Professional Teacher Education
Become a teacher – study and teach in English
Professional teacher education benefits those who are already in a teaching position as well as future teachers.
The professional teacher education is based on recent research in educational science and applies the principles of participatory pedagogy and methods of exploratory learning. The education provides the pedagogical qualification required of teachers in Finland.
After the studies, you will qualify to work as a teacher in vocational institutions and universities of applied sciences. You can also teach in other institutions depending on your own education and work experience. The studies will give you useful skills in various education-related fields such as education export, HR or coaching.
The professional teacher education programme taught in English is for professionals who wish to teach in English and/or who are not proficient in the Finnish language. The extent of the studies is 60 credits.
The form of studies is blended learning and the studies are organised mostly online. You can study alongside work and complete your studies in 1.5 years (on average). Participation also requires attendance on weekdays.
Admission services: taok.tamk [at] tuni.fi, tel. +358 (0)294 520 450
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Professional Teacher Education
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Competence-oriented teacher education is based on recognising prior competencies of the student, developing necessary competencies and continuous assessment during the education process.
The professional teacher education programme supports your development as a facilitator of learning and an educator. It furthers your role as a member of your work community and society.
The pedagogical model for the studies is inclusive pedagogy. Inclusive pedagogy emphasises the personal premises and goals of the student. The pedagogical methods used in professional teacher education allow for communal and cooperative studying in peer groups.
Professional teacher education consists of multimodal studies: you can complete them primarily online and alongside work.
The studies consist of 60 credits and include:
Admission services: taok.tamk [at] tuni.fi, tel. +358 (0)294 520 450
Programme in English in Tampere (separate admission group)
- The programme is 60 credits, which means 1600 hours of a student’s work. The hours include both contact days and independent and small group studies between the contact days.
- The language of the studies is English. Your proficiency in English must be on a level that enables you to express yourself fluently and understand and write theoretical texts in English.
- The studies begin on May 2023. The orientation days will be held via Zoom on 16 – 17 May 2023 (12-18 Finnish Time:EET)
- The length of your studies will be determined by your personal study plan.
- You study in small groups and stay in touch with each other using several interactive platforms.
- The contact days are organized approximately every other week. Studies include contact days at the TAMK Main Campus and via video conferencing. Attendance in person on the first two contact days is mandatory and advisable also during the first months of studies.
- The first actual studies are the Basic Studies in Education, which student will participate during summer 2023.
- The programme also includes teaching practice (in Finland).
Timetable:
Teaching for all the courses will be arranged:
- On Wednesdays 16-20 Finnish time.
- On Thursdays 16-20 Finnish time.
- On Saturdays 9-12 Finnish time.
In addition, there will be group meetings and meetings with your teacher tutor on other times. The schedule for your teaching practice will be decided during your studies.
Timetable
Next Application period is on January 2024.
You will find the online application form at Studyinfo-service during the application period.
Eligibility
The entry requirements for professional teacher education are in most cases:
- a relevant university degree
- a minimum of three years of professional work experience in a field corresponding to the subject of teaching (for teachers of vocational subjects)
If you have obtained your higher education qualification abroad, recognition by the Finnish National Agency for Education / the Finnish National Board of Education is required. You can find more information from the Finnish National Agency for Education website.
Contact information
Admission services: taok.tamk [at] tuni.fi
tel. +358 (0)294 520 450
FAQ
Q: Am I eligible to apply?
A: In most cases, a higher education degree (or recognised equivalent) and 3 or 5 years of professional work experience in a relevant field is required.
Q: Can I apply with a foreign degree?
A: Yes.
A decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) or the Finnish Ministry of Education on the recognition of the level of the degree as equivalent to a tertiary level degree completed in Finland must be attached to the application in the following cases:
- You have completed the degree on which your eligibility is based outside the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland).
- You have completed your tertiary level degree outside Finland in another Nordic country and
- the degree belongs to the field of social services and health, and/or
- based on the degree, you are seeking qualification as a so-called general subject teacher, and/or
- the degree is less than three years in scope, and/or
- you are not a citizen of any of the Nordic countries.
EDUFI is responsible for decisions regarding the eligibility conferred by foreign qualifications for positions, which in Finland require specific education or a university/University of Applied Sciences degree of a certain level (Act 1385/2015). A certain level of education is required e.g. for teaching positions.
Apply for the RoQ well in advance – the average processing time is 3–4 months! You can find more information from the Finnish National Agency for Education website.
Q: I am a nurse. Can I apply for the Professional Teacher Education programme?
A: If you have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences in the field of social services and health care, and you have at least five years of professional work experience in a field corresponding to your degree, you are eligible. If you have completed a Master's degree in the field of social services and health care, three years of professional work experience in a field corresponding to the degree is enough.
Q: I will complete my degree in the spring before the studies begin. Am I eligible?
A: Unfortunately you are not eligible. The entry requirements regarding both education and work experience must be met by the end of the application period.
Q: Must the work experience be continuous, or are, for example, summer jobs and weekend work acceptable?
A: The work experience does not need to be continuous. The following formula will be applied to calculate the full-time equivalency of part-time and short-term employment: 150 h = 1 month, 11 months = 1 year. The certificates of employment must show the number of hours you have completed and the time periods during which you have worked.
Q: Does the work experience have to be accumulated after the completion of the degree?
A: No, it does not.
Q: Will work that I did while I was a student be included in my work experience?
A: Yes, except for any practical training that you did as part of the study programme for the degree on which your application to this Professional Teacher Education programme is based.
Q: Are there language requirements for the English language group?
A: No official certificate regarding English language ability is required. However, participants must be able to use English for study purposes, which requires a good level of spoken and written English. They must be able to read scientific and professional literature written in English, and to use English as a medium to acquire information and skills, as well as to develop their expertise.
Q: Can I be admitted if I don't have any teaching experience and/or I am not currently working as a teacher?
A: Yes. Admission to the programme is based on a points system. Teaching experience is one criterion for which applicants are awarded points, but there are other criteria as well.
Q: How do I add up my working time as a teacher if I have been teaching for a few hours a month over a couple of years?
A: Part-time teaching experience will be converted into full-time teaching experience. 64 hours of part-time teaching experience equals one month of full-time teaching experience.
Q: What qualification will the education give me?
A: With a successful completion of the study programme you will obtain the pedagogical qualification required from vocational teachers in Finland. With this qualification you can work at universities of applied sciences, vocational schools, adult education institutes, general education institutions such as high schools, and non-formal adult education. In addition to this pedagogical qualification, different institutions may have special requirements concerning qualifications and work experience when recruiting people for specific positions.
Q: How is studying organised in this programme? What study methods are used?
A: Studying and teaching practice take place collaboratively in small groups and in authentic teaching environments. The learning environments include physical, social, and digital working spaces. No exams are held; evaluation happens through verbal feedback on all aspects of the participants' performance.
Q: What is teaching practice and how is it organised?
A: The studies include getting acquainted with different learning situations, students, learning environments, work communities and networks, as well as working as a teacher and facilitator. Participants are assigned to a study group, each of which has its own group teacher. The group teacher will provide detailed information on teaching practice and other aspects of the programme at the beginning of the studies.
Q: How can I get my prior experience and/or studies accredited?
A: The School of Professional Teacher Education promotes the principle of recognition and validation of prior learning and know-how (AHOT in Finnish). The student can apply for full or partial accreditation of any study module based on self-evaluation, documented prior learning, and /or other agreed methods. Accreditation can be granted based on prior studies on the same level as those provided by the TAOK programme, or on know-how demonstrated by agreed methods.
Q: What is the duration of the studies? Can I complete the studies in one year?
A: The extent of the studies is 60 credits and the planned study time is 1.5 years. It is possible to shorten or extend the study time if agreed at the beginning of the studies. Your personal goals and your prior knowledge will affect the total study time.
The number of the new students will be 20 (separate admission group).
You will find the more exact criteria and the application form from Studyinfo-service.
The minimum points needed for admission in (by the year):
- 2018: 7
- 2019: 6
- 2020: 7
- 2021: 11
- 2022: 12
Bear in mind that the minimum points of previous years are no longer comparable due to changes in the admission criteria.
If you are fluent in Finnish, you can also apply for the Finnish language groups.
