Age-inclusive Lifelong Learning: Micro-Credentials and Guidelines, case Finland

Abstract

This national report of “Age-inclusive Lifelong Learning: Micro-Credentials and Guidelines, case Finland”, has been created in AliVe Erasmus + project at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. The project is coordinated by Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria) and participated by three other HEIs in Europe, Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University of Cork (Ireland), and Charles University of Czech Republic. The project aims to address barriers to age-inclusive learning and to build sustainable enablers that will extend and enhance the engagement of older adults 55+ in higher education. This will be achieved by a) developing a micro-credential that is transferrable across diverse settings and flexible to local needs and c) generating guidelines as a methodological roadmap for co-constructing micro-credentials in future educational initiatives.

This report outlines the starting points for the age-inclusive micro-credential from the perspective of Finland and Karelia University of Applied Sciences. The report presents basic definitions and aspects of lifelong learning, active ageing, micro-credentials, and rural and urban contexts in Finland, and describes the methodological approach of the project.