Metropolia becomes first Finnish University of Applied Sciences to land an Erasmus Mundus Master's programme

16.08.2011

Metropolia has achieved another landmark in international cooperation, being the first Finnish university of applied sciences to participate in an Erasmus Mundus Master's programme.

The Emergency and Critical Care Nursing degree programme, beginning in the autumn of 2012 is also the first Erasmus Mundus Master's degree programme in the field of nursing.

"This is solid proof of Metropolia's courage and ability to find new practices and to operate internationally in a globalising world. This is also a new approach to develop nursing expertise," explains Director Elina Eriksson.

"The need for well-trained nursing professionals is increasing in Finland, which is why it is important to improve their expertise and mobility. The programme is also important in that it creates research, development and innovation," explains Head of Department Pauliina Mansikkamäki.

The European Commissions's Erasmus Mundus programme supports multidisciplinary joint projects between higher education institutions, and it is a sought-after status in Europe to be involved in. The European Commission pays for the degree programme's costs for the first years, and because of its high status, the applicants are usually of very high quality.

Special knowledge in emergency care management and expertise

Being accepted into an Erasmus Mundus programme means that the Emergency and Critical Care Nursing degree programme has been planned extremely well.

"The programme was designed by four higher education institutions from three countries in very close cooperation with labour market partners in each country. Metropolia is joined in this programme by the University of Oviedo in Spain and by two Portuguese universities," says Mansikkamäki.

"Metropolia's areas of specialisation in training are the management of nursing emergencies, and widening of expertise. A multidisciplinary approach in this case refers to the specific needs of different age groups, from newborn babies to the elderly.

Applications for the programme will be accepted in spring 2012. Applications are sent directly to the Erasmus Mundus Master's programme from around the world, not to a specific higher education institution that is participating in the programme.

Applicants are required to have a Bachelor's degree. Thirty students will be accepted, with the studies taking about 18 months. More information about the application will be available in late 2011 and early 2012.

The degree programme emphasises the mobility of the lecturers and student groups. The aim is that all students will spend at least six months in each of the three countries.

The students will receive certificates of the joint degree from each partner institution.

During the academic year of 2010-2011, 116 Erasmus Mundus Master's programmes were ongoing in Europe, with Finnish universities participating in 14 of them.

The degree programme participants are:

• University Of Oviedo, Spain (coordination)
• Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Politécnic Institute of Santarém, Portugal
• University of Algarve, Portugal

For additional information, please contact:

Head of Department Pauliina Mansikkamäki, tel. +358 20 783 5774, firstname.lastname@metropolia.fi

Erasmus Mundus / CIMO

Erasmus Mundus / European Commission

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