We also wish to give special attention to the network perspective. Good relationships are a prerequisite for good quality of life and can prevent the development of psychological problems. Networks, at the level of both the individual and the community, will thus be a recurrent theme in all three years of the programme. Building up networks can, for example, involve the establishment of activity groups. Knowledge of and work with activities and hobbies will therefore also be a recurring theme in the training.

Structure of the programme

During the first two study years the main focus is on issues at micro level, while the third year concentrates on the macro level of the work of the social educator. The three study years thus have a somewhat different focus. The first year studies are based on the performance of the work of the social educator with main emphasis on issues related to health. The second year has the main emphasis on wellbeing, development and learning, and the third year has the social perspective in focus.  Based on this, the programme is divided into three themes which are repeated in each of the three study years:

* Theme 1: Ideology, relationships and reflection in the work of the social educator

* Theme 2: Illness, disability and health in the perspectives of care, change and development

* Theme 3: Frame conditions for the work of the social educator in an organizational and social perspective

The goals for the different subject areas are divided into knowledge goal, skills goal and attitude goal.

* The knowledge goal covers goals concerned with thinking, language and knowledge, understanding and problem-solving. Knowledge describes the comprehension and experience each student acquires, ranging from concrete facts to independent discussions and assessments.

* The attitude goal refers to attitudes, interests, values and valuation. ”Attitude” is understood to mean the inherent tendency a person has to react in certain ways emotionally and on reflection on encountering new thoughts, persons and conditions/situations. An attitude is the name of a group of impressions which are aroused in such encounters and which form the basis for choice of action.

* The skills goal is related to concrete proficiency, also referred to as the capacity to take action. The skills aim covers thinking, language and behaviour.

The training of the social educator gives 60 credits (180 ECTS). The frame plan states that 24 credits (72 ECTS) must be linked to practice, skills training and the further study. The training programme takes credits from all the main themes in the course of education for this. The allocation of credits to practice, skills training and further study are illustrated in the table on page 24. All courses of education related to health and social work have ten credits