University of Lapland FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Master’s degree programme (BCBU) in Comparative Social Work STUDY GUIDE 2009–2010 editors Pirjo Helppikangas and Elena Golubeva Lapin yliopistopaino Rovaniemi 2009 ISSN•L 1798•4351 ISSN 1798•4351 3 Contents 3 TO THE STUDENT READER 8 Introduction to BCBU and the CSW Master’s degree programme 9 1 INFORMATION ON THE CSW PARTNER INSTITUTIONS 11 1.1 The University of Lapland 11 1.1.1 Name and Address 11 1.1.2 Academic Calendar 11 1.1.3 Academic Authorities 12 1.1.4 General Description of the Institution 13 1.1.5 List of Degree and Other Programmes Offered 14 1.1.6 Admission / Registration Procedure 15 1.1.7 Main University Regulations 17 1.1.8 Grading System 18 1.1.9 International Coordinators 18 1.2 General Information for Students at the University of Lapland 19 1.2.1 Costs of Studying and Living 19 1.2.2 Facilities and Accommodation 20 1.2.3 Medical Facilities 21 1.2.4 Facilities for Special Needs Students 23 1.2.5 Insurance 23 1.2.6 Financial Support for Students 24 1.2.7 Student Affairs Office 24 1.2.8 Sports Facilities 25 1.2.9 Extra•mural and Leisure Activities 25 1.2.10 Student Associations 25 1.3 Pomor State University 25 1.3.1 Name and Address 25 1.3.2 Academic Calendar 25 1.3.3 Academic Authorities 26 1.3.4 General Description of the Institution 26 1.3.5 List of Degree Programmes Offered 27 1.3.6 Admission / Registration Procedure 27 1.3.7 Grading System 30 1.3.8 Institutional Co•ordinator 30 1.4 General Information for Students at Pomor State University 31 1.4.1 Costs of Studying and Living 31 1.4.2 Facilities and Accommodation 31 1.4.3 Medical Facilities 31 4 1.4.4 Insurance 32 1.4.5 Financial Support for Students 32 1.4.6 Student Affairs Office 32 1.4.7 Sports Facilities 32 1.4.8 Student Union 32 1.5 Petrozavodsk State University 32 1.5.1 Name and Address 32 1.5.2 Academic Calendar 32 1.5.3 Academic Authorities 33 1.5.4 General Description of the Institution 33 1.5.5 List of Degree and Other Programmes Offered 33 1.5.6 Admission / Registration Procedure 34 1.5.7 Grading System 35 1.5.8 Institutional Co•ordinator 35 1.6 General Information for Students at Petrozavodsk State University 36 1.6.1 Costs of Studying and Living 36 1.6.2 Facilities and Accommodation 36 1.6.3 Medical Facilities 39 1.6.4 Insurance 39 1.6.5 Financial Support for Students 39 1.6.6 Student Affairs Office 39 1.6.7 Sports Facilities 40 1.6.8 Extra•mural and Leisure Activities 40 1.6.9 Student Union 40 1.6.10 Frequently Asked Questions 40 1.6.11 Useful Links 42 1.7 Karelian State Pedagogical University 42 1.7.1 Name and Address 42 1.7.2 Academic Calendar 43 1.7.3 Academic Authorities 43 1.7.4 General Description of the Institution 43 1.7.5 List of Degree and Other Programmes Offered 43 1.7.6 Admission / Registration Procedure 45 1.7.7 Grading System 45 1.7.8 Institutional Co•ordinator 45 1.8 General Information for Students at Karelian State Pedagogical University 45 1.8.1 Costs of Studying and Living 45 1.8.2 Facilities and Accommodation 46 1.8.3 Medical Facilities and Insurance 47 5 1.8.4 Financial Support for Students 47 1.8.5 Student Affairs Office 47 1.8.6 Sports Facilities 47 1.8.7 Extra•mural and Leisure Activities 48 1.8.8 Student Union 48 1.8.9 Useful Links 48 1.9 Murmansk State Technical University 48 1.9.1 Name and Address 48 1.9.2 Academic Authorities 49 1.9.3 General Description of the Institution 49 1.9.4 List of Degree Programmes Offered 49 1.10 General Information for Students at Murmansk State Technical University 50 1.10.1 Facilities and Accommodation 50 1.10.2 Student Affairs Office 51 1.11 Murmansk State Pedagogical University 51 1.11.1 Name and Address 51 1.11.2 Academic Calendar 51 1.11.3 Academic Authorities 51 1.11.4 General Description of the Institution 51 1.11.5 List of Degree Programmes Offered 51 1.11.6 Admission Procedure 52 1.11.7 Grading System 52 1.12 General Information for Students at Murmansk State Pedagogical University 52 1.12.1 Costs of Studying and Living 52 1.12.2 Facilities and Accommodation 52 1.12.3 Financial Support for Students 52 1.12.4 Student Affairs Office 52 1.12.5 Sports Facilities 52 1.13. Murmansk Humanities Institute 53 1.13.1 Name and Address 53 1.13.2 Academic Calendar 53 1.13.3 Academic Authorities 53 1.13.4 General Description of the Institution 53 1.13.5 List of Degree Programmes Offered 53 1.13.6 Admission Procedure 53 1.13.7 Grading System 54 1.14 General Information for Students at Murmansk Humanities 6 Institute 54 1.14.1 Costs of Studying and Living 54 1.14.2 Facilities and Accommodation 54 1.14.3 Insurance 54 1.14.4 Student Affairs Office 54 1.14.5 Sports Facilities 54 1.15. Northern State Medical University 54 1.15.1 Name and Address 54 1.15.2 Academic Calendar 55 1.15.3 Academic Authorities 55 1.15.4 General Description of the Institution 55 1.15.5 List of Degree Programmes Offered 55 1.15.6 Admission Procedure 56 1.15.7 Grading System 56 1.16. General Information for Students at Northern State Medical University 56 1.16.1 Costs of Studying and Living 56 1.16.2 Facilities and Accommodation 56 1.16.3 Medical Facilities 56 1.16.4 Insurance 56 1.16.5 Financial Support for Students 56 1.16.6 Student Affairs Office 56 1.16.7 Sports Facilities 57 2 MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN COMPARATIVE SOCIAL WORK 58 2.1 Structure of Master’s Degree Programme Studies 58 2.1.1 Content of Joint Studies 62 2.1.2 Studies at the University of Lapland 75 2.1.3 Studies at the Pomor State University 80 2.2 Contacts 85 3 GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDYING JOINT STUDIES 88 3.1 Principles 88 3.2 Teaching Methods 89 3.3 Personal Study Plan and Learning Agreement 89 3.4 Assessment and Grades 89 3.5 Certificates 89 3.6 Special Issues 90 7 APPENDIX 1 General Guidelines for Academic Writing 91 APPENDIX 2 Social Work Training Period II – Working in a Social Work Training unit 115 List of Tables Table 1. Grade Scales: Comparing Finnish scale with Russian and European definitions. 18 Table 2. Russian grade scale compared with Europe and Finnish definition 30 Table 3. Costs of living per one month at the Petrozavodsk State University 36 Table 4. Types of accommodation and costs in Euros. 37 Table 5. Costs of rooms in Severnaya, Karelia, Fregat and Petr 38 Table 6. Living expenses 46 Table 7. Types of accommodation and costs in roubles 46 Table 8. Credits required for degrees. 58 Table 9. General structure of the joint studies, and other required degree studies. 59 Table 10. Timing of joint studies. 60 Table 11. Timing of studies required at the Pomor State University (40 ECTS cr.). 61 Table 12. Timing of required studies at the University of Lapland (40 ECTS cr.). 61 Table 13. Academic and administrative contacts at the universities. 86 8 TO THE STUDENT READER This guide is a presentation of the Master’s degree programme in Comparative Social Work (CSW), which is part of the Barents Cross Border UniversityBCBU ( ) project between universities in Northern Finland and Northwest Russia. The information in this guide is general in nature, and is primarily meant for students of the CSW Master’s programme. In the first section of this guide, information is provided about each of the institutions involved in this programme, including: their systems of study, facilities and support services, related student unions and associations, as well as information about some living practicalities. In the second and third sections, you will find detailed information on the structure and content of the CSW Master’s programme, in addition to important guidelines and instructions specific to the programme. Intended to help students with their studies, a set of General Guidelines for Academic Writing is provided in Annex 1, and in Annex 2 are details regarding the Social Work Training Period II – Working in a Social Work Training unit. We hope that this guide will help you with your studies in both Finland and in Russia! 9 Introduction to BCBU and the CSW Master’s Degree Programme The Master’s degree programme in Comparative Social Work is part of the Barents Cross Border University project (BCBU), which is based on the cooperation between universities in Northern Finland and Northwest Russia. This co•operation initiative is founded on the mutual interests of the partner universities, as well as in the principles and aims of the partnership programs and of the EU Northern Dimension policy. Within the BCBU there are two partner universities from Finland, eight from Russia, and four associate partners from other countries. The BCBU partners from Finland are, the University of Lapland and University of Oulu; from Russia, Archangelsk State Technical University, Pomor State University, the Karelian State Pedagogical University, Petrozavodsk State University, Northern State Medical University, Murmansk Humanities Institute, Murmansk State Pedagogical University, and Murmansk State Technical University.