International Comparison of Ageing in Place (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

Approved/Rejected

Objective

This learning period will increase students' ability to collaborate in interenational working environments, establish effective communication channels with different international groups and respond to different expectations on the part of international professionals, personnel and clients.

This period increases also the ability to predict global future development and utilize this knowledge when developing social and health care organizations in Finland.

After completed this learning period students are able to:
- Synthesize large and diverse quantities of information about a global topic concerning future directions of active ageing and evaluate the validity and reliability of the information
- Create international communication and collaborative multiprofessional networks
- Develop understanding of the foreign cultural practices, beliefs and communication characteristics in social and health care environments
- Demonstrate best practices when dealing with cultural differences and deal with cross-cultural misunderstandings through applying knowledge and sensitivity

Content

Cross-cultural environment, networking, collaboration, active ageing.

Location and time

In third semester of the studies. If the student does not participate in a study visit of the student group, she/he can choose the timing of the course individually.

Teaching methods

Options (to be negotiated with the teacher):
- Participating in an international study visit
- Participating in cross-cultural projects
- Participating in international conference
- Practicing abroad
- Writing an article/articles in English
- Studying abroad in an international university
- Making a review of some active ageing reports in English
- Some other appropriate learning performance

Student workload

The work load of the student is 135 hours. 3/5 of which is targeted to the planning and implementing the study visit or other optional ways of studying this course, and 2/5 is targeted to the written report about learning experiences.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The assessment of this course is based on the written report.
Criteria for accepted course:
- learning goals are defined
- international activity (negotiated with the teacher) is planned
- learning outcomes are defined
- experiences and learning outcomes are described and reflected
- the idea of international comparison is noted and the contextual perspective is applied