Pro Internship Eastern Finland

Guidance Power for Language and Culture-Aware Internships in the Social and Health Care Sector

Strengthening Language and Culturally Aware Supervision in Social and Health Care

We are pleased to note that the objectives of the ProHarkka project are fully aligned with the TKI strategy of the Järvi-Suomi cooperation agreement, particularly regarding the practical training of students with international backgrounds.”


Pirjo Syväoja, Director of Nursing, Wellbeing Services County of South Savo

Objectives

To develop language and culturally aware and multicultural supervision competence.

To strengthen the ability of work communities to support the language learning and labour market integration of social and health care students with a foreign language background.

Work Packages and Outcomes

Work Package 1: Development of Supervision Competence

Coordinator: Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Sub Work Package A: Training Programme for Multicultural, Language-Aware and Language-Supported Supervision

Coordinator: Savonia University of Applied Sciences

  • Outcomes:
    • A comprehensive training programme including content, materials, methods and delivery models.
    • Description of methods and implementation approaches.
    • ProHarkka competence badge and criteria for completing the training.
    • Review of courses and materials supporting the supervision of social and health care students with a foreign language background.

Sub Work Package B: S2 Support in Your Pocket – Development of AI-Assisted, Language-Supported Supervision CompetenceB: S2-tuki taskussa – tekoälyavusteisen kielituetun ohjausosaamisen kehittäminen

Coordination South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences

  • Outcomes:
    • Description of an operational model for AI-assisted supervision.
    • Mapping of AI-based language support applications and their suitability for supervising students with a foreign language background.
    • Webinar recordings on AI-supported and language-aware supervision.

Work Package 2: Mapping, Further Development and Evaluation of Placement Models

Coordinator Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences

Sub Work Package A: Multicultural Modular Placement

Coordination: Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences

  • Outcomes:
    • Operational model for supervising students with a foreign language background in wellbeing services counties.
    • Training programme for teachers, including content, materials, methods and delivery models for implementing multicultural modular placements.

Sub Work Package B: Language Coach

Coordination: Savonia University of Applied Sciences

  • Outcomes:
    • Training and operational model for the Language Coach.
    • Language Coach competence badge and criteria for completing the training.

Work Package 3: Regional Cooperation and Networking

Coordinator: South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences

Outcomes:

A supervision network supporting placements of students with a foreign language background.

Review of barriers to placements in remote areas and proposed solutions.Review of cooperation models within social and health care collaboration areas (YTA), focusing on shared employment and operational models for Finnish as a Second Language teachers across wellbeing services counties.

Work Package 4: Coordination

Coordinator: South-Eastern University of Applied Sciences

A National Development Programme Involving Five Regional Projects

ProHarkka Eastern Finland (coordinated by Xamk) is part of a national development programme consisting of five regional projects. All projects focus on developing language- and culturally aware supervision competence and placement models.

  1. ProHarkka Southern Finland – Coordinator: Laurea UAS
  2. ProHarkka Eastern Finland – Coordinator: South-Eastern UAS
  3. ProHarkka Western Finland – Coordinator: Turku UAS
  4. ProHarkka Northern Finland – Coordinator: Oulu UAS
  5. ProHarkka Central Finland – Coordinator: Tampere UAS

Contact information

Phone
+358505998511
Email
Milja.Manninen@xamk.fi
Department
Kestävä hyvinvointi
Milja Manninen
Project Manager
+358505998511
Milja.Manninen@xamk.fi
Phone
+358401858253
Email
Anu.Muhonen@xamk.fi
Department
Sosiaali-, terveys- ja liikunta-alan koul.yks.
Anu Muhonen
Senior Lecturer
+358401858253
Anu.Muhonen@xamk.fi
Phone
+358406810690
Email
Miia.Myllymaki@xamk.fi
Department
Sosiaali- ja terveysalan koulutusyksikkö
Miia Myllymäki
Senior Lecturer
+358406810690
Miia.Myllymaki@xamk.fi
Phone
+358504211307
Email
Sirkku.Kronholm@xamk.fi
Department
Yhteisten opintojen koulutusyksikkö
Sirkku Kronholm
Principal Lecturer
+358504211307
Sirkku.Kronholm@xamk.fi

Facts

Project name:

ProHarkka Eastern Finland – Guidance Power for Language and Culture-Aware Internships in the Social and Health Care Sector

Project duration: 1.1.2026–30.6.2028

Info

Lead partner: Economic Development Centre
Partial partners: Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Other partners: The Wellbeing Services Counties of South Savo, North Savo and Central Finland.
Focus area: Sustainable Wellbeing
Research team: Renewing working life

Budget

Financier and main source of funding: Co-funded by the European Union.
Total budget: 901 949
EU part of the total budget: 268246
Xamk part of the total budget: 335 309

Project partners

Articles