people. They require the ability to anticipate, assess and accumulate knowledge about ageing and its skills and the societal implications of ageing. Graduates will have the skills to anticipate future development needs and to innovate practice in an innovative and international context. They can work, for example, in various public, private and organizational services and services for older people, as experts and developers, as well as front-line staff and managers.

Development

Tutkinto-ohjelmassa saavutettava osaaminen perustuu vuonna 2023 tutkinnon opetussuunnitelman uudistamiseen lukuvuodelle 2024-2025, jonka yhteydessä vaihtui myös tutkinnon nimi. Opetussuunnitelma uudistettiin yhteistyössä tutkinnon neuvottelukunnan kanssa työpajatyöskentelynä (työpajaa), joissa aluksi arvioitiin tulevaisuustyöskentelyn avulla tulevaisuuden ikääntyneiden palvelujen tarpeita ja niissä tarvittavaa osaamista Metropolia ammattikorkeakoulun toiminta-alueella, pääkaupunkiseudulla ja Uudenmaan maakuntien alueella. Työskentelyyn osallistui hyvinvointialueiden sekä yksityisten että järjestöjen ikääntyneiden palvelujen asiantuntijoita. Työpajatyöskentelyn ja niiden tulsotan analyysin pohjalta uudistettiin tutkinnon kompetenssit, joihin perustuvat opetussuunnitelman ydinosaamisen alueita kuvaavat opintokokonaisuudet ja opintojaksot. Tutkinto sisältää myös Metropolian Hyvinvoinnin osaamisalueen YAMK -tutkintojen yhteisiä johtamisen opintoja.

Opetussuunnitelman tekemisen aikana arvioitiin tutkinnon painopisteitä, joissa korostuu ikäystävällinen ympäristö, kestävä kehitys ja eettinen osaaminen, työn digitalisoituminen sekä työntekijöiden ja ikääntyneiden asiakkaiden moninaisuuden huomioiminen palvelujen kehittämisessä.

Opetussuunnitelman tavoitteet ja sisällöt vastaavat kansallisessa (NQF) ja eurooppalaisessa (EQF) ylempien korkeakoulututkintojen viitekehyksissä määriteltyä tasoa 7. Opetussuunnitelma on laadittu osaamisperustaiseksi Metropolian ammattikorkeakoulun strategisten ja Metropolia Master`s kehittämisverkoston yhteisten linjausten mukaisesti.

Opetussuunnitelmaa ja sen toteutusta arvioidaan yhteistyössä tutkinnon neuvottelukunnan ja työelämän kanssa. Jatkokehittämisessä huomioidaan myös Metropolian opetussuunnitelmauudistus, joka käynnistyy vuonna 2024.

Further information

Kopioitu hyväksytystä opetussuunnitelmasta S3224S6.

Opintojaksot S000FO48-S000FO50 ovat tutkinnon omia johtamisen opintoja ja opintojaksot SX00FQ15-SX00FQ17 ovat Hyvinvoinnin osaamisalueen yhteisiä johtamisen opintoja.

Tutkintovastaava: Mia Rosenström

Ylläpitäjänä suunnittelija: Hilla Niemi

Objective

Upon graduation, students will be able to

- apply multidisciplinary gerontological knowledge and knowledge of the diversity of ageing in the development of client-oriented services
- strengthen ethical competence and the realization of the participation, agency and equality of older people in their lives
- anticipate changes in society and the future of services for older people from the point of view of promoting older people's functional capacity and prevention
- to strengthen knowledge of the importance of the diverse customer and service experience of older people in the planning, implementation and development of services for older people in different living and working environments of ageing
- strengthen staff well-being and the attractiveness of older people's services through the management of diverse working communities and service activities
- promoting an innovative customer and operational culture in line with sustainable development
- anticipate future changes in work and services and the impact of digitalization in the development and management of older people's services, diverse work communities and clients to produce research, development and innovation activities that meet the needs of working life and to communicate their results and impact on the development of services for older people
- produce research, development and innovation activities that meet the needs of working life and communicate the results and impact of these activities on the development of services for older people