Research group
Renewing Competence
We research and develop solutions for developing, identifying and anticipating skills in a changing environment.
The constant change, uncertainty and digitalisation of working life challenge organisations to develop skills in new ways. Flexible, relevant and work-based solutions are essential as skills needs change, learning is continuous and individual support needs are highlighted.
Our research group promotes knowledge renewal and strengthens the capacity of organisations to meet the challenges of the future. We develop new methods and approaches that support the skills, well-being and resilience of individuals and communities.
Our work is based on research and close cooperation with working life. Our target groups are learners at different stages of the lifelong learning pathway, teaching and guidance staff, as well as managers and developers in educational institutions, companies and other organisations.
We are working on these themes:
1
Learning in education
• Pedagogical well-being and guidance
• Generic competences as learning outcomes
• Online learning environments and pedagogy
2
Continuous learning
• Flexible training models
• Future skills profiles and anticipation
3
Learning on the job
• Identification and recognition of competences
• Learning culture in the workplace
• Linguistic and cultural diversity
We are interested in knowledge renewal processes and training models, forms of work-based learning, and digital and pedagogical solutions to support knowledge. Our work is practice-oriented. By bringing a research-based understanding of competence development, we also provide support for pedagogical leadership and decision-making in different organisations.
Meiju Keinänen, Principal Lecturer, Research Group Leader
New TRIC project
Uncertainty is part of everyday life, but can it become an asset?
The Renewing Competence Research Group coordinates the TRIC project, which strengthens the knowledge of uncertainty, the ability to act and make decisions in complex and ambiguous situations. In an international project, experts are building the pedagogy of the future.
– Teachers and education developers often think about the same issues, such as how to manage uncertainty and support learners in a changing world. This project is a step towards transformative teaching that touches all of us,” says Meiju Keinänen, Senior Lecturer and leader of the research team.
The project will develop a digital application that will make information, tools and materials available to all. The app will connect community actors regardless of time and place.
An active and reliable partner
We have 25 experts in our research team, 12 RDI projects underway and a network of 30 partners in Finland and internationally. We publish around 20 articles a year and our RDI activities reach 3 000 actors – from learners and teachers to companies and experts.
Our experts
The strengths of our research team include multidisciplinary expertise and strong pedagogical skills in competence development, identification and anticipation. We make use of the diverse financial and project expertise of the Turku University of Applied Sciences. Meiju Keinänen is in charge of the research group.
Publications
Hirard, T. & Karaus, E. 2024. Täydentävää osaamista ja verkostoja työelämään korkeasti koulutetuille maahanmuuttajille. Teoksessa (Kirjavainen, H. & Pettersson, A.) Korkeakoulut hiljattain maahan muuttaneita tukemassa. Turun ammattikorkeakoulun raportteja 269. 37–42. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-216-865-8Linkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Keinänen, M. & Konst, T. 2024. Re-validating an Assessment Tool to Identify, Assess, and Develop Higher Education Students’ Innovation Competence in Online Education. In: Ma, W.W.K. (eds) Engaged Learning and Innovative Teaching in Higher Education. Lecture Notes in Educational Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2171-9_11Linkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Konst, T., Koivunen, T. & Friman, M. 2023. Building a sustainable future: ideas and perceptions of university staff, Foresight. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/FS-12-2022-0170/full/htmlLinkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Halttunen, T., Dragin-Jensen, C., Kylänpää, C. & Karkov, A. 2023. Collaborative problem solving: A pedagogy for workplace relevance, The Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (NJVET). Collaborative problem solving: A pedagogy for workplace relevance | Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (liu.se)Linkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Kantola, M., Friman, M., Rauhala, P., Kotila, H. & Huttula, T. 2023. Ammatillisen korkeakoulutuksen mahdollisia tulevaisuuskuvia vuoteen 2030, Futura.
https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/818854/Kantola_Friman_Rauhala_Ammatillisen_2023.pdf?sequence=1Linkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Tyrväinen, P., Kantola, M. & Simola, S. 2023. CampusOnline-portaalin rakentaminen joustavan oppimisen edistäjänä. UAS Journal. CampusOnline-portaalin rakentaminen joustavan oppimisen edistäjänä – UAS JournalLinkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Keinänen, M. & Välivirta Havia, M. 2022. Embedding Uncertainty in the Learning Process: An Evaluation Case-Study of VUCA Model in Education. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning, p. 151. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning SpringerLinkLinkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Hänti, S., Keinänen, M., Välivirta-Havia M., Al-Bermanei H., Ketola M. & Heikkilä J. 2021. Facilitate for the future. Educator´s Guide for Designing Hybrid Learning Environments for the VUCA World. Course Material from Turku University of Applied Sciences.Linkki vie ulkoiselle sivustolle
Keinänen, M. 2019. Educating Innovative Professionals: A case study on researching students’ innovation competences in one Finnish University of Applied Sciences. Research Reports from Turku University of Applied Sciences 49. https://www.turkuamk.fi/julkaisu/educating-innovative-professionals-a-case-study-on-researching-students-innovation-competences-in-one-finnish-university-of-applied-sciences/
Network and partners
As a research group, we are active in national and international networks and work closely with secondary and higher education institutions and education companies in Finland and abroad.
- Consortium on Applied Research and Professional Education – CARPE, Pedagogy, Learning & Innovation SIG
- Engaged Learning and Innovative Teaching in Higher Education, ELITE
- European Universities Continuing Education Network, EUCEN
- Korkeakoulupedagogiikan kouluttajat ja kehittäjät – KOUKE
- Nordic Network for Adult Learning, NVL
- The CDIO™ INITIATIVE – Innovative educational framework for producing the next generation of engineers
- The Finnish Society for Practice Based Inquiry – PraBa
- The International Symposium on Advances in Technology Education, ISATE
Strong project skills
Turku University of Applied Sciences’ Project Office offers support and guidance throughout the life cycle of an RDI project. Our project experts have years of experience and strong expertise in national and international funding programmes. We have more than 200 projects running every year, and our RDI activities have received more than €10 million in external funding.