Our world is changing rapidly, and the same is true for labour markets. No one can know what the world of work will be like in 10 years, or what kind of competence is needed. When training professionals for tomorrow’s labour markets, one needs to keep up with the times and, preferably, stay one step ahead.
- Text Nina Venhe | Photos Raija, Törrönen, Varpu Heiskanen and Mostphotos
The University of Eastern Finland is strongly committed to ensuring that its education stays relevant also in the future.
“Anticipating future labour market needs is a natural part of academic research-based education. Our job is to design education that generates competence and provides our graduates with tools to thrive in changing labour markets and settings,” Academic Rector Tapio Määttä says.
According to him, both students and teachers at the University of Eastern Finland are encouraged to design new kinds of competence modules and to be open-minded about experimenting with new things.
“Our freely available minor subjects, which is something unique in the Finnish university sector, makes it possible to build personalised study paths. Unusual and brave combinations of competence are a safe bet when preparing for future labour markets and their currently unknown demands.”
Unusual and brave combinations of competence are a safe bet when preparing for future labour markets.
Tapio Määttä
Academic Rector
Change calls for continuous collaboration
“The IT sector is changing more rapidly than ever before. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about new kind of digitalisation, which forces us to think about new ways of doing things,” Professor Markku Hauta-Kasari, Head of the School of Computing, says.
It is estimated that COVID-19 won’t be the only crisis that will change the word and labour markets with it in the future. This is why education in the IT sector in particular needs to pay close attention to companies and their R&D needs in changing situations.
“This allows us to keep our students updated about what kind of competence will be needed.”
The School of Computing is continuously running several research projects that generate insight from the industry. This information is then further refined in the form of academic theses and scientific articles.
“We also organise training sessions and seminars where our students have the opportunity to meet representatives from companies and to hear about practical work in the IT and digital sector. Students also learn about what kinds of tools they should master.”
Teachers guide students into the world of work
Newly graduated teachers also play a key role in our changing world. In order for schools to be able to give their pupils and students guidance relating to changing labour markets, students in teacher education are taught about these themes already during their studies.
“Schools are becoming more and more involved with the surrounding society, and this is why our curriculum focuses not only on schools, but also on other organisations.”
Future teachers are trained to promote the learning of their pupils and students by, for example, using modern digital platforms. Collaboration, sustainable development and multiculturalism are also strongly present in teacher education at the University of Eastern Finland.
“Our students will adopt a model of collaborative working through co-teaching delivered by teachers from different fields. Students in teacher education also do some of their studies in mixed groups, and they collaborate during their teaching practice,” Professor Tuula Keinonen, Head of the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, explains.
Students are also encouraged to participate in different projects that seek to find solutions to real-life pedagogical issues.
Work becomes detached from time and place
In business studies, the fact that work is becoming detached from time and place is being addressed through online pedagogy.
“Our education fosters lifelong learning skills. We use teaching methods that develop students’ self-leadership and teamwork skills by preferring collaboration,” University Lecturer Sari-Johanna Karhapää says.
As the platform economy and the sharing economy are making work more and more independent, entrepreneurship is emerging as a key working life skill.
“This is why we welcome our alumni and representatives from companies as visiting lecturers to share their latest business insights. Our students also do company visits.”
The Business School's close collaboration with companies is also reflected on course contents.
“Our students can do projects where they create a marketing plan for a company or help a company to introduce its products to new markets. Companies are also a source of thesis topics.”
Multi-professionalism and multidisciplinarity are on the rise
Professionals with cross-disciplinary expertise are in high demand in today’s labour markets. At the university of Eastern Finland, the benefits of multidisciplinarity have been acknowledged already for a long time. A good example of this is the university’s multidisciplinary simulation for a large group of learners, which was recognised with the Excellent Teaching Practice Award in 2019.
“The goal of this method is to deliver student-centred, working life oriented and interdisciplinary education without forgetting digitalisation, either,” Professor of Health Pedagogy Terhi Saaranen from the Department of Nursing Science explains.
The group organising the simulation included teachers from nursing science, pharmacy, medicine and social sciences, as well as from Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Karelia University of Applied Sciences and Kuopio University Hospital.
“Simulation-based education is based on simulations using drama and acting. Students don’t participate in simulations themselves; instead, simulations are executed by actors and professionals from different fields.”
The simulations have focused on dealing with the death of a child and on home care for the elderly, for example. After following a simulation, students analyse the role and agency of each professional.
The method has been developed annually through a research-based approach.
“This kind of teaching fosters mutual respect between different groups of professionals, as well as customer orientation. It also helps to understand different stages of the care process and the role of each participant in it. This gives students a concrete example of what their future multi-professional collaboration can look like.”
