Studying

Concepts Related to Learning and Competence

The pedagogical starting points and objectives of Master’s degrees are based on the pedagogical principles of JAMK. The methods applied in education are individually designed to suit the work and life situations of adult students. The axiom is that the students are mature professionals of different fields, committed to develop themselves, their work and work community. Studying is based on each student’s prior competence, as well as on the personal study and career plan and its objectives with regard to meeting new criteria for professional competence. The students build a study entity according to their personal study and career development plan, using the educational offering of their degree programme, JAMK’s other master’s degree programmes, and other partner institutions.

The students complete the Master’s degree while working, usually within 2–3 years, depending on the scope of the degree programme (60 or 90 ECTS credits). The opportunities of web-based learning are comprehensively utilised in studies. Through the students’ work communities, working life and its needs for development are continuously present in studies, assignments, and in the sharing of expertise. The Master’s degree also provides new opportunities for international student mobility and the internationalisation of working life in Central Finland.

Assessment of Competence Development

The starting point for skills development is that the student has mastered Bachelor’s level skills. In the beginning of the studies, as part of preparing the Personal Learning Plan, the student will complete a competence analysis to assess the needs to develop his/her skills. Students may choose to apply for the accreditation and recognition of prior learning. During the studies, student evaluates their development of competences. At the graduation stage, the student’s own competence analysis will promote lifelong learning and and it is an important part of career development.

Assessment is instructive, related to the goals and criteria based. The assesment criteria are based on competences, competence areas and course descriptions. Self-assessment and peer review are important parts of the assesment. The development of competence is assessed course-specifically with competence-based assessment criteria (0-5 or Pass/Fail).