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Sports students contributing to regional development through practical training
Published on 08 September 2020
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
To keep up with the competition, businesses in field of sport need to keep constantly updating their knowledge base. On the other hand, graduates need to have the knowledge and know how that the employers seek in order to find a job.
Lapland University of Applied Sciences wants to integrate higher education to the regional economy by bringing the latest knowledge to the use of local businesses and organisations. This is done in two ways: 1) practical trainings and 2) curriculums that answer needs of working life.
As part of their studies Lapland UAS students in the field of sport complete 450 hours (55ECTs) of practical training. Training provides students real working experience and makes the transition from studies to working life easier. Students can complete their practical training in different organisations offering sports or welfare services such as businesses, sports clubs or public services such as schools or day care centers.
While practical training gives students a chance to use their skills in real life situations it also brings human resources and the latest knowledge to the use of businesses and other organisations. Host organisations give the students assignments, which can be e.g. basic work, small projects, research papers or thesis topics.
Lapland UAS keeps regular contact with the local businesses to keep up with the needs of the working life. By listening the needs of businesses Lapland UAS provides students and businesses the most relevant skills.
Lapland University of Applied Sciences wants to integrate higher education to the regional economy by bringing the latest knowledge to the use of local businesses and organisations. This is done in two ways: 1) practical trainings and 2) curriculums that answer needs of working life.
As part of their studies Lapland UAS students in the field of sport complete 450 hours (55ECTs) of practical training. Training provides students real working experience and makes the transition from studies to working life easier. Students can complete their practical training in different organisations offering sports or welfare services such as businesses, sports clubs or public services such as schools or day care centers.
While practical training gives students a chance to use their skills in real life situations it also brings human resources and the latest knowledge to the use of businesses and other organisations. Host organisations give the students assignments, which can be e.g. basic work, small projects, research papers or thesis topics.
Lapland UAS keeps regular contact with the local businesses to keep up with the needs of the working life. By listening the needs of businesses Lapland UAS provides students and businesses the most relevant skills.
Resources needed
Teaching and tutoring to support individual study paths and recognition of skills gained from training
Host organisations need to reserve time to guide the student during their training and to commit to the learning goals
Time & effort to maintain close contact between university and business life
Host organisations need to reserve time to guide the student during their training and to commit to the learning goals
Time & effort to maintain close contact between university and business life
Evidence of success
- According to annual study, more than 70% of Lapland UAS graduates in the field of sport and recreation are employed year after graduation
- Practical evidence has proved that practical training provides good quality learning results
- Students find practical trainings meaningful and interesting
- Practical evidence has proved that practical training provides good quality learning results
- Students find practical trainings meaningful and interesting
Potential for learning or transfer
Education is an important factor in making regional economy more competitive. The idea of this practice is to integrate education to the regional innovation ecosystem, to make education answer the needs of working life and to help transfer the latest knowledge generated by the educational organisation to the use of the regional economy.
For sparsely populated region, such as Lapland, education and practical training opportunities are a way to attract new residents, workforce and entrepreneurs.
This model can be transferred to other fields of study and to other levels of study (e.g. vocational schools).
In Lapland the small amount of students makes it possible to find everyone a place for practical training. In bigger universities, this may take more effort but is possible.
For sparsely populated region, such as Lapland, education and practical training opportunities are a way to attract new residents, workforce and entrepreneurs.
This model can be transferred to other fields of study and to other levels of study (e.g. vocational schools).
In Lapland the small amount of students makes it possible to find everyone a place for practical training. In bigger universities, this may take more effort but is possible.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
Contact
Project manager