Study Support

Guidance Three Sectors

The main aim of JAMK’s study guidance is to ensure a smooth progress of studies, to develop expertise, and to support professional growth.

Guidance contains the following three sectors in each phase of studies:

  • studying and learning guidance
  • support for professional growth and career planning
  • guidance to support well-being.

Studying and Learning Guidance

The study guidance services will help and support students so that they can familiarise theirselves with the practices of JAMK, maintain their activity and motivation, make well-justified individual study choices, be able to utilise the various forms of support, promote their own well-being, make progress in their studies and graduate on their planned schedule. The guidance will also help their with their career planning and employment prospects or postgraduate study plans.

Learning guidance is part of all staff's duties. At the beginning of each course, the teacher has the responsibility to explain how the students should study to reach the goals of the course and how the course supports their professional growth. If the students have learning difficulties, they are helped and supported by the career tutor, the study counsellors and the study psychologist.

One form of support is JAMK's barrier-free learning environment, which provides the students with equal opportunities to study regardless of their individual differences or individual need for support. This means that the students with learning or mental health difficulties, disabilities, or with different cultural or language background are supported to help them progress in their studies in a target-oriented way. For further information on the barrier-free learning environment.

Every student has the right and an obligation to create and update his/her own career and personal learning plan (PLP) and review his/her plan with your career tutor in an annual PLP discussion. The objective is to structure and analyse students' goals, wishes and opportunities based on the career plan or other documents. If necessary, the student is given support by the study counsellor, study psychologist, peer tutor or mentor. In social and health issues, also the services provided by the City of Jyväskylä and FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service) are available to the students.

Support for professional growth and career planning

You will draft and update your career and personal learning plans and discuss them with your career tutor in the annual PLP discussion. The purpose of the discussion is to outline and talk about your study and professional goals, hopes and opportunities.

Guidance to support well-being

The purpose of the guidance is to create a healthy and safe learning environment that supports mental health, prevents marginalisation and promotes the well-being of the entire learning community. Everyone is responsible for supporting the well-being of the community. You can discuss issues related to your well-being with your career tutor, peer tutor, mentor, study counsellor, study psychologist, school pastor or student healthcare services employee. JAMK also offers courses and groups to support well-being.

Tips on how to promote your studies and wellbeing

Principles of Study Guidance The guidance services are based on the core principles of study guidance approved at JAMK. Open
 

Intoxicant-related matters

Every student is ultimately responsible for their own well-being. However, there are situations in which a student cannot recognise the changes in their situation or coping. In such cases, members of the academic community have a responsibility to bring up their concerns, applying the early intervention principle. The aim of this cooperation is to eliminate the concern. The concern remains if the student in question continues to exhibit symptoms or cause concerns in their environment.

Using intoxicants in moderation or abstaining from them is part of life management, professional growth and preparation for working life. Every JAMK University of Applied Sciences campus has a substance abuse contact person who has been specifically trained to provide support in bringing up concerns.

Operational guidelines for various situations involving intoxicant use are described below:

A. Operational guideline for when a student notices that they are in need of help due to a substance abuse or gaming problem:

  1. Contact any person who you consider reliable or the campus substance abuse contact person and tell them about your substance abuse problem. Describe the state of your studies and how you will proceed with them.
  2. Working together, determine the ideal form of treatment for you and commit to it. The treatment provider can be a substance abuse nurse or a substance abuse services centre run by the SOVATEK Foundation, for example.

B) Operational guideline for when concerns are raised about a student’s use of intoxicants:

  1. As the person who observed the concern, contact the campus’ substance abuse contact person. Set up a joint meeting with the student and bring up the concern with the student confidentially, while respecting their privacy. Do not make the student feel guilty, but tell them openly about the observations that you have made that contribute to your concern.
  2. If necessary, consult a teacher tutor, a study counsellor, a study psychologist or health care services.
  3. If the concern is moderate, the substance abuse contact person organises the student’s referral to health care services for treatment in cooperation with the student.
  4. The substance abuse contact person coordinates follow-up measures and possible network meetings, which may be attended by representatives of health care services and JAMK guidance staff in addition to the student.

C) Operational guideline for when a student is intoxicated on campus:

  1. Make sure that the student poses no danger to themselves or others.
  2. a) Minor concern: bring up the subject with the intoxicated student, preferably together with another person.
    b) Moderate / major concerns: directly contact the janitors or 112.
  3. Guide the student home safely.
  4. Contact the campus substance abuse contact person, who is responsible for setting up how to bring up the subject and referral to treatment.
  5. Submit any documents prepared as a result of the situation to the substance abuse contact person, who is responsible for the electronic archiving of relevant documents.
  6. Initiation of disciplinary measures, if necessary (section 40 of Degree Regulations).

More details will be given in the document of Early intervention model for students of JAMK (dotx).

For open studies path student

You can use all the same guidance counselling services as degree students except for the study psychologist’s services. In such matters, please consult the school pastor or your local health centre.