# Master’s Competencies: Supportive Tools or Obstacles in Studies?

> As Master’s level programmes follow national competency recommendations, graduates are more competent upon graduation.

## Overview of Master’s Level Competencies
The goal of Master’s level (in Finnish *ylempi ammattikorkeakoulututkinto*, YAMK) education is to strengthen students’ competence to meet nationally agreed-upon requirements. According to Arene (2022), these recommendations define the common competencies that Master’s level graduates should achieve through their degrees or competence modules.

At Savonia University of Applied Sciences, the Master School Team is currently focusing on quality improvement, specifically examining the fulfillment of competencies in multidisciplinary elective studies. Internal reviews suggest that areas such as sustainable development, internationalization, and multiculturalism require further integration into course objectives, implementation plans, and learning materials.

## Academic Skills and Scientific Writing
Beyond field-specific requirements, mastering academic skills—such as research information retrieval, critical evaluation, and proper source citation—is essential. These requirements are tied to the level seven (7) competency standards of the Master’s degree. Students are expected to:
* Use research-based knowledge to justify information.
* Contextualize learning tasks and theses with national and international research.
* Practice source criticism by selecting high-quality research information suitable for their field.

## Core Competency Requirements
According to Arene (2022), Master’s graduates should:
* Possess comprehensive and specialized expertise relevant to their field, including concepts, methods, and knowledge used as the foundation for independent thinking and/or research.
* Understand questions related to information at the interfaces of their own and other fields and critically examine new information.
* Work independently in demanding expert roles within their field and engage in international collaboration or entrepreneurial activities.

## Internationalization and Multicultural Competence
A key competency involves the ability to "develop and lead multicultural and international operational environments and networks." This includes:
* Communicating and interacting in a second domestic language.
* Engaging in demanding international communication within their field using at least one foreign language.

Savonia Master School encourages students to utilize English-language source materials to strengthen their cultural knowledge and prepare for increasingly international workplaces. While international student exchange programs are one path to this, the school is actively integrating English-language content into courses to ensure all students can develop these essential skills.

## Conclusion
Common Master’s level competencies are designed to ensure and enhance the quality of education rather than to hinder learning. By adhering to these standards, the institution increases the readiness of graduating students for the modern job market.

## Writers
* **Elisa Snicker**, MSc (Econ and Bus Admin), MSc (Health Sci.), Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School, Member of Quality Group of Master School
* **Minna Hoffrén**, PhD, Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School, Member of Quality Group of Master School
* **Pirjo Turunen**, Licentiate in Social Sciences, Principal Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School, Member of Quality Group of Master School
* **Ulla Pekkarinen**, MSc, Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School, Member of Quality Group of Master School
* **Liisa Klemola**, PhD, Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Unit of Continuous Learning, Master School, Organiser of Quality Group of Master School

## Reference
Arene 2022. [Recommendation on the shared competences of universities of applied sciences and their application 2022.](https://www.arene.fi/wp-content/uploads/Raportit/2022/Kompetenssit/RECOMMENDATION%20ON%20THE%20SHARED%20COMPETENCES%20OF%20UNIVERSITIES%20OF%20APPLIED%20SCIENCES%20AND%20THEIR%20APPLICATION.pdf?_t=164253955)