Practical Training in a Nutshell
All degrees completed in universities of applied sciences include practical training of about 5 months of full-time work (30 credits). The students can complete the training in one or more periods and in more than one company/organisation. Practical training can take place at any time of the year.
During the practical training period, the students familiarise themselves, under supervision, with typical tasks and duties related to the professional studies of the degree programmes that they are completing. The tasks should support both the employers’ needs and the students’ own learning objectives. The Practical Training Coordinators will give you detailed information on the kinds of tasks that would meet the objectives of practical training in the various fields of study. Each trainee is appointed a supervisor by both JAMK and the employer. At the end of the training period, the employers are asked to fill in the feedback form which you can find at the end of this file.
The minimum criteria for practical training guidance can be found here.
Practical Training Agreement and Pay
The employer, trainee and JAMK draw up a practical training agreement which defines the length of the training period, the tasks and duties, and the learning objectives. If the training is paid, the employer and the student also conclude a separate employment contract. The aim is an employment relationship in which the pay and the terms are defined between the contracting parties. If the training is unpaid, the student can apply for student financial aid for the training period.
If the training is paid, the student is covered by the employer’s statutory accident insurance. If the training is unpaid, the student is covered by JAMK’s accident insurance. As to the third-party insurance, the trainee’s status is comparable to that of a regular employee.
How to find a suitable trainee?
To find a suitable trainee, you can advertise an opening for a trainee at Jobstep, an employment and information service of the Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (www.jobstep.net). The service, which is free to employers, allows you to find potential trainees at the university of applied sciences that you are interested in, to advertise openings in your company/organisation, and to browse job applicants’ CVs.
For further information on finding a trainee, contact the Practical Training Coordinators or the Career and Recruitment Services.
Internationalisation at workplace
An international trainee can improve your employees’ abilities to work in a multicultural environment and give them a possibility to practice their language skills at workplace. If you plan to increase your business operations in a certain country, a trainee who knows the culture of the target country can help you learn how to do business and establish contacts there.
About 600 international students study in JAMK University of Applied Sciences every year. We have six bachelor’s and two master’s degree programmes which are conducted in English. About half of the students in these programmes come from outside Finland. If you are interested in the possibility of hiring an international trainee, visit the “World is Here” Portal. At this portal, you can place job/trainee advertisements and browse the profiles of international students.
Additional Information
Tiina Saarinen, Planner, +358 (0)50 529 1633, firstname.lastname@jamk.fi
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Career and Recruitment Services