Time: Students can start their studies approximately within a week after
enrolling on this course. The estimated time for completing this course
is 3 months.
Place: Online studies
Extent: 3 ECTS credits
Target group: For beneficiaries of temporary protection staying in Finland. If you are not a beneficiary of temporary protection staying in Finland, you can enroll for the same course here.
Required previous skills: None. The course is suitable for students without prior experience with Finnish language.
Lecturer: Slaveya Hämäläinen, firstname.surname@xamk.fi
Credited in degree at Xamk: All bachelor level degrees
Area of competence mentioned in Curriculum:Optional studies
Enrolment by: 3.9.2023
Price: Free of charge
Note that you can enrol for Open UAS studies at the maximum of 50 ECTS credits per semester. One person’s enrolments exceeding 50 ECTS credits are deleted in the enrolment order. Paying attention to this is important when planning your studies.
Please also notice, that
Xamk degree students cannot enrol on Open UAS courses.
Learning about Finland and Finnish culture is easy. But how valuable knowledge obtained from websites is? There are facts – significant ones, but many stereotypes too. Personal touch and opinion are crucial.
This course offers you to learn about Finland with the help of websites but also see Finnish culture from the eyes of the foreigners studying or working here. They are people with different backgrounds and have come to Finland for various reasons. They will tell you what it means to live here. So, enjoy the soft encounter with the Finnish culture.
Learning outcomes:
To sum it up – the course gives you the main characteristics of Finnish society – a brief history, way of life, economic environment and working opportunities. You will learn to identify and describe the new trends in the development of Finnish society and learn about famous Finns and their contribution to the image of Finland worldwide. Share your experience with others and learn from their experience.
After completing this course students can:
- define and identify elements in Finnish culture essential for interpersonal communication and communication in the global world
- compare and contrast one’s original cultural values, beliefs, perceptions, and communication styles with the Finnish culture
- recognise negative perceptions and avoid stereotyping
- recognise the patterns in intercultural communication when dealing with institutions and social structures in Finland.
Content and methods:
- cultural challenges and interpersonal communication tips
- a brief history of Finland – how it impacts Finnish culture
- social development of Finland, trends, economics, institutions
- studying and working in Finland – authentic views from foreigners presented in the form of podcasts, videos and short stories
The course covers 3 ECTS credits, totalling 81 hours of student work. The number of hours is theoretical and varies according to student effort. (reading/watching studymaterial, rehearsal activities, assignments).
Internet access, computer or laptop with audio equipment required.
Study material:
Collaborative learning, independent working methods, materials and instructions in Learn
Assessment methods:
- Individual tasks 70%
- End term test 30%
Assessment scale:
Approved / Failed
Transcript of records will be delivered by request by email in PDF form.
This course is based on the curricula of Xamk's degree programmes and the Finnish credits are fully compatible with the ECTS.
Additional information on enrolment:
Open University of Applied Sciences office, email: openstudies@xamk.fi.
Terms of cancellation:
If you are not able to participate in the course, please let us know as soon as possible by email openstudies@xamk.fi.
Before the course starts, you'll receive an invitation by email to this course.
Please note that there can be changes in the course details in terms of the timetable and teachers, for example.
The training is provided by five Universities of Applied Sciences: Haaga-Helia, HAMK, Laurea, Metropolia and Xamk. OODI studies are aimed to persons who have been granted temporary protection in Finland.
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is audited by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC).