My work includes designing and mapping educational content and needs, providing online pedagogical support, communicational and marketing tasks. I previously worked at the University of Lapland amongst e-learning and digipedagogy. In many ways, the corona era had done its job and it was time for a change. I wanted to develop and get new inspiration, but also to offer my expertise elsewhere.
I have worked mainly in higher education institutions on e-learning and digital pedagogy, but also in other educational roles at different levels of education. In addition, for example, working in youth information, counselling and guidance development at the National Centre of Excellence for Youth and in the Council of Europe's North-South Centre expert working group on media education development was very rewarding for my future career.
The Kerttu Saalasti Institute has a national mission of micro-entrepreneurship education assigned by the Ministry of Education and Culture. At the core of my work is to design, develop and market these courses in collaboration with my colleagues. The aim is to develop courses with high quality content and market them to the right target group. Training courses are always designed based on the latest research and the needs of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs' time is competitive, so it is important that the education is both relevant to their needs and practically feasible for them.
Collaboration with other colleagues, knowledgeable teachers, other actors at the University and also with external partners is very important. Only by seamless cooperation we can provide content that meet the needs of entrepreneurs. Cooperation between the Kerttu Saalasti Institute and the Summer University of Northern Ostrobothnia has lately intensified. It is an opportunity not only for entrepreneurs, but also for the development of educational cooperation in the region.
After a few months of experience, I can say that the Institute has done a very good job in terms of education. However, there is still much to be done to ensure that knowledge and skills are passed on to entrepreneurs and thus benefit us all. So, my work as an educational designer will continue to be interesting and there will be no dull days.
To make life not just about work, it is important to take enough time off. For me, nature offers excellent opportunities to do this. When I'm not shuttling between the Institute and the Summer University, I enjoy moments of whitewater kayaking, either shooting the rapids or playing tricks in the waves, running, cycling, wandering in the woods, skiing or swimming in natural waters throughout the year. All this helps me to focus on the essentials and gives me some room to think freely.
Author:
Kristiina Anttila, M.Sc., Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Educational Designer, University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute and Northern Ostrobothnia Summer University
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