Multicultural Work (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The purpose of the course is to get to know the practices of promoting integration and to increase understanding of multicultural customer guidance work among immigrants from different backgrounds.

Competences:

Internationality and multiculturalism
Competence in social client work
Critical and Inclusive Social Skills

Learning outcomes:

You are able to identify the effects of cultural background on the behavior of individuals. You can use multicultural working methods and act in multicultural interaction situations in a culturally sensitive and culturally aware way. You know how to work in multilingual working environments.

You are familiar with the principles of the public administration decision-making system related to the promotion of integration and can act in the best interests of the client. You identify structures and processes that create inequalities in multicultural work. You are able to support multicultural clients in different situations in everyday life and promote their integration and equity.

You know how to follow global developments in the field. You can promote the inclusion of multicultural clients and communities and to work for structural social influence.

Content

The main content of the course is the guidance process for the integration and promotion of equality of immigrants and the legislation that governs it. During the course, you will become familiar with immigration as a global phenomenon.

During the course, you will get tools for special features related to encountering immigrants and guidance work. During the course, you will learn about different working methods of multicultural guidance; cultural-sensitive guidance, cultural- and religious-aware guidance, promotion of multilingualism, and an equal working approach.

Location and time

The autumn delivery will be as webinars. The study visits are carried out by going on site to organisations working in multicultural fields.

Materials

The study material is presented at the beginning of the course and a more detailed bibliography can be found in Moodle at the beginning of the course.
The basis of the course is; Monikulttuurinen ohjaus- ja neuvontatyö. Toim. Korhonen, Vesa ; Puukari, Sauli. PS-Kustannus 2013.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include traditional lectures, videos, group work and group discussions, visitors and participation in multicultural guidance study visits. The course will be assessed by a learning diary, which you can complete in video or written form.

Employer connections

During the course, a study visit is made to a multicultural workplace, where the student gets acquainted with multicultural work in practice for 1 ECTS credit, 27 hours.

International connections

Multicultural organisations

Completion alternatives

You can apply for admission on the basis of previous equivalent higher education studies (content/objectives/extent). You can also apply for partial credits based on work experience. Discuss your competences with your tutor and course teacher and, if necessary, submit an e-application form at least two weeks before the start of the course.

Student workload

Total 135 hours (5 credits)
Lectures 20 hours
Pre-tasks and tasks 43 hours
Multicultural guidance work, study visit 27 hours
Learning diary 40 hours
Reflection and feedback 5 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 = You can describe some of the working methods used in multicultural work and you can explain the issues that influence multicultural interaction situations. You can describe the process of promoting integration. You can identify some of the factors influencing the inclusion of multicultural clients.

2= You can describe the working methods used in multicultural work and you can explain the issues that influence multicultural interactions. You can describe the process of promoting integration. You can define the laws governing integration promotion and you can describe the practices of integration promotion. You can identify the factors that influence the inclusion of multicultural clients.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3= You can present several issues that affect multicultural interactions. You can present and give examples of the process of promoting integration. You can explain the working methods used in integration promotion work and how they are reflected in practical multicultural work. You can apply the processes and laws governing integration promotion. You are able to identify the factors that influence the inclusion of multicultural clients and to take into account the inclusion context of structural social influence work.

4= You can analyse the issues that influence multicultural interaction situations. You can analyse what different working methods in integration promotion work mean and can explain with examples how they are reflected in practical multicultural work. You can present and interpret integration processes and the laws governing integration promotion. You can analyse the factors influencing the inclusion of multicultural clients. You are able to follow developments in the field and take account of structural social influences.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5= You can critically analyse issues affecting multicultural interaction situations. You can analyse what different working methods in integration promotion work mean and explain with a variety of examples how they are reflected in practical multicultural work. You are able to present and interpret integration promotion processes and the laws governing integration promotion. You are able to critically analyse factors affecting the inclusion of multicultural clients. You are able to relate inclusion issues to the wider social context and advocacy work.

Further information

Completing the course requires attending lectures, completing independent assignments for the course, study visits for multicultural guidance work and drawing up a learning diary. The grade of the course is based on the grade obtained from the learning diary.