Metropolia and the University of Helsinki offer language‑supported education for early childhood professionals

The Finnish Early Childhood Education Act sets qualification requirements for staff working in early childhood education, which are not necessarily met by those who have studied abroad. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Helsinki aim to ensure that people working in early childhood education who have moved to Finland from abroad and do not yet hold an appropriate degree will in future be able to find employment in the sector more smoothly. The training was made possible by co-funding from the European Union.

Metropolia and the University of Helsinki have developed educational solutions for people who want to work in early childhood education but do not yet have the required qualification.

Metropolia offered immigrants the first-year studies of the Bachelor of Social Services, Early Childhood Education, in two languages – Finnish and English – and with language support. At Metropolia, language-supported studies based on the TOKAKO model are also implemented within degree programmes.

The aim is to support the continued employment of those already working in early childhood education as well as the opportunities of those interested in entering the field. Students began their studies at Metropolia in August 2025 and completed them in May 2026. The idea is that participants complete the first-year studies of the Bachelor of Social Services programme, totalling at least 45 ECTS credits. Students who meet the eligibility criteria for degree studies during the academic year can apply through a separate admission process to continue their studies in Metropolia’s Bachelor of Social Services, Early Childhood Education degree programme, either in Finnish or in English.

The students in the programme came from diverse backgrounds. They included, for example, child carers, teachers and other people interested in the field. What united them was the desire to work in early childhood education.

Eeva-Liisa Metsäluoto, Director of School at Metropolia, notes that similar language-supported pathway studies have not previously been implemented in Finland.

“There is clearly demand for this type of language-supported studies, but embedding such activities on a permanent basis requires sufficient resources for support and guidance. Even now, there are some courses offered bilingually in Metropolia’s Bachelor of Social Services, Early Childhood Education. We intend to further develop and expand joint studies and shared placements for students in the Finnish- and English-language programmes,” Metsäluoto says.

The training is part of the “Kielituetut osaamispolut” (Language-Supported Learning Paths) project, coordinated by the University of Helsinki. Metropolia and the University of Helsinki jointly provide teaching and carry out planning work. Aalto University is also involved in the project and has developed ways of integrating Finnish language studies into English-language degree programmes.

Within the project, the University of Helsinki has also developed the KIVAPE training – language-supported basic studies in education. Its goal is to promote access for applicants with an immigrant background to degree studies in early childhood education teaching, to accelerate their degree studies, and to pilot and develop methods of language-supported teaching in higher education.

“Collaboration with Metropolia made it possible to develop and test different practices for language support. The joint course offered students opportunities to explore multiprofessional collaboration and different professional roles in early childhood education. Based on feedback from teachers and students, it would be important to continue and further develop this kind of cooperation,” says the project manager, University of Helsinki expert Rebekka Nylund.

Further information

Eeva-Liisa Metsäluoto
Director of School, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
eeva-liisa.metsaluoto [at] metropolia.fi (eeva-liisa[dot]metsaluoto[at]metropolia[dot]fi)

Rebekka Nylund
Expert, University of Helsinki
rebekka.nylund [at] helsinki.fi (rebekka[dot]nylund[at]helsinki[dot]fi)