I am a graduate of the University of Oulu. I started my studies in information studies in 1996 and took my first career steps by working at the University of Oulu Library, where I enjoyed a ten-year stint. During that time, I also spent a year at the National Library's FinELib unit in Helsinki.
While working at the library, I developed an interest in online pedagogy and worked as an online tutor for courses offered by the Education and Research Services (Kotu). In 2011, I moved to a position as an Education Designer at Kotu, which later became part of the Centre for Continuing Education, Topik. I spent around ten years in this unit, during which I completed a second master’s degree focused on learning and educational technology. During my years at Topik, I had the opportunity to see, experience, and especially apply a wealth of digital technology to education. Our unit served like a pilot within the university on many fronts in this area.
About three years ago, I left the university to work at Management Institute of Finland (MIF), where I coordinated further and specialist vocational qualifications. Those years allowed me to become acquainted with the world of vocational education and the wide range of professionals from various fields who pursue these qualifications. These programs also included entrepreneurs from different sectors, both as students and instructors. The guidance and assessment discussions with students were truly engaging and educational.
Now I have returned to the University of Oulu. The academic environment has always felt like home to me, so coming back was a natural choice. The national mission of the Kerttu Saalasti Institute to conduct research on micro-entrepreneurship and provide training for entrepreneurs aligns perfectly with my current strengths: delivering research-based, work-oriented education that effectively leverages digital technology to support teaching and learning.
Today’s working life is continuously evolving, and its demands are constantly changing. Developing strategic competence is an important HR process, and integrating up-to-date research into training is especially crucial for adult and continuing education. Creating learning opportunities alongside work has become essential for the success of companies and organizations. This is the field where I want to work and address its challenges.
In my work, I enjoy teamwork and having enough freedom to organize my tasks. Working at the university is multi-location and hybrid, which suits me and the nature of my job well. However, for many of us, including myself, working in this way still requires some practice to find the most effective and functional ways of working. Various applications have evolved to support this type of work, and it’s essential to use them effectively to maintain adequate levels of community and interaction alongside efficient workflow.
I am easily drawn to new things and am naturally curious. I firmly believe in lifelong learning, also for myself. Professionally, I’m always interested in phenomena related to working life and learning, but in addition, over the years, I have also trained as a work supervisor, yoga instructor, and equine-assisted learning coach.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my horse, engaging in different forms of physical exercise, reading, and learning handicrafts. As a consumer of cultural services, I’ve become more active in recent years, and I may even travel to another city to visit a theater or museum.
Author:
Virpi Pietikäinen, MA, M.Ed., Education Designer, Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu
In Kerttu Saalasti Institute's blog we write about the topics of the Institute's research groups, micro entrepreneurship education and the Institute's general topics. The authors are researchers, experts and members of networks.
Our topics are: micro entrenepreneurship, future manufacturing technologies, regional excellence, micro entrepreneurship education