Degree Programme in Health Care Technology, Master of Engineering: YTERIS18

Descriptions

The Degree Programme in Health Care Technology is a working life oriented programme which is targeted at Bachelors of Engineering and persons with a Bachelor’s Degree in social and health care. It aims at enhancing the ability to act independently in demanding expert and supervisor tasks in the well-being and health care technology sector and as an independent entrepreneur in the field and at promoting critical thinking, creative problem solving, initiative as well as teamwork and networking skills.

Working during studies and linking the learning assignments and the thesis, implemented as a development project, with the student’s work duties make it possible to develop the operations of the employer organization at the same time.

After the completion of the degree, students have a good command of the concepts, methods and knowledge that require special expertise in the field and are able to use them critically and justifiably in professional problem solving, research, development and innovation tasks and in management.

The Degree Programme stems from digitalization and the increasing utilization of technology in health care. The innovation and development activities related to health care technology products demand multidisciplinary competence in both health care sector processes and operations and technological product development. The goal of the Degree Programme is to produce experts to meet the needs of the Finnish health care technology sector. Information security, user-centred development methods and expertise in regulation play an important role in the Degree Programme.

The Degree Programme in Health Care Technology is carried out partly in cooperation with the similar degree programme offered by the Social and Health Care faculty of Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Objective

The studies consist of advanced professional studies (15 ECTS), of complementary studies (10 ECTS), of optional studies (5 ECTS) and of a thesis (30 ECTS). Courses offered by the Well-Being Technology of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences may also be included in the optional studies.

The planned length of the studies is 1.5 years and they are designed to be carried out while working full-time. Studies are organized as part-time studies. There will be two contact days per month. The studies emphasize community orientation and teamwork. At the very beginning of the studies, the student prepares an individual study plan (ISP) which is closely related to the implementation of the thesis.

COMPLEMENTARY COMPETENCE (10 ECTS)

The Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering provides good abilities to face and solve technical problems. However, practical work in the health care technology sector in cooperation with social and health care experts requires also knowing and handling the processes and projects of the operating environment. Complementary studies will provide students with information to meet these requirements. The studies provide information about organizations that utilize health care technology and their processes as well as the users of health care technology and their needs. Significant part of health care technology development is carried out as projects in modern organizations. Thus, complementary studies include a project management course tailored according to the operating environment of health care technology.

CORE COMPETENCE, advanced studies (15 ECTS)

Advanced studies look into the special characteristics of medical device product development from the point of view of regulation, for instance, and provides information about health care information system development, usability and information security. Methodological studies form the foundation for the launching and completion of a development project by providing a profound understanding about the fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative research.

Optional studies (5 ECTS)

Students may supplement their competence by choosing one 5-ECTS course from the offering of other Master’s Degree Programmes of Turku University of Applied Sciences or the offering of the Well-Being Technology of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.

Thesis (30 ECTS)

The goal of the thesis is to develop the student’s ability to apply research-based information and to use different methods to solve working life problems as well as provide skills for performing expert-level assignments independently.

Development

Terveysteknologian koulutuksen tärkeänä osana on työn tai työyhteisön kehittämistyönä toteutettava opinnäytetyö, jossa yhdistyvät teoria, käytäntö ja uuden tietämyksen tuottaminen ja soveltaminen.

Opinnot on mahdollista suorittaa työn ohessa. Opiskelu on monimuoto-opiskelua sisältäen sekä lähi- että etäjaksoja. Itsenäisen työskentelyn lisäksi yhteisöllisesti tiimeissä tapahtuvalla työelämälähtöisten oppimis- ja kehittämistehtävien ratkaisemisella on merkittävä rooli opinnoissa. Koulutuksessa sovelletaan aikuispedagogiikkaa. Työskentely tapahtuu osittain verkossa ja monialaisissa toimintaympäristöissä. Lähiopetuspäiviä on keksimäärin kaksi peräkkäistä arkipäivää kuukaudessa. Opiskelija laatii opiskelun alkuvaiheessa henkilökohtaisen oppimissuunnitelman (HOPS), jossa hän valitsee opintoja koulutusten tarjonnasta, jotka liittyvät mm. opinnäytetyön toteuttamiseen.

Further information

The objectives for skill levels in a Master’s Degree are based on the legislation concerning universities of applied sciences and the European Qualification Framework (EQF). The level corresponding to a Master’s Degree is level 7. The assessment criteria for each course are described in its implementation plan. Performance requirements vary depending on objectives, content and method of implementation.

The courses and the thesis are assessed on a scale of 0 to 5. Assessment focuses on competence and its development. The course assessment methods vary according to the objectives of the study module. Assessment may focus on the outcome (for instance, a report or a seminar presentation), on the process (the student’s own activity and actions during the course) or on both. Students receive regular feedback on their performance from their teachers. Peer- and self-assessment as well as commissioner feedback on performance are also utilized. The degree assessment framework is used as the basis for the assessment.

The Degree Programme will be developed according to the principles of continuous improvement. In the development work, feedback from the students and working life as well as their initiatives have a key role. Feedback is collected with, for instance, student questionnaires and group-specific development discussions.