The foundation for a sustainable future lies in early childhood education and care.

These studies prepare you to become an expert of early childhood education and care and social pedagogy. You will achieve a strong ethical competence for working in social services and you will learn to promote the well-being of children and families using a socio-pedagogical approach.

We believe that the best learning outcome is from a combination of theory and practice. The strength of this degree programme lies on the use of creative and practice-based client work methods.

Five reasons to study Early Childhood Education and Care:

1. Achieve the competence of Bachelor of Social Services and social pedagogue (ECEC) to work in a practical profession in Finland. High-quality education with close connections to work life.
2. Finnish early childhood education and care is holistic, child-centered, and play-based, which supports learning and well-being of children under the age of 7.
3. Unique and authentic learning experiences: ECEC service as a real work-based learning environment and a multisensory space for creative methods.
4. Be safe and live cheaper. Hämeenlinna is one of the safest cities to live in Finland. Living costs are cheaper than in bigger cities.
5. Feel the nature and enjoy the perfect location. Hämeenlinna is full of lakes, forests and beautiful scenery. Hämeenlinna is only an hour away from the capital and close to other big cities.

Objective:

You will gain valued skills and knowledge in promoting the well-being of children and families in early childhood education and care (ECEC). In addition, you will be skilled in incorporating principles of social counselling to support people’s growth in society. You will learn the Finnish language to help manage different client situations in Finnish working life. The program integrates creative and art-based methods into client work, fostering support and community engagement.

In Finland, early childhood education and care (ECEC) is based on goal-oriented education, upbringing and care, with an emphasis on pedagogy. Pedagogical competence means the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate pedagogical activities for a group of children in multiprofessional cooperation. In your studies, you will develop a deep understanding of how to foster community and inclusiveness in ECEC; how to support participation and a child’s holistic development. Your development-orientated pedagogical approach will be based on dialogical encounters with children and families.

Studies are based on collaboration at multiple levels. We emphasize learning in teams and multiprofessional and interdisciplinary cooperation. Students work together to solve development tasks with work-life partners. HAMK is part of RUN European University which creates possibilities for international collaboration during studies. In addition, we focus on collaboration between staff and students to foster an inclusive and comprehensive educational setting.

Career Outcomes:

After your studies, you will have the professional skills and knowledge to work in early childhood education and care in Finland using the Finnish language. In addition, you will be qualified to work in other fields of social services as a Bachelor of Social Services.

Bachelors of Social Services can be employed in the areas of early childhood education and care, child welfare, youth work and adult social work. The degree prepares students to work as social pedagogues in early childhood education and care in multiprofessional cooperation with teachers and childcarers. They can also work as counsellors in child welfare institutions and other residential facilities, as family support workers, coordinators of services for the elderly, case managers, activity directors, counsellors in substance abuse and mental health services or as service coordinators. Bachelors of Social Services promote a good life for all and the core values in their work are openness, communality and doing things together.

The degree includes at least 60 credits of studies in early childhood education and care and social pedagogy, which after graduation qualify you to work as a social pedagogue in early childhood education and care in Finland ("Varhaiskasvatuksen sosionomi").