Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- communicate effectively in English in a multicultural environment
- compare and contrast the Finnish and British social and penal systems
- reflect on personal and professional development

Teaching methods

This is an international, multidisciplinary implementation between Laurea, Coventry University and The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.

This course is open both to Correctional and Social Services students. The aim is to have 10 students from each degree programme on a first come, first accepted basis.

PLEASE NOTE due to unforeseen changes and complications in our partner universities, the final date for the intensive week has not been finalized yet. The aim is the visits will be implemented in March or April. The information will be added here as soon as the dates are known,
The course will involve the first meeting on 11.1 to discuss requirements and plans of the course.
The core content will be in week 8 from 20.2 -25.2 . This will involve the following:
21-22.2 : Prison visits in Finland, a seminar with correctional and social services prevention and post-care themes and other possible visits depending on the schedule in the metropolitan area.
23.2 : Travel to Tallinn including prison visit, visit to Estonian Academy of Security Services’ campus and possible other visits or lectures.

During the week groups should discuss issues, practices in their own countries etc and as a final outcome should produce a video/document on what has been learned during the process, which will be shared in the online learning platform. In addition, each student will be expected to reflect on the intercultural team working experiences, professional competences gained and other related topics and processes during the week.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

All students are entitled to demonstrate their competence. The recognition and accreditation of prior competence is initiated by the students themselves. The competence is recognized and accredited by the teacher responsible for the studies or another person designated to the position. The assessment is carried out according to the same assessment criteria and, as a rule, same grading scale as that adopted for the corresponding study unit or module. The student is entitled to apply for accreditation of prior competence regardless of where, how and when the competence has been acquired. The student is responsible for demonstrating and verifying their competence and for providing sufficient information.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

Visits to prisons and other preventive and post-care facilities. In addition, presentations by NGOs and other institutions related to the correctional and social service field.

Important dates

The final date for the return of the reflective diary is ..... If this deadline is not met, the teacher will provide a new deadline; if this additional deadline is not met then the course is failed and will need to be taken again. No feedback is provided for late submissions i.e. submissions that did not meet the initial deadline.
The deadlines are :

Forms of internationality

This is an international, multidisciplinary implementation between Laurea UAS, Coventry University, UK. and The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. The course includes a study visit to Estonia.

A grant can be applied for during the study trip to Estonia. According to Erasmus short exchanges this should be 70 euros per weekday on exchange

Students workload

1 Credit = 27 hours of work
For a 5 credit course you should do 135 hours of work.

The core contact week is approximately 60 hours (includes possible socializing as that is part of the aim too)

Pre- and post-contact week discussion, reading material and group work: 75 hours

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

To pass this course active participation and completion of all assignments and tasks which will include:
- active participation in contact week
- self-reflection on the intercultural team working experiences, professional competences gained and other related topics and processes during the course. The length should be approximately 2500 words, sources can be used and the text can be illustrated with photographs from the week as necessary.

Evaluation criteria are available in the Canvas platform

Evaluation criteria, approved/failed

A pass is achieved if the student's reflective learning diary shows
- Provides engagement with the topics and all the compulsory reading, discusses relevance; highlights possible questions
- Shows a connection between the topics and own skills, professional experience, or discipline knowledge.
- Highlights factors underlying the topics; explains and shows why they are important to an understanding of the topics overall
- Reframes future practice or professional understanding in the context of the studied material; expresses how this information can be utilized in the future

In addition, the attendance criterion and deadlines need to be met to obtain a pass.