Internship in Voluntary Work (5ECTS) can be carried out by any Metropolia students regardless of their field of study, as well as by others through the Open University of Applied Sciences. Those who have enrolled to the course will find further information in the course workspace in Oma, which also gives guidance in accessing the official learning platform in Moodle. Most part of this course is carried out independently in a voluntary work organization.
Summary of the implementation of this internship:
- Students can choose themselves in which organization they carry out their internship. In order to support the selection, Metropolia has prepared a LIST OF COLLABORATION PARTNERS. When students have found a suitable organization, they will together with their contact person prepare an Implementation Plan.
- Orientation to the course takes place by participating in the internship information session, getting acquainted with the background reading material as well as writing an informal Orientation Assignment (please see instructions).
- During the Internship in Voluntary Work the position of the students usually equals that of any volunteers in the same organization. They are for example supervised and supported in a similar manner.
- The course is carried out at times, which are jointly agreed by the student and the organization. The student keeps track of the work done in a Working Hour Record.
- In the end the students assess their learning in an Assessment of Learning in Voluntary Work e-form (a translation into English also exists, the form is being updated in 2017).
Useful background reading
- Internship in Voluntary Work instructions for students (updated in 2017)
- Manninen, N. & Raatikainen, E. 2014. Learning through Service and Volunteerism - Ideas for Universities of Applied Sciences.
- Description of development work carried out in Verkkovirta project (2015-17) on learning through volunteer work (in Finnish).