The Path to a Diverse Worklife project (2023.2025) seeks solutions and best practices for promoting diverse and inclusive study and working life in the social services and health care sector. The project strengthens accessible and equal culture in higher education and promotes students’ agency in individual transitions to education and work.
Objectives
In accordance with Metropolia’ s strategy, we aim to create equal opportunities for individuals to learn at Metropolia. We pay attention to the equality and accessibility of the whole study path, from the application phase and entrance exam arrangements to actual studies and also of internships and transition to working life.
Our aim is to create a model that supports diverse and inclusive study and work in social services and health care sector. The model is created in a co-development process that will involve Metropolia’ s students and personnel alike but also working life partners. The model includes best practices related to equality and accessibility in the educational institution and promotes students’ agency in individual transitions to education and work.
Target groups
The primary target groups:
- young people interested in a higher education degree and
- young people pursuing a higher education degree who have accessibility relates challenges on their path towards working life.
The indirect target groups:
- other students
- SMEs and micro-enterprises in need of workforce
- lecturers and other staff members of the educational institution.
According to the UN Convention, persons with disabilities include those who have a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
Procedures
During the project, measures are implemented that concern student selection, the study process, internships, and students’ transition to working life.
Accessible student selection
For second-level students who are interested in social and health care education and are in need of individual support, we offer introductory events and workshops on social and health care studies and learning environments. Events are held both remotely and at Metropolia's Myllypuro campus. In these events potential future students get to tell their needs and concerns regarding accessibility and equality in higher education.
Students’ process and flexible study paths
Among Metropolia’s social services and health care students, we conduct a survey that aims to identify their experiences but also map out their solution on equality and accessibility in social services and health care studies.
After the surveys, we organize thematic workshops/group interviews utilizing service design and co-development process. The aim is to deepen the information obtained in the survey and to develop best practices for promoting diverse study and working life in the social and health care sector. These workshops / group interviews bring together Metropolia's students and personnel alike, to collectively discuss and find solution to the task at hand.
Cooperation with Employers
We strive to involve work-life partners from the social services and health care sector in the co-development process by organizing workshops and events at Metropolia Myllypuro campus. The aim is to consider the physical and social accessibility of internship places and to develop internships to meet the needs of students with partial work ability.
We will also organize tailored events to enhance the knowledge and know-how of our work-life partners on topics related to accessible and inclusive internships and recruitment processes.
Personal data register
Read the project's Personal data register.
Contact information
Project manager Elina Förster, Metropolia UAS
elina.forster [at] metropolia.fi (elina[dot]forster[at]metropolia[dot]fi),
+ 358 40 184 1947
Project coordinator Auli Räsänen Metropolia UAS
auli.rasanen [at] metropolia.fi (auli[dot]rasanen[at]metropolia[dot]fi),
+ 358 40 672 6577
Project specialist Ulla Vehkaperä UAS
ulla.vehkapera [at] metropolia.fi (ulla[dot]vehkapera[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
+ 358 40 714 5147
The Path to a Diverse Worklife is a project co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and implemented by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Vamlas - Foundation for Supporting Children and Young People with Disabilities, in cooperation in the Uusimaa region. The project supports the agency of young people who need individual support in pursuing a higher education degree, during their studies and in transition working life. The project’s operating time is from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025.