Chaplain in University of Applied Sciences

The church employs about fifty full-time workers at universities of applied sciences and other educational establishments all over Finland. Most of them are chaplains trained in pastoral care, education, education policy and spiritual questions.

The chaplains at universities of applied sciences and other education environments mainly deal with issues related to the well-being of students. A well-being student usually graduates in due time. The needs of the students and the expertise of the chaplains vary. The chaplains may have other fields of responsibility in vocational education and sometimes they serve as a link to other operators of the church. The staff in universities of applied sciences is also most welcome to contact the chaplain. The chaplain is available, a shoulder to lean on, not a character from virtual life.

Well-being of Students at Focus

The chaplains in educational environments regard the well-being of students as central. The well-being of students is a sum of many factors. These factors include challenges in studies and work, personal history, family relations, health, hobbies, living conditions, economic situation and future prospects. The prerequisites of well-being can be improved beforehand or mended after catastrophes and crises. This is where parishes and their workers are needed.

In crises chaplains usually offer students pastoral care. Workers and students engage in strictly personal and confidential discussions. Sometimes these discussions are in no way related to work or studies. It is important to share and to give words to such things that hamper concentrating on work and studies. Things revealed in such discussions are confessional secrets. The confessional secret is among the most protected secrets by jurisdiction.

Some universities of applied sciences have a team for the well-being of students. These multiprofessional teams strive to support the social, mental and physical well-being of the students. Many chaplains in higher education belong to such teams.

There are crisis teams for acute crises. At universities of applied sciences death of a student is the most common acute crisis. Other mishaps may happen. A student can disappear, become a victim of a crime or be charged with one. Death is a serious blow, especially for those students closest to the deceased. Young adults need to process such a blow in a safe environment. That helps them to return to everyday life and proceed with their studies. A university chaplain is a qualified asset for crisis work at universities of applied sciences. The chaplain can be responsible for the development of crisis work and the training of crisis teams.

The help provided by the church for the well-being of students includes more than just pastoral care. Parish workers can contribute to the planning of such events and concerts that help to meet the goals of the curriculum and help to cheer up the study year. These events can be organised at the facilities of the university, at the local church or at the parish’s camp centers. They can be associated with creating team spirit among students or with other themes, such as international solidarity. A dark winter day can be enlivened, for example with a concert at the university’s restaurant, dealing with relationship issues and financed by the local parish.

The well-being support systems at universities of applied sciences are still being developed. New students are more and more heterogenic. Meanwhile universities are required to develop their education and to meet ever higher goals and requirements. Universities are rapidly becoming more international which enriches their environment. However, this also sets more pressure on both teaching and student support. The health care system and support for well-being at universities of applied sciences are still under construction. There are huge differences in quality and quantity both within and between municipalities. Most university chaplains work in close co-operation with student health care. Therefore developing these services is a concern for the church’s work among students. The resources of the church are also limited and unevenly spread.

Ethical Professionalism

High-flown theories, technical requirements and hand skills aren’t sufficent to guarantee high-quality professionalism. Working life puts more and more emphasis on social skills, professional ethics and ability to work in a pluralistic environment. Managing professional ethics is therefore an essential part of professionalism. It enables students to acquire a healthy and developable professional identity. Universities have a basic responsibility to help their students to develop this identity. Ethical questions can come up at several points throughout studies. The church’s employee at university can be invited as a visitor to lectures on ethics. The employees can give several lectures on topics involving ethics. They must use their own expertise, usually dealing with ethical issues within technology, economics, health care and social work. Universities are encouraged to consult university chaplains regarding planning studies when knowledge of Christian tradition and church matters is needed. With regard to regional planning chaplains serve as a natural link between universities and local parishes.

Issues dealing with professional ethics should not be dealt with merely formally. Discussions in university cafes and aisles are an indispensable part of professional growth for students and professors alike. University chaplains are used to moving among people. Ethical questions are pondered in university corridors, break facilities, cafes, restaurants and libraries.

Dealing with Fundamental Questions

People occasionally long to get in touch with the very basis of life, real or imaginary, what they believe in. They crave rites and organised opportunities to ponder the fundamental questions of life. Some universities of applied sciences organise Christmas or Easter devotionals or graduation masses in co-operation with chaplains. In some places there are student evenings or even retreats of silence financed by the church.

Students in universities of applied sciences are in the age of partying, partner seeking, beginning and breaking relationships. Sometimes these relationships become firm. Students move together, start up a family, get children. A university chaplain is available to share these happy events. They can also lead to long sleepless nights and bitter tears. University chaplains can babtise, wed or to tell about family counseling opportunities. Sometimes young adults receive an uninvited guest, namely grief. In such cases chaplains offer them company to chapel and cemetery.

Fundamental questions don’t need special events to come to mind and they need not be separated from everyday life. Finnish spirituality is sometimes characterised by fear of intrusion to private and sacred. Finns are afraid of proselytising. This fear may be founded or unfounded. Most people in universities are full members of the church. Therefore chaplains must not seek converts. The church can only support spiritual growth. Dialogue is a central method. University chaplains are ready to engage in dialogue regarding questions of Christian growth, life philosophies and spiritual experiences. They are used to overcoming barriers between denominations and faiths.

Camillo at School

The work of university chaplains has many common traits with the work of Father Camillo. Camillo would solve problems in unusual ways sometimes considered improper. But he was present where he was needed most. University chaplains work where student and staff are, at the facilities of the university. Obviously student and staff sometimes drop by at the parishes for meetings and conversations. Chaplains meet them at their homes as well. Church follows the strategy of presence.

Presence entails dialogue, hearing and being heard. As outsiders chaplains can enhance discussions and processes. For example, they can ask the unasked questions.

Above all dialogue contributes to professional growth. In addition to technical and factual learning, theory and ethics, professional growth is supported by a well-balanced living in every field. Church workers have many ways to support it. Church workers at universities of applied sciences serve every student and staff member, not just members of the church.

University chaplains have a full official responsibility. They must therefore fill certain criteria and do their work in a just and unbiased way.

At universities of applied sciences all the people are stakeholders and co-operators for chaplains. These include students, teachers, health care people, student advisers, curators (if hired), headmasters and all co-educators. Many chaplains strive to keep the church visible in the everyday life of its members. People expect them to do so. Because of the large number of co-operators a lot of their work is invisible. Some chaplains effectively work in the net. Results show first and foremost on an individual level, only later more generally. Best results are achieved in close co-operation with university workers responsible for the education and the well-being of students.

Into a Stable Relationship

The relationship between the church and the universities of applied sciences includes more than just visits by university chaplains. Chaplains just maintain the relationship on an official level. A working relationship is based on true needs. A good relationship requires work and effort. That applies for parishes and universities as organisations. The churc is expected to provide a qualified and diligent employee. Such an employee is a useful, flexible and free asset for universities. For chaplains universities provide a work field that is interesting, important and challenging.

Universities of applied sciences and their student unions are advised to take the initiative in those places where the ties between church and university haven’t been established. The parish would be likely to respond to such an initiative. It is desirable that the ties become sufficiently firm. Luckily in many places they already are. People stream through universities. Sometimes the shoulder to lean on can change in the church. A good relationship is a steady relatiopnship. Then small changes don’t matter.

Jukka-Mikko Karjalainen
university chaplain
Parish Federation of Vantaa