Future Learning Environments
Promoting of continuous learning in vocational education and in working life
We develop solutions, practices and approaches that promote the development and well-being of teachers and organisational staff, support skills management and use new technologies to support learning.
The promotion of lifelong learning concerns both vocational education and training (VET) providers and business. New and sustainable solutions and digital learning environments are needed to strengthen the competences of teachers and workplace staff. These should also support individuals’ well-being, meaningful work and commitment to work.
We support companies and educational institutions in creating inspiring and competence-enhancing collective learning environments. To strengthen continuous learning, we develop surveys for researching learning and create research-based approaches for competence management. We also support companies and educational institutions in experimenting with and using digital tools – such as artificial intelligence, online platforms and immersive learning solutions – in a smooth, effective and pedagogically sound way to promote learning.
We are experts in learning, pedagogy, and leadership. We provide training in learning facilitation and competence management, with a focus on social skills, learning from others, identity work and strengthening a constructive emotional climate and agentic participation within communities. Our strengths are in qualitative and quantitative research methods, such as surveys and interviews, and in combining them in cross-sectional and longitudinal research, for example to investigate factors that promote and hinder learning in education and the workplace. We are also experts in the use of new digital tools, learning analytics and the development and investigation of digital learning environments, especially VR/XR-based immersive environments.
Our research and development work benefits providers of VET and vocational teacher education, universities of applied sciences and companies in working life. We are actively involved in national and international research networks and work closely with stakeholders and associations in working life and VET.
The focus area consists of two research groups:
- Workplace Learning Environments and Vocational Education
- Digital Learning Environments and Digital Pedagogical Competence
- Intelligent Immersive Learning Environments – We develop intelligent and personalised virtual learning experiences for education and onboarding purposes.
Our projects
Agentic and competent vocational teachers in networked work
The vocational teacher is an ACE in the field of vocational education and training! The ACE project focuses on effective and competent (Agentic, Competent, Effective) vocational teachers.
Curious 2.0
Increasing the awareness of secondary and liberal education teachers and tutors of new technologies and virtual learning environments in secondary education institutions in Kanta-Häme.
Customer-oriented education model for continuous learning in engineering and technology
Developing a customer-oriented, genuinely competence-based model of continuous learning that aims to provide students with a higher education degree in technology and engineering.
European Social Innovation & Democratic Education – EU-SIDE
We propose a training programme incorporating networking and international mobility opportunities for in-service and pre-service teachers, from Primary to VET Education, based on blended learning opportunities at regional, national, and international level.
INKLU – Towards inclusive vocational education
Our objective is to ensure that all students studying in vocational education, mainly students belonging to especially welcome groups, receive the support they need to acquire the necessary skills, complete their studies, and find employment on an equal basis.
KOVA – New Thinking on the Impact of Vocational Education and Training
Our aim is to improve the effectiveness and quality of special support in vocational education through research-based approaches.
Micro-credentials Supporting Continuous Learning (POKOT)
Our aim is to develop solutions and provide support for the professional development of vocational school staff in a situation where public resources allocated to training for the working-age population are becoming increasingly scarce, while the need to renew the competencies of the adult population is becoming more diverse.
PEDANETS – Supporting continuous learning and agency to promote equality
We respond to the need to promote opportunities for equal participation by developing, testing and disseminating new forms of networking, guidance and support.
RDI+L – Integrating research, development, innovation (RDI) and learning
The RDI+L project explores new solutions for the integration of RDI activities and learning at universities of applied sciences.
SILMU – Commitment to teaching and motivation to become a teacher
The aim of the SILMU research project is to describe student teachers’ motivations to become teachers in different teacher education contexts and in relation to their backgrounds and commitment to teaching.
UuviTila – Expanding Knowledge of Innovative Agriculture
The goal of UuviTila is to respond to the environmental objectives of the food industry by developing innovative agriculture education.
VaKe – National Master Development Programme in the Context of Continuous Learning
The VaKe project aims to reform and develop Master studies educations (YAMK) as part of continuous learning, taking into account the changing needs of the working life. The project’s goal is to strengthen the pedagogical and research foundation, quality, relevance to working life, competencies of the universities of applied sciences staff, and national recognition through…
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