Study Guide

Descriptions

The curriculum meets the demands of degree requirements, competence and development needs of the working environment as well as the requirements for national and international collaboration. It also reflects a student-oriented and learning- and competence-based foundation. The learning outcome descriptions indicate to the students what competence is expected from them and help them assess their own progress. The competence obtained in the Biomedical Laboratory Science curriculum corresponds to level 6 in the European Qualification Framework (EQF).
The curriculum also offers students a learning path based on which they can prepare their individual study plans. The studies offered consist of courses with an extent of a minimum of 5 ECTS credits. The chance for multidisciplinary learning is offered through the opportunity to complete 10 ECTS credits in Metropolia's joint elective studies. These may consist of one or several courses. Multidisciplinary studies can also be completed in Metropolia's innovation hubs and innovation studies. The provision of studies enables students to complete 30 ECTS credits per term. The degree in Biomedical Laboratory Science includes practical training in the learning environments of the university of applied sciences and the laboratories of the health care services, representing 75 ECTS credits.

As a starting point for learning, the focus is on situations and challenges arising from professional practices, and the learning process aims to find evidence-based solutions and new ways of working for them. Some courses are project-based, including projects that develop the student's field of study. Various learning environments supporting learning are used to deepen and develop competence, for example in the learning environments of simulation, service operations and the innovation hubs. Studies consist of contact teaching and online studies. Online studies require strong motivation and self-direction from the students. Technological teaching solutions increase flexibility and add alternative ways of studying. Regardless of the form of studies, the students are ultimately responsible for their own learning. Practical training takes place in the teaching laboratory of the university of applied sciences and the laboratory services of health care services or in research laboratories.

The student's competence is assessed during the studies using Metropolia's joint competences and the Biomedical Laboratory Science degree's specific competences. Students become proficient in continuous development of their competence and gain the ability to undertake further studies. The learning outcomes have been determined in cooperation with representatives from both working life and the UAS and therefore express the students’ competence levels and readiness for different types of work. A competence-based curriculum enables student mobility within the UAS and between other UASs. In addition, it makes the recognition of prior learning (RPL) easier and enables the comparison of degrees obtained in different countries. International studies are part of the learning path of each learner in the form of international exchange, practice placement or internationalism at home studies, such as common core requirement studies in English or Finnish degree programmes or open studies in international network learning environments. Some of the studies in the curriculum may also be provided in English. The curriculum also serves as a source of information for the working environment and our international partners.

Objective

After the first year of study, the student knows the operating environment of the biomedical laboratory scientist profession and understands clinical laboratory activities as an important part of the social and health care system. Students can describe the core competence required of a biomedical laboratory scientist. The student acquires information and evaluates it critically. The student communicates in professional interaction situations and utilizes different learning environments to develop their skills. The student guides customers, taking samples in accordance with the quality system, and acts professionally in customer service and taking samples. The student uses the most common laboratory equipment and methods and knows how to perform some poct tests and explain the principles of the methods and equipment used in them.


After the second year of study, the student expands his knowledge in professional subjects. Student evaluates the laboratory research process in different areas of clinical laboratory work and justifies the importance of laboratory research in patient care. The student guides and teaches customers and prepares guidance material. Student plans and implements sampling, sample processing, storage and transport. The student analyzes samples and performs patient examinations in accordance with quality requirements and recommendations. Student can explain the principles of equipment and methods used in laboratory operations. The student knows the current research and development challenges of laboratory operations and uses evidence-based information. Student internalizes professional and research ethical principles as part of his professional expertise and acts in accordance with them. The student evaluates his own professional development and develops his interaction, guidance and working community skills. Student works in various work and learning environments and in multiprofessional teams with a developing approach to work.


In the final phase of the studies, the student learning more his knowledge in professional subjects. Student critically evaluates the functionality of the clinical laboratory research process in various healthcare-related customer situations, in the patient's care chain and develops it customer-oriented. The student reasonably uses quality management methods in the different stages of the laboratory research process and works in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Student acts solution-oriented in problem situations. The student evaluates their professional development in relation to the task area of a bio,edical laboratory science and plans her own career development.