Early Childhood Education and Care

Objective

You will gain valued skills and knowledge in promoting the well-being of children and families in early childhood education and care (ECEC). In addition, you will be skilled in incorporating principles of social counselling to support people’s growth in society. You will learn the Finnish language to help manage different client situations in Finnish working life. The program integrates creative and art-based methods into client work, fostering support and community engagement.

In Finland, early childhood education and care (ECEC) is based on goal-oriented education, upbringing and care, with an emphasis on pedagogy. Pedagogical competence means the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate pedagogical activities for a group of children in multiprofessional cooperation. In your studies, you will develop a deep understanding of how to foster community and inclusiveness in ECEC; how to support participation and a child’s holistic development. Your development-orientated pedagogical approach will be based on dialogical encounters with children and families.

Studies are based on collaboration at multiple levels. We emphasize learning in teams and multiprofessional and interdisciplinary cooperation. Students work together to solve development tasks with work-life partners. HAMK is part of RUN European University which creates possibilities for international collaboration during studies. In addition, we focus on collaboration between staff and students to foster an inclusive and comprehensive educational setting.

Qualification provided by education

After your studies, you will have the professional skills and knowledge to work in early childhood education and care in Finland using the Finnish language. In addition, you will be qualified to work in other fields of social services as a Bachelor of Social Services.

Bachelors of Social Services can be employed in the areas of early childhood education and care, child welfare, youth work and adult social work. The degree prepares students to work as social pedagogues in early childhood education and care in multiprofessional cooperation with teachers and childcarers. They can also work as counsellors in child welfare institutions and other residential facilities, as family support workers, coordinators of services for the elderly, case managers, activity directors, counsellors in substance abuse and mental health services or as service coordinators. Bachelors of Social Services promote a good life for all and the core values in their work are openness, communality and doing things together.

The degree includes at least 60 credits of studies in early childhood education and care and social pedagogy, which after graduation qualify you to work as a social pedagogue in early childhood education and care in Finland ("Varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi").

Structure of studies

Core competence studies and thesis form the foundation of the studies. Work placement is also a core competence. Profiling studies are for steering competence towards career goals in early childhood education and care. The language of the degree programme is English with a strong emphasis on learning Finnish language. The programme includes 25 credits of Finnish language studies.

Core and profiling competencies

You will study closely real-life phenomena from early childhood education and care and social pedagogy. The content of the studies also includes getting to know the Finnish social care culture. You will study themes like pedagogy in early childhood education and care, collaboration with families, child’s holistic development and creative and art-based methods that foster participation and community. You will also learn about social counselling, sociocultural animation with different client groups and safeguarding children.

Work placements

HAMK has Finnish partner organisations where it is possible to complete your work placement. You can also choose a place of your own choice. You have 36 ECTS of practical training in your studies, and it is implemented in several phases in the degree in various early childhood education and social service environments. This allows you to acquire a deep understanding and a wide view of the different possibilities that a career in early childhood education and social services can offer.

Thesis

The bachelor’s thesis is a comprehensive design or development process, or research project, where you will independently utilise the most essential knowledge and practices of early childhood education and care. You can steer the topic according to your interests together with work-life partner organisations. The aim of the thesis is to strengthen both your general working life skills and your professional competencies.

Note

The studies require commitment to academic studies and self-organisation skills. You must be motivated and committed to learning the Finnish language to reach the required proficiency.

HAMK has a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. It means students use their own laptops when studying or working on the premises of the campus. Learning at HAMK can be independent of time and classroom space. Electronic learning materials are used for learning.

Health Assessment and Vaccinations

Since professional studies at HAMK start from the very beginning of the degree, you should prepare for your first work placements in the field. For this you will need to complete and save for yourself a Tuberculosis self-assesment and provide our student health care information on your current vaccination coverage. If there is a need to supplement your vaccinations, this can be done at student health care (FSHS) at the beginning of your studies. Your first work placement will take place at the end of November.

Read more information and instructions for social and health care students concerning infectious diseases and vaccinations.

Specialization options

The degree program offers a specialisation exclusively in early childhood education and care.