The foundation of professionalism for Bachelors of Social Services is built on the socio-pedagogical approach. Bachelors of Social Services are capable of analysing social phenomena and understanding their significance to people’s lives and wellbeing. Combining pedagogical (education and learning) and social (societal) perspectives at work is emphasised in social pedagogy. The work is carried out in the daily lives of people of different ages in their own living environment. Bachelors of Social Services are also capable of taking on tasks requiring development and leadership skills, promoting the social perspective within social services as well as multiprofessionalism and networking within the overlapping areas among welfare providers.
Job opportunities and working as a Bachelor of Social Services
As a Bachelor of Social Services, you are qualified to work with various client groups. Provision of services and client work is seen through a social pedagogical framework. The work may consist of supporting clients in their home or community settings, co-ordination of services, or supportive guidance and assistance. You may work with people of all ages.
Job opportunities for Bachelor of Social Services:
• Early childhood education and care
• Child welfare
• Family work
• Guidance and education in youth work
• Social counselling in schools
• Work with adults
• Community work
• Work with the elderly
• Work with people with disabilities
• Work with people with substance abuse issues
• Work with people with mental health issues
• Preventive work against violence
• Multicultural work and work among diverse people
Bachelor of Social Services have also the opportunity to work as self-employed professionals and service providers.By choosing certain studies that are related to early childhood education, the student has a possibility to obtain a qualification to work as a Bachelor of Social Services in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care
The Curriculum
The curriculum, based on a social pedagogical framework, focuses on empowering citizens, preventing marginalization, and promoting inclusion and social pluralism. Working as a Bachelor of Social Services requires multi-disciplinary education, collaborative skills, and an
ability to examine and develop oneself and one’s field.
As the student moves through the degree programme, they will take part in thematic learning processes such as: expanding knowledge of Social Pedagogy, collaboration with working life partners and investigative development within social services.
The curriculum of the degree programme is based on the following competences of the Bachelor of Social Services :
1. Ethical competence in the social work field (Sosiaalialan eettinen osaaminen)
2. Competences in social work with clients (Sosiaalialan asiakastyön osaaminen)
3. Competences in social service systems (Sosiaalialan palvelujärjestelmäosaaminen)
4. Critical and inclusive civic competences (Kriittinen ja osallisuutta edistävä yhteiskuntaosaaminen)
5. Research, development and innovation skills (Tutkimuksellinen kehittämis- ja innovaatio-osaaminen)
Language of the studies and language awareness
Tuition is offered in English with opportunities to gain real-world Finnish as part of internships and theory courses. Finnish language will be built into the courses as the student progresses through the curriculum. Therefore, as part of the studies, graduates have a possibility to gain Finnish skills at least to a level B1 in the Finnish language in order to facilitate their employment in the Helsinki region.
Those who already master Finnish at a native level, will have the opportunity to develop their language mentoring skills.To be employed in Finland into the social work field, professionals generally need to have a sufficiently good level of Finnish language skills.
Studying with Metropolia
The students are studying in a multicultural group. The learning methods may include individual learning, group work and project learning. As a student, one can participate in international activities in various ways at different stages of the studies.
Faculty members of the degree programme are pedagogically qualified teachers who have experience teaching in English with a language aware approach. The English tuition degree programme at Metropolia is one of the most skilled in Finland. The degree programme annually invites guest lecturers to enrich the programme. Teaching is mainly Campus-based, but to be able to study with us, one needs to have a working laptop and access to internet.
Teaching methods include for example:
• lectures
• discussions
• group work
• learning assignments
• projects
• workshops
• e-learning
• independent studies
• internships
There are job placements or internships three to four times during the studies. Job placements are in various working environments in the field of social services.Prior to any internships, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and prove a criminal record extract as a prerequisite for admission to the internship. In the beginning of the studies, students will be guided to apply their criminal record extract from Finnish authorities.
If one moves to study in Finland from other countries, one needs to obtain an authenticated criminal record extract from the authorities in
one’s country of origin. This should be as up to date as possible, less than 6 months old at the beginning of the studies.
International Activities
As a student of the degree programme one will have many opportunities to join in international activities.
The degree programme is in partnership with a number of universities and institutions of higher education in many European countries, Africa, Asia and the USA. Activities include student and staff exchanges, international projects and intensive week programmes.
A majority of the degree programme students participate in some exchange programme and complete either the second or third placement in another country.
Please note! Work placements are carried out in Finland in Finnish language environments in order to maximise the acquisition of the Finnish language and social-services-related Finnish language skills necessary to gain work experience in Finland.
Those students who master Finnish at a more native level, have other opportunities for work placements and elective courses, including a possible international exchange. They also have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with approaches to work that fully recognize
language awareness.
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