SORA legislation
New legislation was enacted in January 2012 concerning factors preventing admission to education, the revocation and restoration of the right to study, drug testing and disciplinary actions.
In Finnish, the acronym SORA refers to this legislation.
The purpose of these amendments is to increase the range of measures available to education providers and higher education institutions in matters regarding the unsuitability and security of students.
The focus of the amendments is on improving the safety of patients and customers, traffic, minors, study and work communities as well as the legal protection of an individual student.
New legislation concerning students of Universities of Applied Sciences includes:
- Act amending the Polytechnics Act 953/2011
- Act amending section 6 of the Criminal Records Act 955/2011
- Act on Students’ Legal Rights Protection Committee 956/2011
Diak will proceed as required under the new legislation if the circumstances give cause to do so.
1. A student’s right to study may be revoked for the following reasons:
- unsuitability for studies in the field
- the student’s health or functional capacity does not fulfil the conditions for admission
- concealment of a previous revocation of the right to study
- the studies essentially entail working with minors and the student has an entry in his/her criminal record concerning the age group.
2. Disciplinary actions in the case of a student disturbing class or acting in a violent, threatening or deceitful manner include:
- a written warning
- a denial of participation in instruction
- suspension from the University of Applied Sciences.
3. Problematic drug abuse and problematic abuse of intoxicants/medicines will prevent a student from studying at Diak.
Diak may require a student to present a drug test certificate in situations specified under Act 953/2011.
A refusal to present the certificate or a positive test result may lead to disciplinary action.
4. The student is required to provide an extract of his/her criminal record for the practical training position provider upon request if the practical training essentially entails working with minors.
The extract should be obtained if the practical training position provider requires one. The extract must be delivered to the training provider before the practical training starts.
The SORA legislation specifies situations and justifications. Diak has produced detailed process descriptions for those situations for our school.
Study guidance counsellors will provide more information when needed.