Suitability Assessment

Per section 4–10 of the Universities and University Colleges Act, a suitability assessment is carried out for students in the PPU Practical Teacher Training programme (including students in the Bachelor of Music in Music Education programme) and the Master of Music Therapy programme.

The suitability assessment is a general assessment of a student’s personal and professional suitability to function in the profession of a music teacher. The purpose is to ensure that students, clients and others encounter employees who are suited to the profession.

A student posing a potential danger to the life, physical and mental health, rights and safety of pupils or clients will not be regarded as suitable for the profession. This applies, among other things, to the student’s ability and desire to have consideration for others, to lead the learning process and create a productive learning environment, to take responsibility as a role model, to show self-knowledge in connection with the tasks the programme involves, or to change unacceptable behaviour by counselling.

An ongoing suitability assessment of each student is carried out continuously throughout the course, in both theoretical and practical parts of the programme. This entails that teachers, practical training supervisors, counsellors and others who are involved with the student in the educational situation have a responsibility to keep apprised and to carry out ongoing assessments.

A special suitability assessment begins when a notification of doubt is submitted and is processed by the institutional authority who is responsible for suitability assessments. The reason for the notification is given, and the notification is submitted on a specific form directly to the responsible institutional authority.

The person submitting the notification is not permitted to remain anonymous, but will not be a party to the case.

Anyone may submit a notification of doubt, such as academic staff including teaching practice supervisors and subject teachers, or fellow students and administrative staff.

The person submitting the notification will be informed that it has been received. If more information is needed, the responsible institutional authority will contact the person who submitted the notification.