Social Work Education in Finland Coordinator M.Soc.Sc. Sanna Lähteinen www.sosnet.fi 13 December 2006 Social Work Education in Finland
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Starting points of Higher Education in Finland System of tertiary education is free and therefore students come from different socio-economic backgrounds Over half of the students at the tertiary level are female Number of applicants to universities is high Students are selected through demanding entrance examinations Drop-out rate is low However,completion time of the degrees is fairly long (5-6 years MA) Social Work Education in Finland
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Bologna Declaration in Finland By autumn 2005, all universities in Finland had adopted and begun to implement a system that is based on two main cycles: undergraduate and graduate levels Until 2005, most graduates in Finland completed Master’s degree without first having obtained bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degree is viewed as an intermediate stage on the way to the master’s degree, which in Finland will still be the main university degree Social Work Education in Finland
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Ministry of Education in Finland provided financial support for the national coordination of the degrees National coordination project for social work took place in Sosnet during the years 20032006, project was coordinated by the University of Helsinki Designing of New Degrees was based on core content analyses, the results of these analyses form a basis of the new Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees Currently Finnish universities are preparing for the international evaluation of the degrees, carried out by the Higher Education Evaluation Council Quality assurance, auditing, accreditation
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Some starting points of Social Work Education in Finland Social work education is provided in six universities (Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lapland, Tampere, Turku) Universities have constructed a national network of social work (SOSNET) in order to stimulate and develop co-operation between universities Studies are fairly conform at the national level in all six universities Social Work Education in Finland
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Degrees offered in Social Work The degrees in social sciences or political sciences offered at all 6 universities: Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Licentiate degree Professional licentiate degree (specialization in social work) Doctoral degree
Student’s major subject: Social work Social Work Education in Finland
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bachelor + master’s degrees = qualified social worker average time of study: 5,5 years students include both young high school graduates and adult students, many have work previous experience and qualifications in the social field
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Qualified Social Workers Qualified social worker status is regulated by the Act on Qualification Requirements for Social Welfare Professionals (272/2005; 3 §) Social work qualification comprises both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees Students must complete basic, intermediate and advanced studies in social work, including the writing of a master’s thesis Social Work Education in Finland
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System of Tertiary Education in Finland System consists of two parallel sectors: universities and polytechnics Task areas are clearly differentiated, and each has its profile and strengths Basis of university studies is the connection between research and education Polytechnics are multi-fied or regional institutions, activities focus on practical connection with working life and regional development Social Work Education in Finland
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The Finnish Education System in the Social Field: UNIVERSITIES
POLYTECHNICS
Doctor of Social Sciences
Tertiary education
Licentiate of Social Sciences
Specialiced social workers Licentiate of Social Sciences Work experience
Social workers Master of Social Sciences (2 years)
Secondary education
Bachelor of Social Sciences (3 years)
Master of Social Services (1-1,5 years) Work experience
Social instructors Bachelor of Social Services (3,5 years)
* Svenska social- och kommunalhögskolan ja Yhteiskuntapolitiikan laitos Helsingin yliopistossa vastaavat ruotsinkielisestä sosiaalityön koulutuksesta Suomessa Upper Secondary Schools
Social Work Education in Finland
Practical nurses Vocational Schools
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Social Welfare Professionals Finland trains three different social welfare professionals (Act on Qualification Requirements for Social Welfare Professionals (272/2005): Social workers (universities, master’s degrees) Social instructors (polytechnics, bachelor’s degrees) Practical nurses (vocational schools, secondary education) Social Work Education in Finland
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Profile of Social Work Education Social work has been developed as an independent field of study with its own problem-setting, epistemological and ontological assumptions, research targets and ways of knowledge formation In Finland, Social Work is historically linked close to social policy, mother science of social work until the beginning of the 1990’s The profile of social work education is that of university studies in social sciences Studies are geared towards general social work, specialization can be obtained after MA Finnish social work education system represents the Integrated Research Model (Juliusdottir & Pettersson 2004) where research entities have been integrated with the education programmes Social Work Education in Finland
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The Integrated Research Model (Juliusdottir & Pettersson 2004) Characteristics: - Critical and theorized outlook on social work from an autonomous position - Improved professional status and increased capability of taking part in debating social issues - Moving towards a better paid profession
The Integrated Research models in Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, and Sweden
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Skills and Core Contents Education generates professional knowhow, academic ablities and research skills Knowledge and skills necessary for clientcentered work and social development Curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for analyzing and understanding clients' different life situations, meeting clients and defending their social rights, raising social awareness and influencing political decisionmaking, writing reports and other documents, planning and leading different projects, multi-professional cooperation and for the ways of legal argumentation of the field as well as for application of legislation. Social Work Education in Finland
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Social Work Study Programme, University of Lapland Bachelor’s Degree (180 ECTS) includes: orientation to the university studies language studies (16 ECTS) studies in research methodology (23-24 ECTS) major subject studies (Basic and Intermediate Studies) in Social Work (81 ECTS) – including practical training minor subject studies (students own choice of subject pr subjects) 50-60 ECTS
Master’s Degree (120 ECTS) includes: advanced studies in Social Work (120 ECTS) – - including Master’s Thesis (40 ECTS) – - practical training
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SOSNET- Finnish National University Network for Social Work Sosnet works nationally to organise specialised studies in social work at the postgraduate and doctoral levels and to promote university co-operation in the field at the undergraduate level. Network comprises all six universities in social work
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Main activities of Sosnet 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
Undergraduate cooperation Professional Licentiate Studies Doctoral Studies Virtual Teaching International activities Research
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Professional Postgraduate Degree in Social Work Designed for Qualified Social Workers A Pre-doctoral degree (licentiate degree) in social or political scienves The aim is to strengthen the scientific foundation of professional practice and to promote professional skills that draw on a research-oriented approach to social work Social work education has always been required to provide a balance between general and specialised social work In Finland this has been resolved BA and MA degrees geared towards general social work Those wishing to specialize can then continue to the professional postgraduate degree Social Work Education in Finland
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Education started in year 2000, altogether 175 students have been selected for four specializing programmes in social work Degree is 120 ECTS credits, which is possible to compete in a period of four years while in full-time employment Degree comprises: studies in specialized area of social work, research methodology studies, freely chosen studies, and a licentiate thesis Studies are based on a personal curriculum Social Work Education in Finland
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Specialized Areas of Social Work 1)
2) 3)
4) 5)
Social Work with Children and Young People Empowering Social Work Social Work in the Field or Marginalisation Specialisation in Welfare Services Community Social Work
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Doctoral Studies in Social Work and Social Services National programme for doctoral studies in social work and social services was launched in 1995 Presently school supports twenty-five doctoral candidates During the years 1995-2006 altogether 28 students have completed doctoral dissertation in the doctoral school The programme is divided into three thematic groups: 1) 2)
3)
Children and Youth in Social Work Marginalisation as a Target Problem in Social Work and Social Services Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Social Work and Social Services
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