Work or project as a learning

Work-based learning is a flexible way to include any competence obtained through paid work, RDI activities or other activities that add to your competences as part of your studies. The work-based learning process and plan concern future competence obtained during studies. Work-based learning is a flexible, alternative way to make progress with your studies.

Work-based learning is based on advance planning. It requires monitoring of competence development, guidance and competence verification. Acquired competence is identified, assessed and recognised as credit points in a predefined manner.

In work-based learning, competence is compared to the student's competence goals in their personal study plan (PSP), and competence is assessed on the basis of the assessment criteria.

Personal work-based learning plan

Carrying out a personal work-based learning plan is a flexible way to include any competence obtained through the student's paid work or other activities that add to their competences as part degree studies. The student has an active role in initiating the planning of work-based learning, and in the reflection and self-assessment during learning. The lecturer's role is to ensure that the study has a solid theoretical basis by means of assignments, in addition to providing guidance and competence assessment.

The agreement between the student and lecturer about a plan for competence to be acquired is documented in the student's ePSP.

Instructions for student

Familiarise yourself with the contents of Metropolia's curriculum, study modules and courses. Evaluate your chances for attaining the type of learning that meets the requirements of your curriculum's competence goals through your work, RDI activities, hobbies or other free-time activities.

Discuss with your degree programme's counselling personnel or the lecturer responsible for your course about an opportunity to include competences acquired through work or other activities into a study component of your personal study plan.

Suggest an agreement related to work-based learning through the ePSP to the lecturer responsible for the course or to your counsellor what kind of competence related to the course could you attain in your work.

Agree with your employer or superior on the details of connecting your job duties with your studies. The agreement with the lecturer or counsellor must include the following:

  • any separate learning assignments
  • scope and schedule of the learning assignments
  • how competence development is monitored
  • how guidance is arranged
  • how and when competence you have attained is assessed
  • details and contact person of the workplace or equivalent.
  • Instructions for making an ePSP agreement are available in  OMA instructions Sopimukset (in Finnish, wiki requires Metropolia log-in) and Agreement bank (a short version in English, wiki requires Metropolia log-in). My studies > Agreements and Messages
  • Proceed as stated in the ePSP agreement.
  • Demonstrating competence is assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria of the course.
  • Once you have demonstrated your competence as specified in the agreement, the lecturer responsible for the course will enter the credit in the student register.

Tips

You are advised to start planning and agreeing on any work-based learning well in time, during the planning of the term of study period.

 In work-based learning, competence goals and assessment criteria are determined by the course in question. Traineeship or work placement promoting professional competence should not be considered as work-based learning but rather internship, which is governed by the learning objectives and assessment criteria of the internship course along with other degree-specific internship guidelines.