Comenius 1 Project

Partner: Moray College , Scotland

I Leg: 16.2. – 1.3.2003 Scotland
Care of the Elderly

II Leg 21.4.-4.5. Finland
Provision for People with Special Educational Needs

Programme Content

Background Information: In academic session 1999/2000 a very successful exchange of Sports Coaching students took place between Moray College and Haapaveden Opisto. Very strong ties have subsequently developed between the two institutions and several examples of cooperation and collaboration have taken place. These include: staff visits to the other college, student college placements and work placements in the other country. Many students from each college are in contact via email and at least one lasting relationship has blossomed. Both institutions are determined to safeguard the close working relationship that has built up between the institutions and both colleges regard the proposed Language Project as a means of extending and deepening the bonds of friendship already established and an opportunity for the staff and students in each college to learn from their counterparts in the other country. An application for a second Comenius Language Exchange was submitted in March 2001. Scotland was successful in their application but the Finnish College was not granted funding as priority was given to first time applicants. It is worth noting however that the authorities did comment on the excellence of the applications submitted. Undeterred by this setback Moray College was granted funding for a PV to Finland which took place in November 2001. The purpose was to discuss with counterparts in Finland how the application could be revised and strengthened to increase chances of funding being granted. Cooperation was sought from two other Finnish Colleges in the area. One is a Vocational College which offers courses to people with Special Needs. The other is an Art and Craft College which specialises in the provision of courses for people with Special Needs. In short these two colleges have agreed to work with the Finnish and Scottish students in their study of Special Needs provision in Finland. They will not be involved in the visit of Haapaveden Opisto students to Scotland.

Main Elements: Both Elgin and Haapavesi are small towns set in a rural setting and face similar challenges with regard to Social Care. Moray College and Haapaveden Opisto both offer courses which equip students with the qualifications and skills required to take up employment in this field of work. During negotiations it became apparent that there were two areas of common interest to the two colleges which could form the basis of an interesting and meaningful study which could prove to be the basis of a successful student exchange. The two areas identified are: Care of the elderly and Provision for People with learning difficulties. It was apparent that whilst each town had similar challenges to face in dealing with these matters their methodology and philosophy differed somewhat in the provision of care for these people. It was agreed by both colleges that a survey and an analysis of the differing methods and ideas used in the provision of care for the above mentioned categories would prove to be an excellent means to highlight examples of good practice in each country and to challenge students’ traditional thinking by learning about alternative methods for dealing with similar challenges.

Aims and Objectives:

For students and staff from each institution to work together to study Care of the elderly and Provision for People with Learning difficulties as it is delivered in Finland and Scotland. To highlight and learn from the differences and to note and document examples of good practice. To become aware of differing philosophies and methodologies in this area of work.
To provide a programme which will furnish students and staff with background information and experience out with the classroom setting.
To develop skills through the sharing of ideas and identification of examples of good practice.
Develop and improve the competence of Finnish students in the use of English
Stimulate the Scottish student’s interest in the Finnish Language and equip them with sufficient language skills for “survival purposes” and some specialised vocabulary pertaining to the project.
To expose Finnish students to Scottish culture and Scottish students to Finnish culture.
To participate in the everyday life of the partner institution and to glean an insight into a family environment in the other country.

End Product
The essential feature of the exchange was for students to work together to produce a bilingual handbook. In Scotland Finnish students worked in pairs / groups with their counterparts and produced a bilingual handbook which depicts and describes the Scottish system of providing Care for the Elderly. In Finland, Scottish students indulged in paired / group activities with their counterparts and produced a bilingual handbook which depicts and describes Provision for People with Learning Difficulties according to the Finnish system. Students from each country worked together to compile the information for the handbook and subsequently worked together in groups to create the bilingual end product. In this way all students had the opportunity to learn and practise the other language and glean specialised vocabulary pertaining to the subject area in question.