Information for Placement Agencies and Supervisors Bachelor s degree program in Early Childhood Education

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1 Faculty of Social Work, Health Care and Nursing Sciences Information for Placement Agencies and Supervisors Bachelor s degree program in Early Childhood Education About the Faculty of Social Work, Health Care and Nursing Sciences at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences The Faculty of Social Work, Health Care and Nursing Sciences was part of the independent Esslingen University of Social Sciences until August 1, 2006, when the Esslingen University of Social Sciences and the Esslingen University of Engineering were merged. The former Esslingen University of Social Sciences began in Stuttgart in 1917, when the Social Women s School of the Swabian Women s Union was founded on the basis of a trust instituted by Queen Charlotte of Württemberg. A second institution supported by this trust was the Seminar for Female Youth Leaders, founded in After their transformation into higher vocational schools in the 1960s, both institutions merged to form the University of Social Sciences in For many decades, the University, in addition to the Mannheim University for Social Sciences and the Alice Salomon University in Berlin, was one of three independent, state-run universities with a specific focus on social and health sciences. Degree Program The former Esslingen University of Social Sciences had adapted its entire course programme by September 1 st, 2004 in accordance with the Bologna Declaration of the European Ministers of Education to conform to the so-called two-level system offering Bachelor s and Master s degrees. It now offers the following degree programs: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Social Work Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Nursing / Nursing Management Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Nursing Teachers Education Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Early Childhood Education Master of Arts (M.A.) Social Work Master of Arts (M.A.) Nursing Sciences Duration of the Bachelor s programs = 7 semesters Duration of the Master s programs = 3 semesters Placements within the degree programs During the fourth semester the students undertake a required practical placement. About the Bachelor s degree program in Early Childhood Education This new study course which was established in 2006 aims to enhance the quality of educational institutions for children from 0 to 10 years both within education and social policy. The focus is to improve the quality of training for qualified staff by teaching competences and skills that can be used to achieve equal opportunities and to optimise the chance of every child to develop its page 1 of 6 September 2015

2 full potential. One practical semester is compulsory and takes place either in an agency abroad or in a qualified German institution. The placements have to be undertaken in institutions which offer educational services or programs. Particularly suitable are those institutions which provide an outstanding educational philosophy or offer a methodologically sound program. All placements have to be supervised by a placement supervisor who holds a qualification in the field of education and has at least 2 years professional experience. The students enter into a contract with an agency which has to be approved by the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. (For details see Placement Contract) The students have to spend at least 100 working days in the agency, excluding vacations or absence due to illness. We recommend a placement contract which agrees upon a period of 24 to 26 weeks to allow sufficient time for recreational leave or possible illness. (For details see Placement Contract) After a period of orientation in the agency and in the field of work, students are expected to develop a personal learning contract in co-operation with the placement supervisor. This learning contract becomes part of the placement contract and must be signed by the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. The learning contract is intended to serve as a guideline for the final evaluation report, which is written by the student. General learning objectives for the placement During the placement students are intended to enhance their professional qualifications which are essential for a flexible labour market and in accordance with the general aims of the degree program. The student should: observe, learn and reflect on professional practice and relate it to the relevant theory, gain experience relevant to their future professional role and integrate this experience into their personal development, become familiar with one or two target groups and their living environment and conditions in the field of the education and care of children, acquire working strategies and knowledge of their theoretical basis, and become acquainted with a field of work, team work and general working conditions, become acquainted with the scientifically-based development of theories concerning professional activity, get to know measures of quality development and evaluation in the field of work, and gain insight into administrative and leadership functions. Learning objectives for the degree program Development and Education in Childhood The student should: learn to analyse the needs and life-situations of children aged between 0 and 10, be able to connect to theory and to develop objectives for action in co-operation with involved parties, know about models in the field of child education and care and be able to evaluate these models within the existing institutional and financial constraints, learn to apply theoretical models in the field of education and care, identify personal strengths and weaknesses related to their professional activity and work on them in order to develop a personal profile of competences, understand political decision making, principles, responsibilities and administrative procedures and recognise their impact on the educational setting, work within legal regulations and adopt the goals of educational agencies and institutions, page 2 of 6 September 2015

3 understand the principles of financing and regulations set down in employment law, reflect on their professional role and professional codes of ethics and perceive the impact of their own personality on their professional activity. Students contact with the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences during the placement In general, students on placement attend a consultation seminar at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences on a regular basis. This seminar is designed to answer questions and discuss problems the students encounter while on placement. It is also intended to reinforce the theory learned by reflecting on practical experience. Participation is compulsory and a requirement to receive the course credits. Special conditions apply for students on placements abroad: for these students a preparation seminar is offered to develop a sound understanding of the international placement and to encourage intercultural learning. While on placement, the students have to report regularly on their learning progress. After having successfully completed the placement, students attend a final evaluation seminar to reflect on their work experience. If serious problems occur or changes to the agreements in the placement contract are made, either the student or the placement supervisor should contact the responsible person at the Internship Office of the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences to discuss further action. Placement Supervision During the practical period each student is supervised by a placement supervisor, who must have a professional qualification in the field of education/ childcare and has at least 2 years professional experience. The placement supervisor is usually a person involved in the everyday work of the agency. The time necessary for supervision will vary depending on the situation and on individual conditions of the supervision process during the different phases of the placement. The student and his/her placement supervisor will arrange the terms of the regular supervision. The Esslingen University of Applied Sciences expects that supervision time will be at least 2 hours weekly. Placement contract A placement contract must be signed both by the agency/institution offering the training and by the student. This contract sets down the rights and duties of both parties. Since the placements are an integral part of the degree program, students must maintain their student status at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences at all times. This means that the placement contract does not establish an employer-employee relationship. In general, the contract should be completed before the placement starts and must be sent to the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences for approval. The following information must be included in the contract: start and end dates of the placement objectives and tasks of the agency working assignments for the student name and qualification of the placement supervisor additional agreements At the end of the placement the agency/institution confirms that the student has spent at least 100 working days at the agency/institution. Learning contract According to the Study and Examination Regulations of the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences the student enters a learning contract in co-operation with the placement supervisor within the first weeks of the placement. Learning objectives, personal aims and a plan how these can be attained during the placement have to be stated in written form. This contract, signed by supervisor and student, must be sent page 3 of 6 September 2015

4 to the intership office at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences within 6 weeks after the beginning of the placement. The learning contract is intended to function as a set of personal guidelines throughout the placement for both parties. After being approved by the lecturer in charge of the students on placements abroad, both the student and the placement supervisor receive a copy. Evaluation /assessment of the placement At the end of the placement, the student and the placement supervisor evaluate the placement. Finally, the student has to write an evaluation report. The report serves two main functions: 1. It is an additional opportunity for the student to reflect on his/her practical work and to evaluate the experience gathered in the agency. The report represents a kind of self assessment and should help to develop the skill of estimating individual strengths and weaknesses as a professional. 2. In regard to the recognition of the placement by the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences the report is an important source of feedback. It represents an assessment of the work, skills and deficiencies demonstrated by the student while on placement. Students are expected to write the report preferably while on placement. The report should highlight which goals for the training were achieved and serves as a systematic reflection of the individual learning process. It has to meet the requirements for academic papers and should not contain more than 25 pages. The institution is not obliged to provide a testimonial for the recognition of the placement. However it is recommended to issue a testimonial or reference which students can use for future job applications. Your contact at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences: Karin Waibel Hochschule Esslingen- University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Social Work, Health Care and Nursing Sciences Flandernstr Esslingen Karin.waibel@hs-esslingen.de Tel. +49 (0) Fax +49 (0) Study Area III: Early Childhood Education: Work with Individuals and Groups Module Credits: Elective or Semester: Summer semester number: 30 Compulsory 4 Winter semester 401 Module title: Practical Study Semester with Parallel Taught Courses Overall aims and significance of the module as it relates to the professional qualification: The students are able to analyse problems which arise in the field; purposefully plan and appropriately carry out professional practice, and reflect on their practice with respect to its effects on the development of persons, groups and social environments. They can give theoretical reasons for their practice and, at the same time, reflect on it as part of their own personal development. page 4 of 6 September 2015

5 Related disciplines: All the disciplines involved in the Bachelor s degree programme Contents: See appendix Competences: After successful completion of the module, the students should have the following competences and skills: Professional competences: - Understanding and reflecting on the consequences of political decisions, guidelines, responsibilities and administrative procedures and their significance for educational practice - Knowledge of the relevant legal background, financial questions and labour law - Knowledge of the agency s objectives and regulations and ability to plan professional practice accordingly - Ability to develop new questions for theory, based on practical experience - Ability to plan and design practical, holistic educational processes which take into account educational and special educational needs and approaches Methodological competences: - Analysis of the needs and situations of children and adults and recognising connections to one s own theoretical knowledge - Ability to develop practice goals in cooperation with the agency s service users - Knowledge of concepts and models to solve problems and attain objectives within given institutional and financial frameworks and the ability to implement them according to the situation - Knowledge of social, school and special needs educational concepts and work methods and the ability to implement them within given institutional settings - Planning and design of spaces to facilitate development and evaluation of given architectural structures and their influence on one s work Social competences: - Productive, cooperative teamwork at the place of work - Planning and design of professional activities which take into account the demands of the working day and the problems and needs of clients Personal competences: - Being able to make decisions to further one s own personal competences profile - Perception and reflection on one s own professional role and values, and the influence of one s own person on one s practice Types of Learning: These competences are acquired through the following methods and activities: - Acquisition of knowledge according to the situation and reflection in the theory-topractice seminar - In supervision in the practical placement: possibilities to obtain information include familiarisation with the field of work, job-shadowing, taking on appropriate tasks in the field of work Examination: The examination comprises a training plan and writing an evaluation report or a portfolio. page 5 of 6 September 2015

6 The examination requirements are to provide: a) certification of participation in the theory-to-practice seminar b) certification of work in the practical placement agency, including the beginning and end of the period of work, absences, type and content of work. In the case of a practical semester abroad, the examination requirements may be substituted by a comparable arrangement by agreement. Total workload per semester: 750 hrs including contact time: 3 hrs per week = 45 hrs Type of course: Seminar/practical Degree program to which this applies: BBE Open to: Responsible member of staff: see current catalogue of lectures and courses page 6 of 6 September 2015