The programme includes a compulsory work placement worth 14 credits (equivalent to 350 hours), comprising both an in-house placement and an external placement.
The internal placement (2 ECTS credits – 50 hours) is designed to support and enhance the student’s educational journey through theoretical and practical activities organised by the Department, such as participation in scientific and cultural activities, thematic meetings, and sessions for supervision and reflection on the placement experience. These activities serve as preparation for the external placement. It may be undertaken from the first year onwards.
The external placement (12 ECTS credits – 300 hours) normally takes place from the third year onwards; it is usually carried out outside the University, in particular at nurseries and facilities providing educational activities for the 0–6 age group that have an agreement with the University itself. It consists of practical field experience, for guidance and training purposes, aimed at applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of study. The student is supervised by a tutor from within the University and an external tutor from the host organisation, and concludes the experience by writing a final internship report.
The objectives of the placement activities (internal and external) are:
- to guide students through a process of reflection on their motivations, expectations and choice of degree programme, in relation to their future career in early years education;
- to foster the development of skills in systematic observation, critical analysis and reflection on the relational and organisational dynamics that arise in educational contexts, with particular attention to relationships with children, families and the educational team;
- to promote an informed initial engagement with the tools, practices, routines and methodologies specific to educational work in early years services (0–3 years);
- develop knowledge and skills enabling students to navigate the network of public and private early childhood education services in the local area;
- deepen understanding of the role, functions and professional responsibilities of nursery educators, both in day-to-day educational work and in planning, documentation and collaborative processes;
- support processes of reflection and review of the placement experience;
- carry out all the actions specified by the degree programme in fulfilling the learning agreement and collaborate in monitoring and documentation processes.
By the end of the course, students will have:
- explored and clarified the reasons behind their choice of study programme and future career path;
- developed skills in observation, documentation and critical reflection on the educational experience within early years services;
- gained an understanding of the role and functions of nursery educators within early years education services (0–3 years);
- become familiar with key aspects of professional practice (observation and listening, educational planning, documentation, assessment, and active participation in the educational team);
- gained practical experience of the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of study, learning to integrate them with educational practices in real-world contexts;
- developed an initial capacity for critical reflection on professional experience, with a view to future employment in early years education services.
The internal placement (2 ECTS credits – 50 hours) is designed to support and enhance the student’s educational journey through theoretical and practical activities organised by the Department, such as participation in scientific and cultural activities, thematic meetings, and sessions for supervision and reflection on the placement experience. These activities serve as preparation for the external placement. It may be undertaken from the first year onwards.
The external placement (12 ECTS credits – 300 hours) normally takes place from the third year onwards; it is usually carried out outside the University, in particular at nurseries and facilities providing educational activities for the 0–6 age group that have an agreement with the University itself. It consists of practical field experience, for guidance and training purposes, aimed at applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of study. The student is supervised by a tutor from within the University and an external tutor from the host organisation, and concludes the experience by writing a final internship report.
The objectives of the placement activities (internal and external) are:
- to guide students through a process of reflection on their motivations, expectations and choice of degree programme, in relation to their future career in early years education;
- to foster the development of skills in systematic observation, critical analysis and reflection on the relational and organisational dynamics that arise in educational contexts, with particular attention to relationships with children, families and the educational team;
- to promote an informed initial engagement with the tools, practices, routines and methodologies specific to educational work in early years services (0–3 years);
- develop knowledge and skills enabling students to navigate the network of public and private early childhood education services in the local area;
- deepen understanding of the role, functions and professional responsibilities of nursery educators, both in day-to-day educational work and in planning, documentation and collaborative processes;
- support processes of reflection and review of the placement experience;
- carry out all the actions specified by the degree programme in fulfilling the learning agreement and collaborate in monitoring and documentation processes.
By the end of the course, students will have:
- explored and clarified the reasons behind their choice of study programme and future career path;
- developed skills in observation, documentation and critical reflection on the educational experience within early years services;
- gained an understanding of the role and functions of nursery educators within early years education services (0–3 years);
- become familiar with key aspects of professional practice (observation and listening, educational planning, documentation, assessment, and active participation in the educational team);
- gained practical experience of the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of study, learning to integrate them with educational practices in real-world contexts;
- developed an initial capacity for critical reflection on professional experience, with a view to future employment in early years education services.
Canali
