AGENCY, EXPERTISE AND WORKING LIFE SKILLS - STUDENTS’ CONCEPTIONS OF THE GENERIC COMPETENCES REQUIRED IN THE WORLD OF WORK

Authors

  • Sanna Brauer University of Oulu, Learning & Educational Technology Research Unit, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Professional Teacher Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-6600
  • Ilkka Ratinen University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0001-7977-062X
  • Kaisu Kumpulainen University of Jyväskylä, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Finland orcid.org/0000-0003-2663-5365
  • Outi Kyrö-Ämmälä University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-3171-6162
  • Leena Nikander HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences, HAMK Edu Research Unit, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-4754-6372
  • Ilkka Väänänen LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-5239

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v8i5.3710

Keywords:

competence-based orientation, employment, generic competence, working life skills, higher education

Abstract

Fundamental changes in working life highlight the demands on the co-operation between the educational sector and working life, that should contribute to students’ employability. In addition to discipline-specific expertise, the development of working life skills has received increasing attention when it comes to employment. Drawing on data from Finnish universities of applied sciences (n=5) and universities (n=3), this paper examines how students (n=380) value the generic competences needed in in the world of work. The study is based on European reforms of labour markets and educational structures. This paper adds to current discourses around employability by highlighting differences between students of universities and universities of applied sciences. The implications of this research suggest paying attention to the concepts of agency, expertise and working life skills as outlined in the integrative pedagogy model, as well as emphasising the requirement for soft skills and generic competences needed in working life.

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Author Biographies

  • Sanna Brauer, University of Oulu, Learning & Educational Technology Research Unit, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, School of Professional Teacher Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-6600
    Dr. Sanna Brauer’s doctoral dissertation from 2019 was the first in the world to address digital open badges and badge-driven learning. Her current research on motivation, desired competences and competence-based professional development is positioning future theoretical and practical development efforts in relation to the digital transformation in the world of work. The European Union and European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training has appointed her as external expert to provide opinions and advice on specific cases related to digital pedagogy. She’s highly networked and open to making new connections. Since 2011, Brauer has been working as a senior lecturer at the Oulu University of Applied Sciences in the School of Professional Teacher Education. The University of Oulu also employs her in the development of digital pedagogy for medical education in Finnish universities. During WORKPEDA project and this study, she was a member of Faculty of Education, Learning & Educational Technology Research Unit. She is involved in various projects as well as national and international networks aiming to develop digital open badges and digital open badge-driven learning. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-6600 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sannabrauer/
  • Ilkka Ratinen, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0001-7977-062X
    Dr. Ilkka Ratinen is an associate professor in sustainability and outdoor education at the University of Lapland. He graduated from the University of Joensuu with a Ph.D. in physical geography in 2005 and from the University of Jyväskylä with a Ph.D. in science education in 2016. He has partnered with three EU funded projects: “Science Teacher Education Advanced Methods” (S-TEAM), Including Responsible Research and innovation in Cutting Edge Science and Inquiry-based Science Education to Improve Teacher’s Ability in Bridging Learning Environments (IRRESISTIBLE) in FP7 and “Northern Environmental Education Development” (NEED) within the Northern Periphery Programme. His research has focused mainly on inquiry-based science teaching and learning, conceptualization in science, and systems thinking, including GIS pedagogy and sustainability education, especially climate and outdoor education. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7977-062X
  • Kaisu Kumpulainen, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Finland orcid.org/0000-0003-2663-5365
    Dr. Kaisu Kumpulainen works as a university teacher in the degree programme Cultures and Communities in Changing World. She graduated from University of Jyväskylä with Ph.D in Social Sciences and Cultural Policy in 2012. Since then Kumpulainen has worked as a cultural policy university teacher and as a researcher in different research projects concerning community development and cultural participation. She has been involved in developing integrative pedagogy for cultures studies in the University of Jyväskylä. Dr Kumpulainen’s pedagogical research is focused on connective pedagogy, especially how students’ early connections to work life facilitate acquiring necessary skills and employment. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2663-5365
  • Outi Kyrö-Ämmälä, University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-3171-6162
    Dr. Outi Kyrö-Ämmälä works as a university lecturer in teacher education within the University of Lapland’s Faculty of Education. She graduated from the University of Lapland with a Ph.D. in education in 2007. Since 2008, she has played an integral part in developing a research-based teacher education program at the University of Lapland. Dr Kyrö-Ämmälä has worked as a Vice-Dean responsible for teaching in the faculty of education since 2012. Her research interest also focuses on inclusive education. In recent years, she has participated in several relevant EU-funded international projects: A School for All - Development of Inclusive Education (2012-2015), The VEO Europa project (2015-2017), Inclusive Education: Socio-Psychological, Educational and Social Aspects (2014-2017), and Preconditions for the Transformation of the Educational Process in Different Educational Contexts by Applying Inclusive Education Strategies (2018-2021). She also has worked on national projects, such as the Selection to Finnish Teacher Education - Anticipatory Work for the Future (SIFTE) Top Project and Supporting Together! Multidisciplinary and Digital Cooperation to Support Learning project. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3171-6162 https://www.linkedin.com/in/outi-kyro-ammala/
  • Leena Nikander, HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences, HAMK Edu Research Unit, Finland orcid.org/0000-0002-4754-6372
    Dr. Leena Nikander works as a principal lecturer in the HAMK Edu Research Unit, which is located at the HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences department. Her 2003 doctoral dissertation dealt with leadership in higher education, and over the next ten years, she worked first as a project manager, then as a team leader, and finally as the head of education at HAMK’s professional teacher education unit. In recent years, she has focused on higher education development projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, especially the co-operation between education and the world of work, supporting teachers in enhancing their competencies in the field. At the moment, she is involved in work-integrated pedagogy in higher education, career guidance for the work of the future, and professional growth of superiors by peer-group mentoring. She is a member of HAMK’s project team, which is responsible for developing teachers’ competencies. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4754-6372 https://www.linkedin.com/in/leena-nikander-2821ba67/
  • Ilkka Väänänen, LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-5239
    Dr. Väänänen Ilkka (Ph.D., Lic. Sport Sc.) has over 20 years of extensive experience with Finnish higher education institutions. At the moment, he works at the LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lahti, Finland, as a senior researcher at the Work-integrated Pedagogy in Higher Education project, which explores the work-life perspective in higher education. His research interests include sustainability, and he is currently working on university partnerships with interest groups. He is a member of the European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning. He is also involved in many research and development projects funded by the Horizon 2020 and European Social Fund (e.g., Go Green Resilient Optimal Urban Natural, Technological and Environmental Solutions; the Operating Model on Working Capacity and Productivity training, Neighbour - community living model). His specific interests are in skills and employment, as well as integrating social responsibility into university-community partnerships. ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-5239 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilkka-v%C3%A4%C3%A4n%C3%A4nen-b990a26a/

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Published

2021-04-28

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Vol. 8 No. 5 (2021)

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