Main teaching language | Government Decree on Polytechnics (352/2003) 8§ Language proficiency | Language studies in the curricula | Pedagogical Principles of Language Teaching in PIRAMK | Credit Transfer for Former Language Studies | Exemption from Course | Students Who Have Completed Their School Education Abroad and/or in a Language Other than Finnish or Swedish | University of Applied Sciences Language Proficiency Requirements | Proficiency Test and Supplementary Studies | Foreign Language Studies in Other Languages than English | Swedish Grade and Marking on the Degree Certificate
Versatile language profiency and becoming sensitive for facing different cultures is more and more important part of the professional skills of globalizing working life.
PIRAMK Univeristy of Applied Sciences offers many kinds of opportunities for international activity for example training abroad, participating exchange programmes and study modules taught in foreign language.
Bachelor-level studies include foreign language literature and also a good language profiency makes the diverse exploitation of the information technology in studies and working life possible.
In addition to compulsory language studies PIRAMK University of Applied Sciences offers Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Russian, Estonian, German, Greek and sign language as elective studies.
Main teaching language
The main teaching language is Finnish. There are three degree programmes: degree programme in social services (do not begin in year 2007), degree programme in nursing and degree programme in tourism which are taught in English.
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Government Decree on Polytechnics (352/2003) 8§ Language proficiency
Students are required to demonstrate that they have attained the following through studies included in their polytechnic degree or otherwise:
- such proficiency in Finnish and Swedish as is required for an office in a bilingual responsibility area in cases where the qualifications for the office include a higher education degree under the Act on Language Proficiency Requirements for Civil Servants (424/2003), and that is needed in order to engage in a profession and for professional development; and (16.6.2004/497)
- such oral and written proficiency in one or two foreign languages as is needed in order to engage in a profession and for professional development
The provisions of paragraph 1 do not apply to students who have received their school education in some language other than Finnish or Swedish or to students who have received their school education abroad. The requirements applicable to such students are determined by the polytechnic.
If special cause exists, polytechnics can exempt a student from all or some of the language proficiency requirements referred to in paragraph 1. The language proficiency demonstrated by the student shall be marked on the degree certificate.
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Language studies in the curricula
(exceptions in degree programme in nursing and degree programme in tourism)
1. Supplementary studies
Swedish 3+3 credits
English 3+3 credits
2. Language studies in common professional studies
Swedish 3 credits
Foreign language (English, German) 3-9 credits
3. Language studies in professional studies of diverse degree programmes
Several degree programmes organise professionally oriented language studies of varying extent. More information is available in intranet.
4. Language studies in elective studies
Elective language studies are offered according to the language programme annually compiled by the polytechnic.
5. Language studies offered by open polytechnic
Language studies completed in the open polytechnic of PIRAMK University of Applied Sciences are credited in the elective studies.
6. Language studies for outgoing exchange students
If students participate in an international exchange programme in a language area for which language studies are not provided in the polytechnic, they will be offered teaching in the language in some other manner before the exchange period.
7. Independent study / IT/ web-based studies
Computer based language programmes (English, German and Swedish), multilingual dictionaries and a very extensive language CD-ROM library are available for students.
PIRAMK University of Applied Sciences Web Library and the language web sites also contain a list of links consisting of good quality language and language teaching materials on the internet.
8. Courses in foreign languages
The aim is to offer students a variety of opportunities to participate in courses offered in foreign languages, for example by taking courses from the English degree programmes and/or by utilising the foreign exchange teachers. More information on these opportunities on the bulletin boards and e-mail newsletters.
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Pedagogical Principles of Language Teaching in PIRAMK
Student-oriented planning of language and cultural studies on the basis of open discussion
- Substance-oriented studying based on simulation of authentic language use in work communities as well as in the diverse communication situations of working life
- Experiential learning and teaching of foreign languages by utilising the participants´ own work experience and professional knowledge in the study situations
- Intercultural learning of foreign languages and guidance for coping in multicultural communities
- Creation of safe learning environment, paying attention to creating a positive atmosphere that promotes learning and removes learning obstacles
- Guidance of students towards self-evaluation of their foreign language skills by using the common reference frame of the member countries of Council of Europe in the assessment of foreign language skills (see the European reference frame levels)´.
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Credit Transfer for Former Language Studies
Credit transfer for language studies is allowed if students have completed studies of the equivalent extent and level in either another polytechnic or a university. PIRAMK will need to verify the turnaround time and field-specification and complementary studies may have to be carried out if necessary.
The courses in Swedish and a foreign language included in the common professional studies of polytechnic degrees can also be accredited if students have passed their matriculation examination with the language in question as the language of instruction (e.g. students matriculating from a Swedish-language upper secondary school or from an international baccalaureate upper secondary school).
The credit transfer is applied for with a separate form which is available at study offices. The application should be addressed to the director of school in question. The teacher in charge of the respective course will provide a statement on the application. The tutor teacher or the teacher in charge of the course will enter the credit transfer in the Winha database.
If students’ language skills have been evaluated by using the National Certificate of Language Proficiency or the common European language skills reference frame of the member countries of European Council (see the European reference frame levels) or if students have completed the civil service language proficiency certificate or other language proficiency certificate and they apply for credit transfer on the basis of it, they should contact the principal lecturer of language studies for verification.
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Exemption from Course
Exemption from language studies can only be granted if it is considered that the student will not be able to pass the polytechnic language studies under any circumstances. This can for example be due to the fact the student has never studied the language in question, has only studied the basics or has been diagnosed with a severe learning disability.
Students considering applying for exemption from language studies should first discuss the content of studies, their importance from the professional perspective and the various study alternatives with the language teacher.
Students draft their own free form request for exemption and address it to the president of PIRAMK. The application should clearly state which courses the exemption is being sought for and what the reasons are. All relevant documents should be annexed to the application. The application should be sent to the director of school who will provide his/her statement on the matter. The president of PIRAMK will then make the decision on the exemption. Notice of the exemption will be sent to the student and to the director of school.
Students should however take care of that they will have enough credits for the polytechnic degree. The plan on the studies with which the student compensates for the exempted courses is written into his/her personal study plan.
The study affairs coordinator of PIRAMK will register the exemption to Winha.
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Students Who Have Completed Their School Education Abroad and/or in a Language Other than Finnish or Swedish
PIRAMK will determine the language skills required of students who have completed their school education abroad and/or in a language other than Finnish or Swedish. The procedure is as follows:
The student, the language teacher of the school in question or the principal lecturer of language studies and the tutor teacher of the student together will draw up the student´s personal study plan for the part of languages.
The director of school will then approve the personal study plan and the student’s language skills will be documented in the degree certificate upon graduation.
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University of Applied Sciences Language Proficiency Requirements
In the professional studies of PIRAMK, the level of the Swedish and foreign language studies is the same for all students.
The level of proficiency required at the beginning of the Swedish course is the general upper secondary school syllabus in B-language (language beginning in the 7th class of comprehensive school + upper secondary school courses) or equivalent skills (European reference frame level A2-B1) and in foreign languages the proficiency required in the A1 language of the general upper secondary school syllabus (begun in the 3rd or 5th class of comprehensive school + upper secondary school courses) or equivalent skills (European reference frame levels B1.2-B2.1).
Common European Framework of Reference: Learning, Teaching, Assessment: http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Portfolio/?L=E&M=/main_pages/levels.html
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Proficiency Test and Supplementary Studies
Students who have not completed the general upper secondary school syllabus in languages or have not taken the matriculation examination in Swedish will be required to participate in a proficiency test at the beginning of their studies. Students who do not pass the test are offered supplementary studies (3-6 credits) in order to bring them up to the required level.
Proficiency tests are held three times each academic year:
1. during orientation in September
2. in the autumn semester when the course I of the supplementary studies has been completed.
3. in the spring semester when the course II of the supplementary studies has been completed.
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Foreign Language Studies in Other Languages than English
In the polytechnic, students generally continue their studies in the A-language, which they began in the 3rd or 5th class of the comprehensive school. PIRAMK offers courses in English and German.
If the student’s A-language is other than English / German, notice of this should be given as soon as possible after commencement of studies to the language teacher in the school in question either in written or by email, after which the personal study plan will be drafted for the student regarding language studies.
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Swedish Grade and Marking on the Degree Certificate
Students graduating from PIRAMK will have a marking on their Swedish skills on their degree certificate on the basis of the course grades they have received in Swedish in the polytechnic. The number of credits to be completed in Swedish varies in the different degree programmes.
The marking on the degree certificate means that the student has acquired the oral and written language skills in Swedish required of state officials functioning in a position requiring a higher education in a bilingual office.
The grades 1-3 of the polytechnic Swedish courses are equivalent to the civil service language proficiency level Satisfactory (level B1) and the grades 4-5 are equivalent to the civil service language proficiency level Good (level B2). The Government Decree on Polytechnics and the Language Act form the basis for the marking on the degree certificates.
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