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Helsinki School for Natural Sciences' contributions to the Erasmus Quality standards
Inclusion and Diversity
Osallisuus ja moninaisuus
Inclusion and Diversity
Osallisuus ja moninaisuus
The Erasmus+ program aims to remove barriers that different target groups may face in the process of internationalization. Barriers may include: disability, health issues, barriers related to education systems, cultural differences, social barriers, economic barriers, discrimination-related barriers, geographical barriers.
The new school building, inaugurated in the fall of 2023, offers fully accessible facilities, ensuring barrier-free access for all students.
Our school is home to students from a wide variety of backgrounds, with many speaking a language other than Finnish at home. The school's mission is to treat everyone equally while respecting and acknowledging each student's unique background. For example, we celebrate an annual Cultural Day, where the diverse cultures of all students are honored and celebrated together as a school community.
At Helsinki School of Natural Sciences, any form of bullying, harassment, discrimination, or violence is not acceptable in learning environments, school corridors, social media, or any other activities. The rules aim to guarantee a safe and comfortable working environment for every member of the school community, allowing them to focus on their studies.
In school and other learning environments, students are expected to behave appropriately, adhere to good manners, and treat everyone with respect. The rules apply to all situations related to school activities, both on school premises and elsewhere, such as study trips and school camps.
Everyone is responsible for maintaining a safe, orderly, and clean learning and working environment. All forms of physical and psychological violence, bullying, and harassment are strictly prohibited.
Services Supporting Student Well-Being
Student welfare promotes learning and well-being through various means. The student welfare staff work in cooperation with the school's personnel and different networks. The primary focus of student welfare is on preventive work.
Community-based student welfare involves everyone working and studying in the educational institution. Individual student welfare services are provided by psychologists, counselors, nurses, doctors, as well as mental health and substance abuse nurses.
The multidisciplinary student welfare network offers support for learning, helps with everyday challenges, and addresses health concerns. Student welfare also provides help for anxiety and emotional distress.
Physical Activity Coaches
Physical activity coaches work in schools as part of community-based student welfare and in collaboration with the school staff.
The goal of the coaches is to support students' well-being, sense of community, physical activity, and study capacity.
The coaches organize group activities, community events, and individual physical activity guidance for both students and staff. Everyone can participate, regardless of skill level or previous physical activity experience. All activities are free of charge.
Environmental Responsibility
Environmental Responsibility
Ympäristövastuullisuus
Ympäristövastuullisuus
The Erasmus+ program promotes selecting low-emission travel options and making environmentally responsible choices in all activities. It actively supports the sharing and development of knowledge and skills related to climate and environmental issues. While green travel can be challenging for Finland due to its geographical location, which often necessitates the use of ferries or planes, most students regularly use public transport to commute to school. During group mobilities and when hosting individual exchange students, we always prioritize public transportation for travel between host families and school, as well as for visiting cultural sites.
Helsinki School of Natural Sciences has been awarded the international Eco-Schools award: the Green Flag certificate. Eco-Schools is the world's largest sustainable schools programme. Eco-Schools encourages young people to take an active role in creating positive environmental changes and enhancing their awareness by following a straightforward seven-step process. This program involves the entire school community, blending education with practical activities. It not only helps improve the school’s surroundings but also inspires students to actively participate in addressing environmental issues, allowing them to see real, measurable outcomes for their efforts. By doing so, they work toward keeping the Green Flag certification.
The school has an active Green Flag club consisting of students and supported by a teacher that meets regularly to plan, organize, and implement various initiatives.
Digitalization
Digitaalisuus
Digitalization
Digitaalisuus
In international cooperation, the opportunities brought by digitalization are being utilizedas much as possible. In KA1 mobility, blended learning further enhances physical mobility and time spent abroad.
The City of Helsinki works hard to ensure the development of digital skills, enhancing the digital competencies of teachers and staff, promoting digital literacy, providing quality learning content, ensuring user-friendly tools, and creating secure digital platforms. The goal is to involve all learners, teachers, trainers, youth workers, and young people in the digital transformation.
All students are provided with a laptop, including visiting individual exchange students, should they need one, and all learning materials are available online. Good digital practices are shared among students within our organization as well as with local and other European institutions.
At Helsinki School of Natural Sciences, each student mobility, whether it be a group mobility or an individual mobility, is preceded by online discussions between students, either via eTwinning or other forms of online communication. Our mobilities, both for students and teachers, aim to strengthen European cooperation in digital education, increase critical understanding of the opportunities offered by digital technology, and promote active citizenship.
Active Citizenship
Aktiivinen kansalaisuus
Active Citizenship
Aktiivinen kansalaisuus
The Helsinki School of Natural Sciences has set a goal for the academic year 2024-2025 to foster a participatory learning culture.
The goal is to promote students' participation and active role in the learning process as well as in society in general, and to strengthen students' participation and abilities to act as active citizens at both local and global levels.
The development of global citizenship and global education are part of a broader effort to prepare students to operate in a global society and understand the diverse world. Through these concepts, students learn to appreciate different cultures and perspectives and to take responsibility for global challenges.
Furthermore, civic education teaches students democratic values such as participation, responsibility, and fairness. It encourages students to participate in democratic decision-making processes both within the school and in society at large.
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