Study Guide

Descriptions

Description of the studies

The Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Leadership degree is a Master’s degree in health care and social services. The purpose of the programme is to develop the student’s competence to manage interdisciplinary collaboration and client-centred services. People who have graduated from the programme have the theoretical and methodical competence to design targeted service paths and integrative services as well as to coordinate team-work in an effective and cost-efficient manner.

The Master’s Degree Programme in Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Leadership complies with both the Finnish national framework (NQF7) and the European framework (EQF7) for degrees and competencies and provides qualifications that are equal to those attained at a university. The degree is part of the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) Master School. Diak’s Master School brings together all of Diak’s Master’s degree programmes in the fields of healthcare and social services. Diak’s international network of higher education institutions enables internationalisation during the studies.

People who have graduated from the programme have internalised the continuous development model and competence to enable timely and high-quality services for clients and client groups as experts and leaders. They have the competence to manage service paths and entities for client groups that need various services in the public, private and third sectors in the promotion of wellbeing and health.

Structure of the studies

The Master’s degree programme studies in Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Leadership consist of advanced professional studies (40 ECTS), elective studies (20 ECTS) and a Master’s thesis (30 ECTS). The advanced professional studies include the following studies which all Diak’s Master School students must complete: Professional development and expertise 5 ECTS, Academic writing and research communication 5 ECTS, Research methods 5 ECTS and Research methods in practice 5 ECTS. In addition to advanced professional studies for interdisciplinary and collaborative leadership (20 ECTS), students can further expand their competence by choosing elective studies that are most useful for their personal career plan or the development of their expertise.

The Master’s thesis

The Master’s thesis (30 ECTS) is a research and development project that serves the working life in the field of social services and healthcare. The thesis is commissioned by a working life organisation but can also be an RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) project done for Diak. The thesis supports the development of independent research, analytical and critical reflection skills and self-management skills.