Information about HUMAK

HUMAK was founded in 1998 and received permanent polytechnic status in 2000. HUMAK has twelve units around Finland with a total of about 1300 students.

The Degree Programmes 210 ECTS

The students can study in three different Degree Programmes: the Civic Activities and Youth Work Degree Programme; the Cultural Management Degree Programme and the Sign Language Interpreter Degree Programme. On average the studies take up to three and a half years.

Humak for Humanities

Humanistic philosophy is the ideology behind the HUMAK’s activities. Humanism emphasizes the importance of human experience. Human connections is the basic value HUMAK wishes to portray in all its actions. This basic thought can be seen in action throughout the studies; between the teacher and the students, the units and working life as well as in international relations and among the students.

HUMAK’s learning environment gives the students the possibility to develop personal, individual and professional skills. The students are responsible for their studies and the choices they make. The students are required to work independently on their planning and co-operative skills and be highly motivated to succeed in their studies.

The principal aim of HUMAK is to create a pedagogic environment where it is possible to acquire individual professional skills. The students can choose from different learning environments, where they are supported by their tutors. The students may choose Modular courses offered by any Unit as long as the course content supports their individual needs. HUMAK has its own virtual environment, Hunet where they may study as well as interact with each other via Hunet and they can study in a virtual environment.

Study Guidance as a process

The focal point of all guidance is the relationship between the students and their tutors. The students receive both group and individual guidance during their studies. All the students at HUMAK have a personal tutor, with whom the students can discuss their studies. In addition to contact lessons and individual study the students can complete modular courses on the web, through projects or in work placements.

The students as the creators of their professional identity

In HUMAK’s learning environments the teachers’ role is mainly to guide and support the students’ development. The students learn to set realistic aims to develop their professional skills. They are responsible for their studies and for the choices they make. In addition they learn about their individual strengths and develop their social and individual skills.

Work placements as a key to practical professional skills

The students gain a theoretical knowledge which forms the foundation of their professional skills. Nevertheless many of the demands of working life are such that the students understand them only once they have gained practical experience.

The students at HUMAK can choose to complete from 40 to 120 ECTS of their studies in work placements.

Different modular courses may be completed in work placements. An example of a work placement where students from all three degree programmes co-operate could be a cultural event aimed at children. Students from the Cultural Management Degree Programme produce the event and develop its contents, students from the Civic Activities and Youth Work Degree Programme carry out the activities and sign language students interpret the event for deaf children. In addition the students study books related to the topic, reflect upon their own learning process and write a report on their work placement. Practice and theory are thus intertwined.

In work placements the students have the possibility to complete essential tasks, which increases motivation and is a very rewarding experience. As the students gain experience and knowledge the responsibilities and tasks given become more demanding.

The Work placement is a safe learning and working environment where the students receive guidance and support. HUMAK trains the work placement supervisors to ensure guidance of a high standard.

The Virtual Campus, Hunet

The virtual campus, Hunet, is composed of two distinct domains: Internet services open to all and HumakPro, an intranet system open to the students and staff of the HUMAK. The services available in HumakPro guarantee studying, evaluation and communication independent of time or place. The HUMAK’s web-services are available everywhere, where internet is available.
The student services of HumakPro enable the students to plan their studies, enrol on courses and participate in web-courses. In addition they have access to the internal communication system, giving them information concerning courses, work placements and other student activities. The intranet system also enables the students to receive course evaluation and up-to-date course transcripts.