Development of digital skills training for work-age adults: experience, obstacles, and further improvements

Abstract

The Finnish education system is recognized for its high excellence and innovativeness, especially for its effective elementary education. In its turn, the Finnish adult education is undeservedly not so commonly identified, but solid, and offers a wide range of opportunities for lifelong learning and self-actualization. This research focused on the identification of innovative trends that are visible in Finish non-formal education. Such observations and analysis are made possible through the application of action research methods, literature review, surveys, and implementation of digital skills course development project at Etelä-Karjalan Kansalaisopisto, Lappeenranta. In the research mixed methods of data collection were used. That allowed gathering empirical data and comparing it with academic studies done by other researchers. The theoretical findings of the research show that innovative educational trends recognized by international researchers were also identified in the educational and managerial initiatives of the Finnish non-formal adult education organization. That could be a sign that Finnish education and its organizational processes are keeping pace with global trends. Moreover, the work that was accomplished made it possible to achieve the essential goal of the study’s empirical part: to bring practical benefits, formulate recommendations and achieve the satisfaction of the educational organization and its clients.