Art-Based Wellbeing is a Blended Intensice Programme (BIP) organised in Diak. It is meant for students and staff or partner higher education institutions (HEIs) as well as Diak’s students.
Description of the course
Consuming art reduces psychological stress and increases resilience. With this BIP you will take it one step further and apply art-based learning. Improve your own positive health and resilience by using creative processes and arts. Learn how to implement this in your daily work to improve the positive health and resilience of yourself and others. Students can investigate together with other students, whether a creatively stimulating approach has an impact on health and resilience.
The programme is offered jointly by Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Karel de Grote Hogeschool (BE), Pontifical University of Salamanca (ES), Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (NL) and University of Malawi (MW).
Programme content
Topics
- Creativity as part of professional identity
- How people can support their own resilience through art
- Different methods of creativity and art
- Creativity and art as part of multi-professional collaboration
- Applying creative, art-based and action-based methods in different communities
- Social action
After completing this course, the student is able to
- Recognise their personal creativity and assets as part of their well-being and professional identity through creative processes and art
- Utilise their personal creativity and resources in social work, healthcare, and community work
- Understand the goals and approaches of creative, artistic, and activity-based methods
- Support people’s social activities
- Consider current societal issues and the impact of art on them
Learning Methods
Collaborative online teamwork with lecturers and 1-week intensive programme in Finland.
Credits
5 ECTS
Target Group
Suitable for Bachelor students
Eligibility
B2 English language level
Schedule in Spring 2026
Closing seminar 27.5.2026
Kick-off Workshop in ZOOM 1.4.2026
Teamwork in Howspace
Intensive Week in Helsinki, Finland 4.–8.5.2026
Information for students & staff of partner institutions
Student registration
Partners will nominate their student participants by 3 February 2026. Please contact your international office for information about the application and selection.
The selected students from partner institutions will register for the BIP by completing the online registration form by 13 February 2026.
Intensive week in Helsinki
Schedule
4 May – 8 May 2026 at 9:00-16:00. The detailed programme will be available on Howspace learning platform.
Travel arrangements
When making the travel arrangements, please make sure to arrive in Helsinki by 3 May and leave on Saturday 9 May. The programme will start on Monday morning at 9:00 and finish on Friday afternoon at 16:00.
Campus location
Kyläsaarenkuja 2, FI-00580 Helsinki, Finland
Read more about the campus
Public Transportation
We recommend downloading the HSL app to buy tickets and find the routes. This app can be used also for the train from the airport to the city centre. Alternatively, you can buy day tickets (for 1-7 days) e.g. from R-kiosk. Price examples: one-way-ticket 3,30€ and 5-day-ticket 31,80€.
Helsinki Journey Planner is a practical tool for finding public transportation routes and schedules.
From Helsinki central railway station, the bus number 55 (departs from platform 3) stops in front of the campus building (stop Haukilahdenkatu). The journey takes 15 minutes.
Lunch
Daily lunch is available at 11-13. The price for a warm meal is 1,49€/students and 5,68 €/staff.
Click here to check the menu!
Other activities
Field visits to be confirmed. Participation in these activities is voluntary.
Accommodation
Participants will take care of their own housing arrangements. Diak’s international office will send the instructions to the participants after registration.
Recommended options are Hotel Arthur, Diana Park Hostel, Cheap Sleep Hostel, The Yard and Omena Hotel. The price is 30€-50€ per person per night depending on the shared room.
Funding
For staff and students from partner institutions, participation is supported by the Erasmus+ Mobility grant.
Certificate
Diak will issue a Transcript of Records in English for all participants who have successfully completed the programme.
Information for Diak students
Intensive week in Helsinki
Schedule
4 May – 8 May 2026 at 9:00-16:00. The detailed programme will be available on Howspace learning platform.
Student registration
Diak students register on MyDiak.
- Module information: ABWMK26HKI Art-based Wellbeing (5op)
Certificate
Diak will issue a Transcript of Records in English for all participants who have successfully completed the programme.
Contact us!
If you have any questions, we are happy to help! Contact us primarily through our service address: international.office@diak.fi.
