Social Work in Urban Areas 2 (15 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

Community work is a form of social work that acknowledges the social and political transformative power of communities. Students learn how to analyse and apply community based strategies in specific European contexts (the local context and their country of origin). You are introduced to a more critical and practice based look at empowerment and ethics. From the beginning the theories are action/intervention oriented, as they have been previously learned and reflected on understanding the underpinning theory. Lectures focus on community work, empowerment and ethics, working individually and in international groups with various participatory teaching methods to increase joint learning and to create a link to the methods. You use concrete examples/observations from your earlier observations and begin to map these onto the power cube. Critical thinking skills support the design of a project within the urban context utilizing community work methods and practical knowledge of empowering and ethical ways of working.

Content

- Community Development Work theories and practice with application to a chosen target group
- Empowerment Theories and practice with application to a chosen target group
- Ethical Frameworks and Guidelins
- Critical Thinking skills and application to the final project

Teaching methods

Contact teaching with International Lecturers
Visiting guest Lecturers from the field
Visits to the field/neighborhoods
Literature
Guidance and project learning
Self-directed learning
Seminars

Location and time

Autumn 2025 - period 2
12.-23.1.2026 online, final presentations

Learning materials and recommended literature

Study guide and Literature to be uploaded later
Student has participated in loop 1-3

Internship and working life connections

Connections with our working life partners (visits, seminars)
Neighborhood walks

Exam dates and retake possibilities

Final project work
No exam

International connections

This module is part of a international joint programme - Social Work in Urban Areas. Four partner universities in Ghent, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Helsinki produce this module collaboratively.

This module is also connected to the Erasmus+ Urban SOS project with the same partners which has developed learning and teaching materials for academics and professional social workers in the urban context.

Student workload

1 ECTS = 27h

Changes may occur.

LOOP 4
3.11. at 10.00-12.00 (MPA5027)
4.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
5.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
6.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
7.11. all day study visits (tentative)

10.11. Prepare for the week program/ INDP. WORK
11.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
12.11. at 9.00-12.00 (MPBK029)
at 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
13.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
14.11. Independent work

17.11. at 9.00-11.00 Guidance from teachers (MPA5015)
18.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
19.11. all day (MPA2007)
20.11. all day (MPA2008)
21.11. all day(MPA6010)

LOOP 5
24.11. Prepare for the week program
25.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
26.11. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
27.11. at 9.00-12.00 (MPA6010)
28.11. at 9.00-15.00 (MPA6010) tentative

1.12. Prepare for the week program
2.12. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6008)
3.12. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
4.12. at 9.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 (MPA6010)
5.12. Independent work

8.12. Independent work
9.12. all day (MPA6010)
10.12. at 9.00-11.30 (MPA6010)
11.12. all day (MPA6010)
12.12. at 9.00-14.00 (MPA6010)

LOOP 6
15.12.2025-23.1.2026
Details will be uploaded, changes may occur.

Content scheduling

3.-21.11. Loop 4: Facing Superdiversity
24.11.-5.12. Loop 5: Exploring Community Based Development
9.-19.12. Loop 6: Rethinking Urban Social Work
12.-23.1.2026 Final Presentations (mostly online)

Loop 4 and 5 has 2 weeks teaching and third week is reflection week which includes lectures, study visits, group work, individual studies as well as prepare work for coming loop.

Further information for students

This module is targeted towards selected Metropolia students as well as incoming exchange students from our partners. This will be the only module the students register for in the first period so schedules will not conflict with other studies.

The first year of Social Services studies (55 credits) must be completed.

After completing both SWUA study modules, the student applies for RPL for previously agreed study courses.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student demonstrates knowledge of:
- display learning of concepts and knowledge of globalization processes, welfare systems, social and cultural diversity to become aware of social problems, ethics and core content in the field
- search information from a variety of sources
The student demonstrated the ability to:
- work in using various methods in a variety of urban social work contexts
- show that he has achieved the basic planning, analysing, implementation and communication skill targets for core competence
The student demonstrated competences to:
- participate in group work and interact to some degree with fellow students, clients and other stakeholders regardless of social and cultural background
- aware of social problems, interventions and methods possible in the urban context
- attempt basic research using minimal academic skills and methods
- passive contributions to the quality of work produced
- follow team solutions targeting identified needs and problems

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student demonstrates knowledge of:
- use concepts and knowledge of globalization processes, welfare systems, social and cultural diversity to address social problems ethically and systematically
- find information and assess and use information sources with a critical eye
The student demonstrated the ability to:
- identify and analyse social issues
- search and find find information from a variety of sources
- plan and complete course work systematically
- apply social work methods in professional assignments
- communicate with students and professionals in the field
The student demonstrated competences to:
- participate in group work and interact persistently with fellow students, clients and other stakeholders regardless of social and cultural background
- consider knowledge of social problems, interventions and methods in practical situations
- undertake basic research applying academic skills and methods
- contribute to the quality of work produced
- find solutions targeting identified needs and problems

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student demonstrates knowledge of:
- use concepts and knowledge of globalization processes, welfare systems, social and cultural diversity to address social problems ethically and professionally
- argue the use of his sources
- argue a course of action on the basis of research information or
findings
The student demonstrated the ability to:
- identify and analyse social issues and suggest relevant interventions
- search for, process and analyse information from a variety of sources
- plan and complete course work and preparing and carrying out a project plan within the established time frame
- apply social work methods in concrete cases
- communicate and establish professional relations with clients and other stakeholders
The student demonstrated competences to:
- participate actively in group work and interact productively with fellow students, clients and other stakeholders regardless of social and cultural background
- apply knowledge of social problems, interventions and methods in practical situations
- undertake basic research applying academic skills and methods
- evaluate the quality of work produced
- find creative and innovative solutions targeting identified social needs and problems

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student demonstrates knowledge of:
- display learning of concepts and knowledge of globalization processes, welfare systems, social and cultural diversity to become aware of social problems, ethics and core content in the field
- search information from a variety of sources
The student demonstrated the ability to:
- work in using various methods in a variety of urban social work contexts
- show that he has achieved the basic planning, analysing, implementation and communication skill targets for core competence
The student demonstrated competences to:
- participate in group work and interact to some degree with fellow students, clients and other stakeholders regardless of social and cultural background
- aware of social problems, interventions and methods possible in the urban context
- attempt basic research using minimal academic skills and methods
- passive contributions to the quality of work produced
- follow team solutions targeting identified needs and problems