SAMK, or Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, is even more committed than ever to ensuring that its students have the personal resources required for studying. SAMK has seized the opportunity to join the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) well-being campaign: on 13 August, it rewarded a group of its students for their exceptional promotion of community spirit and study motivation – both pillars of student well-being.
“This group of Logistics students is exceptional. They all care about and look after one another. They’re also committed to attending lectures and related events and are making rapid progress in their studies”, says SAMK lecturer Elviira Tuomi.
“Students who are part of higher education networks find studying more meaningful, which helps increase their level of commitment. Being committed and motivated, on the other hand, helps promote faster study progress”, says Jonna Kekäläinen, FSHS Specialist in Study Community Work.
Supporting student well-being is included as one of the priorities in the SAMK strategy. In line with this, SAMK has joined the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) campaign “For Better Study Abilities”. Every year SAMK will highlight actions that promote well-being and help students with their ability to study. Such actions, taken by students or staff, might relate to aspects such as teaching, study environment, students’ personal resources or study skills.
More support needed for well-being
In its work to promote health, the FSHS has seen that students approaching adulthood now need more concrete guidance with factors that affect their well-being as students.
“Being able to manage the different aspects of daily life and understanding and giving priority to the factors that influence their well-being is not a given with higher education students. Students now need more support with managing things like social situations, sufficient exercise, and internet use”, says Kekäläinen.
Ability to study now, ability to work tomorrow
The “For Better Study Abilities” campaign is based on the FSHS’s ability to study model. The FSHS is challenging all higher education institutions to join the campaign, which is aimed at increasing awareness among higher education students and staff about the importance of the ability to study as well as the factors influencing it – concrete factors such as sleep, nutrition, daily planning and social relationships.
“Ability to study now means ability to work tomorrow. Only if our students, once graduated in their respective fields, are able to join the workforce with the ability to cope with working life can we ensure that Finland will continue to have capable professionals in the future”, says Kekäläinen.
Further information for the media
Jonna Kekäläinen, Specialist in Study Community Work, FSHS jonna.kekalainen(at)yths.fi, tel. 041 730 8491
Maija Penttilä, Wellbeing Coordinator, SAMK, maija.penttila(at)samk.fi, tel. 044 710 3261
Further information about the “For Better Study Abilities” campaign