Study Guide

Descriptions

CURRICULUM
Master’s Programme in Active Ageing, virtual studies

Population ageing is reflected globally in both longer life expectancy and an increase in the proportion of older people in the population. An ageing society challenges the existing service structures and operating models, as well as the skills of professionals. Ageing is an individual process and older people have a wide range of resources and needs. This requires a broad range of skills and a holistic view of ageing at the level of society, communities and individuals. The agency of older people as well as their inclusion and the possibility of influencing are essential.

Active ageing has been a strategic focus of Karelia UAS for more than ten years. Promoting an age-friendly society is one of the development priorities of the Karelia2030 strategy. Our priorities in developing age-friendliness are: age-friendly living environments, memory-friendly society, age-friendly working life and client-oriented services and solutions. Karelia is developing a Master’s programme in Active Ageing and Age-Friendly Society within the European Higher Education Network.

Degree

Degree Title:
Master of Health Care, Physiotherapy
Master of Health Care, Applied Gerontology
Master of Health Care, Nursing
Master of Social Services
Master of Health Care, Public Health Nursing

Extent: 90 cr / 2,5 years

Description of Competences

Upon completion of the qualification, you will be an expert in active ageing and you will have the competence to work in multi-professional and multidisciplinary environments and work communities that support the well-being, health and rehabilitation of older people. You will be able to promote the inclusion and functional capacity of older and ageing people and to evaluate, develop and reform practices, processes and services. You will be able to work in demanding development, management and entrepreneurial roles. This Master’s degree gives equivalent qualifications for a public office or position as those of other higher education qualifications, except for the post of social worker.

Competence Development and the Content of Studies

Your studies consist of common core studies (70 cr.) and complementary studies (20 cr.).

The theme in your first year core competence studies is Expert in Active Ageing. You will familiarise yourself with the knowledge base of active ageing and rehabilitation competence and you learn how to implement development processes. In the courses Age-friendly Society and Prerequisites for the Activity of Older People, you will learn to explore the phenomena of an ageing society from the perspectives of society, communities and individuals, and to analyse the regional prerequisites for active ageing. In the courses Multidimensional Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation of Older People, you will strengthen your competence in both the theoretical basis of rehabilitation and its practical development. In the first academic year, you will draw a plan for your thesis of 30 cr. The course Investigative Development is integrated into the planning phase of your thesis and supports your competence in research development activities.

The theme in your second year core competence studies is Reflective Developer of Active Ageing. In your thesis, you will deepen your knowledge of your chosen topic and research development activities. In the courses Active Ageing and International Comparison of Ageing in Place, you will strengthen your international competence by comparing the promotion of active ageing in different social and cultural contexts.

In addition to the degree-specific competences, Karelia describes the common competences for all degrees. You will acquire the ethical competence needed to apply active ageing and rehabilitation practices extensively. You will be able to apply your work community competence both as an expert and as a manager or entrepreneur. Proactive competence development will enable you to work in demanding development tasks. International and multicultural competence facilitates comparisons and cooperation at international level. You will apply your knowledge of sustainable development to promoting the well-being, health and functional capacity of older people in a socially and economically sustainable way. During the education, you will develop your learning to learn skills.

For the theme of the complementary studies (20 cr.), you can choose either management, development or entrepreneurship. In your complementary study plan, you will define your personal learning objectives and the studies that will support them. Teacher-tutors and study counsellors support you in the planning of your complementary studies.

The process of professional development and reflection on your learning process will be integrated into your studies throughout your education. Your professional development will be supported through small group work and group development discussions. You will also have the opportunity for one-to-one discussion and guidance with your teacher-tutors and study counsellors. At the end of your studies, you will compile a learning portfolio that demonstrates your skills.

Work-Related Learning

You will incorporate your learning and previous knowledge and experience to the needs and processes of workplace development. The learning tasks are designed to respond to real-life development challenges: they are carried out in working life settings, either in the student's own workplace or in other organisations.

Usually, the thesis is commissioned by the student’s own employer, but it can also be commissioned by other organisations or Karelia research and development projects. We offer students thesis topics in the focus areas of the Karelia Centre for Age-Friendly Society (KAFS).

Participatory research and development activities require the thesis process to be carried out in cooperation with the actors in working life. You will publish the results of your thesis in the commissioning organisation and in the e-learning environment of the education. You will also be encouraged to publish your results in relevant publications.

Pedagogical Choices

This education implements student-centred pedagogy that aims to promote learner autonomy and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to be self-directed and active learners. The teacher's role is to provide guidance and support in developing students' learning and reflective skills. Students familiarise themselves with the study material through activities such as discussions, small group work, peer learning and phenomenon-based problem solving.

The content, learning methods, teaching methods and evaluation are derived from the objectives of the education. The education will be delivered entirely online, including guidance and teaching, independent studying, small group work, and knowledge acquisition and processing. The student’s calculated workload is 27 hours per credit. The majority of the learning is independent studying and group work. The studies require self-direction and the ability to combine studies with work and other areas of life.

We pay particular attention to interaction and collaborative learning. In the first year of your studies, besides to studying in your own small group, your starter group will have weekly collective online classes. Small groups work independently and autonomously. Courses include learning tasks for the small groups. From the second semester onwards, you will also be part of a thesis steering group. The student groups will meet regularly with the study counsellors and the teacher-tutors. The study counsellors are available for individual discussions on study planning and study-related matters.

The students and teachers of the degree programme form a community where we work together to develop an age-friendly society. Respecting and sharing knowledge and experience and learning together is the key. The community is made up of smaller communities such as student starter groups, small groups, thesis steering groups and a teaching team. As a student, you will work towards your own learning objectives, participate in working life development processes and share your knowledge with others. As teachers, we are committed to supporting your competence development process.

The education utilizes the e-learning environments of Karelia. There is an e-learning environment shared by all student groups. This environment also includes a group-specific online space for each starter group, which enables the sharing of experiences and knowledge between the group members. Furthermore, small groups have their own discussion areas and work spaces in the e-learning environment. Each course has its own e-learning environment.

Flexible Course Implementation

The online lessons for your student group are recorded so that you can watch them if you are unable to attend each time or want to return to the topics later. Independent studying can be scheduled according to your own timetable, and small group work is scheduled with the other members of your small group.

The education is designed for a study period of two years. The common studies will follow the curriculum: the courses will build on the knowledge acquired in previous courses. This will support your learning: progressing from the basics to advanced and specialised skills. If you wish, you can accelerate your studies in terms of complementary studies. Your previous studies can possibly be included into the complementary studies. In addition to Karelia, you can study complementary studies at other higher education institutions, for example through the national CampusOnline offerings and the joint courses offered by the Universities of Eastern Finland, known as cross-institutional studies. Using the summer semester for complementary studies and thesis work will accelerate your study progress.

Internationalisation

The global nature of the ageing phenomenon and changes in working life, such as increased educational and labour migration, require international competence. You will develop your international competence throughout your studies. All courses include material in foreign languages and international partner universities of Karelia UAS may participate in the implementation of the courses. Some of the courses are taught in English. The course International Comparison of Ageing in Place includes an independent assignment that develops international competence and one of the options is an international field trip. The content of the education includes international comparison: reflecting on the contextualisation of practices and learning from solutions adopted elsewhere. Student exchanges are possible at partner universities of Karelia UAS.

Assessment

The aim of assessment and feedback is to guide, motivate and support your professional development. Through assessment and feedback, you monitor the development of your competence and set new goals. Your competences will be assessed against the learning outcomes. The learning outcomes of the course specify the key learning outcomes of the qualification. The learning outcomes in Master’s Programmes are based on the European and National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (EQF and NQF), where the learning outcomes for the Master's Degree correspond to level 7.

The assessment of competences is an ongoing process throughout the education. You collect and reflect on this process in your professional development portfolio: you reflect on the achievement of the learning outcomes in your own learning and identify needs for further competence development. Self-assessment skills are a key component of your competence.

Peer assessment and feedback are part of the ongoing evaluation process. In your small group, you will receive feedback from other students on the development of your competences. Peer feedback plays a key role throughout the whole thesis process. When you work on your learning tasks and thesis in cooperation with the actors of working life, you have the opportunity to receive feedback from them on the development of your competences in relation to the competences needed in working life. The evaluation given by the teacher is feedback on the achievement of the learning objectives of the course. The assessment of the courses is based on the assessment criteria of the Master’s degree at Karelia UAS.

Career Opportunities

The Master’s Programme in Active Ageing creates the prerequisites for working in the public, private and third sectors. Typical jobs and job titles include development specialist, service manager, service supervisor, department manager, planner, project coordinator, project manager, entrepreneur and vocational teacher. To qualify as a teacher, you need to complete an additional course of pedagogical studies.

Teacher-tutors and study counsellors will support you in your career planning throughout your studies. Upon graduation, you will be encouraged to become a Karelia alumni.

Changes in working life and career development require continuous learning after graduation. Through further training, you will deepen your continuous learning skills. In addition to on-the-job learning and personnel training, you can complement your skills through the continuous learning services, such as courses offered by the Open University of Applied Sciences. The Master’s qualification makes you eligible to apply for post-graduate studies aiming at a doctorate.