Study community work
Study community work is work carried out with the aim of promoting students’ health and ability to study. It concerns all students and benefits even those who don’t need appointment services.
Within the FSHS, study community work is actively carried out in collaboration with higher education institutions, students and third sector organisations. The work involves representatives from a number of different fields.
Key goals of study community work
Study community work is based on the Health Care Act. According to the legislation, study community work includes promoting and monitoring the health and safety aspects of the study environment in educational institutions and well-being in study communities.
The goals of study community work include:
- improving the physical, mental and social study environment by making it easier for students to make choices that benefit their health and ability to study
- increasing students’ knowledge and understanding of the factors that contribute to well-being and ability to study
- strengthening the ability of study communities to promote health, well-being and ability to study.
From the public health point of view, it is important in student healthcare to focus on preventive health services. Young adults make lifestyle choices that affect their lifelong well-being.
Health work teams in higher education institutions
The actual study community work is carried out by local health work teams. The teams are tasked with planning, implementing and monitoring local study community work. Members include representatives from the FSHS, the educational institution in question, student associations and possibly also other related parties.
The activities of the health work teams and the goals set are guided by shared knowledge and understanding. The FSHS hosts health work team meetings based on a joint action plan at least four times a year.
Study environment inspections
Study environment inspections are aimed at ensuring the physical, mental and social well-being of students in each higher education institution. The inspections provide higher education institutions with information about different ways in which they can improve and support well-being in their study communities.
Study environment inspections are required by law and are carried out at all higher education institutions every three years. In addition to FSHS representatives, representatives of the higher education institution and local student union, as well as a municipal health inspector also participate in inspections.
Students can get their voice heard via student well-being surveys which are carried out in conjunction with study environment inspections.
Events and campaigns
Study community work events are designed to offer support and guidance for students to help them maintain their health and ability to study.
The following nationwide events are held annually to promote health and ability to study:
- Oral health theme week (week 7)
- FSHS Day (week 12)
- Students’ Mental Health Week (in April)
- “Small Changes for Good Health” student well-being week (week 40)
- All of Finland brushes theme week (week 41)
- Study Ability Day (week 46)
In addition, the FSHS organises health-related information sessions on different topics. FSHS professionals also answer students’ questions in online webinars.
You might also meet our study community work professionals at local events or at events held at individual educational institutions.
Student health meetings
Student health meetings may be a good option if a student’s ability to study has become impaired due to health reasons. The purpose of student health meetings is to allow the student, the higher education institution and student healthcare to find ways to improve the student’s ability to study and to enable studying.