A Regional Ecosystem for Continuous Learning

Developing the services of continuous learning

Project duration

1.3.2024. – 30.6.2026

Source of funding

Keski-Suomen elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus

Total funding

The goal of the project is to create a strategy for continuous learning for the region of Southwest Finland (Finland Proper), as well as a regional ecosystem of continuous learning as its implementation.

The project is a result of far-ranging regional collaboration and the jointly recognized need for a better coordination for the learning services aimed at the working-age population. Continuous learning is seen as a necessity for both the flexibility and competitiveness of the regional economy. A prerequisite for a flexible economy is the ability of the work force to adapt and move horizontally from one field to another in similar-level jobs, while competitiveness requires increases in productivity that presuppose the ability of the work force to move horizontally to more demanding jobs and professions. On an individual level, continuous learning is a crucial factor in reaching one’s personal potential as well as in creating social and economic well-being.

The project is built upon three themes and a total of eight work packages as follows:

A. ORIENTATION OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Wp 1. Working life relevance, competitiveness and employment
Wp 2. Foresight and forecasting future needs in continuous learning
Wp 3. Guidance and support in continuous learning

B. SERVICES IN CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Wp 4. Liberal adult education as a service provider
Wp 5. Vocational education as a service provider
Wp 6. Institutions of higher learning as service providers
Wp 7. Swedish-language continuous learning services

C. STRATEGY FOR CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Wp 8. Regional ecosystem for continuous learning

The TARGETING CONTINUING LEARNING SERVICES theme covers work packages to develop approaches for using information from different sources in the delivery of continuing learning services and to improve the targeting of services and related guidance and support services.

The ORGANISATION OF CONTINUING LEARNING SERVICES will build up networks of cooperation between education and training providers at different levels of education and training to coordinate their activities at different levels of education and training to ensure access and coverage of services and appropriate targeting of resources. The theme also includes ensuring access to continuing learning services in Swedish.

The STRATEGY FOR CONTINUOUS LEARNING will ensure cooperation between the work packages and themes and, partly on the basis of their results, build a regional strategy for lifelong learning, which will be implemented by the regional ecosystem that will also be built under this theme.

Turku UAS leads work package 6: institutions of higher learning as service providers.