Principles of Guidance at Jamk

You have both the right and the responsibility to be the expert of your own life. With the support of guidance, you create your own study and career path. Guidance strengthens your sense of belonging within the student and higher education community.

Key persons, services, and practices

• As a student, you will get acquainted with the Degree Regulations, as well as Ethical Principles and Pedagogical Principles, and become aware of your rights and obligations as a student. You will prepare your personal learning and career plan and review them in PLP discussions conducted each academic year with your career tutor.
• A peer tutor will provide you with tips and advice to support your studies, especially during your first academic year. Your peer tutor will help you in integrating as part of your group and student community and present the opportunities available for you related to your studies, everyday life and free-time activities.
• A career tutor will serve as your immediate counsellor and direct your PLP work throughout the duration of your studies, also during any studies you may pursue abroad.
• The international services staff supports students and instructors in matters related to studies and practical training completed abroad, such as application periods, exchange opportunities, application process and grants.
• Student services will advice you in matters such as the commencement of your studies, study entitlement, enrolments and the structure of studies.

You have access to services and activities that support your studies and everyday life. Your life situation and personal resources are taken into account in guidance and in your personal study plan.

Key persons, services, and practices

• As a student, you are responsible for your own well-being and will make use of Jamk’s guidance and well-being services as needed.
• A career tutor will help you in planning a personal learning plan that is suitable to your current life situation. The PLP discussions will also address matters related to well-being, coping and time management. With your career tutor, you can go through your life situation and resources that affect your studies.
• A study counsellor will guide you whenever you are not progressing in your studies as planned. The study counsellor will also advice you in matters related to accessibility and individual special arrangements.
• Peer support in various kinds of issues related to your studies and life in general is available from JAMKO’s trained peer tutors.
• The Student Union JAMKO offers a range of common activities and events where you can also get acquainted with the students from other degree programmes and make new friends.
• You can consult a study psychologist and receive guidance when you feel that there are factors in your life that weaken your ability to study. Examples of matters affecting your ability to study include problems related to learning and mental health or a burdening life situation.
• Student health services (FSHS) help you in the treatment of general, mental and oral health issues.
• The school pastor provides you with discussion opportunities in various life challenges and pressures. With the pastor, you can confidentially discuss matters related to relationship troubles, stress, grief, crises and anxiety, as well as life philosophy issues.
• The harassment contact person will help you in situations where you feel that you have been subject to bullying or harassment.
• The substance abuse contact person provides students and the study community with support in issues related to substance abuse and game addiction and assists in seeking treatment, among other things.
• Academic Sports (uMove) provides a range of opportunities for exercise to support your well-being.
• You are welcome to attend courses or groups that support your learning capabilities and well-being.

Guidance supports your learning, the identification and articulation of your skills, and your professional development throughout your studies.

You will receive information and guidance on how you can deepen your expertise during your studies, including through courses offered by other educational institutions and through international cooperation.

You will learn to recognize different work, employment, and further study opportunities in relation to your own skills. You will be able to make plans for your future career and progress according to those plans.

Key persons, services, and practices

• Your career tutor meets you annually in a PLP discussion, where you review your study and career plans. You will discuss with your career tutor matters related to your career and employment, the choice of your practical training place, the topic of your thesis and the courses to be taken during your potential study period abroad, as well the opportunities available for post-graduate studies. In  bachelor's studies, the career tutor also guides you in the courses ‘Me as a Student in Higher Education' and 'Career Planning and Working Life Skills’.
• Your practical training tutor will provide you with support and guidance in your professional development during your practical training completed in working life duties.
• Your thesis tutor will support and guide you through the different stages of your thesis process.
• The library staff will guide you in the development of your information-seeking skills as a part of the development of your professional skills.
• The international services staff will provide you with guidance in internationalisation opportunities, and especially in matters related to studies and practical training completed abroad.
• The entrepreneurial coach will support you in the development of your entrepreneurial capabilities and/or business development as a part of your studies.
• You can demonstrate your competence to potential employers/networks via electronic job-seeking services.
• In the Future Factory and project studies, as well as in other practical training activities, you will develop your workplace skills, professional networks, and professional competence.
• The alumni are graduates of the UAS, whose competence and work experience you can utilise.
• Through cross-institutional studies, you can broaden or deepen your professional competence.
• The study counsellors and admission services staff will provide you with guidance and counselling if you are considering a change in degree programme or career or want to map out your opportunities for post-graduate studies.

You have access to guidance that meets your needs at every stage of your studies. Guidance is available in various forms and through different channels (individual and group guidance, on campus and online).

You are provided with up‑to‑date information about guidance services. You know how to access guidance and who to contact in different situations.

Key persons, services, and practices

• The staff will answer your inquiries, e.g. emails, within one week at the latest (excluding holiday periods). The contact information of staff members can be found from Jamk’s person search.
• You can meet your career tutor and study counsellor on the campus or online, or contact them by email or phone. The study counsellors’ contact information and online booking links can be found on Jamk's student webpages.
• You can visit the Student service points during their opening hours or at separately agreed times. You can also contact Student Services by email, phone or by submitting a service request.
• International services are available on campus at agreed times, as well as by phone and email.
• Admission services staff provide guidance and advice on all types of application processes at agreed times on campus, by phone, by email, and through the online booking.
• You can access library services, including guidance and support on information seeking, at Jamk’s libraries or online.

You have the right to receive appropriate and reasonable guidance and individual study arrangements based on, for example, your learning difficulty, disability, illness, or language background.

Key persons, services, and practices

• If your mother tongue is Finnish and you have difficulties related to reading or writing the study materials, you can participate in Jamk’s dyslexia assessment. You will receive a formal statement from the assessment and recommendations for individual study arrangements from a special needs teacher.
• You can discuss your individual support needs with the study psychologist, for example related to mental health or learning difficulties. The study psychologist can provide you with a recommendation for individual study arrangements.
• With the study counsellor, you can discuss the support you need in your studies and apply for individual study arrangements, such as extra time in exams or a quiet exam room.
• You can participate in study units or groups that support your learning.
• Through the library, you can gain access to the Celia Library and obtain audio and Braille books in your field.
• In certain exchange programmes, students going abroad may apply for accessibility support for their exchange, for example on the basis of a disability, illness, or learning difficulty.

The guidance staff are experts in their field and continuously develop their own guidance competencies as well as Jamk’s guidance services.

Key persons, services, and practices

• All of those who guide you maintain and develop their guidance competence on a continuous basis.
• Your career tutor has completed or is in the process of completing a Guidance and Counselling Expert badge.
• Study counsellors and special needs teacher have formal education and study psychologists are licenced psychologists.
• Guidance is developed in response to the feedback received from students. Feedback is collected for example during the Grumble Weeks and through the AVOP graduand feedback questionnaire.

Every member of the Jamk community is committed to guiding you to the appropriate guidance services.

Collaboration between the guidance professionals supports your wellbeing, the progress of your studies, and your transition to employment or further studies.

Key persons, practices, and services

• When you need support, you can turn to any person working at Jamk to help you or refer you to the right person or service.
• Jamk follows principles for safer place and early intervention approach.