Boundaries between education and working life in vocational education organized by a company. A case study KONE Elevators Ltd
Keywords:
Vocational education organized by a company, specialised vocational education and training institution, future working life skills, interconnections between a company and education, changes in working lifeAbstract
This study examines relations between working life and education in the context of vocational education organized by a company. In changing working life new kinds of competencies, wide-ranging skills and general expertise are needed. Rapid changes in working life cause challenges also for professional education. Deeper co-operation between educational institutions and working life can provide novel ways to support professional learning. The study aimed to analyse 1) what kinds of field specific skills and general working life competencies vocational education organized by a company develops and 2) how the interaction between education and working life is constructed in vocational education organized by a company. The study was conducted in the context of a vocational training programme that is being organized by Kone Elevators Ltd. The data were collected by interviewing ten employees who had studied in the elevator engineering training programme and after that progressed in their careers in Kone. In addition, two employees working in a managerial capacity of the company were interviewed. The results show that vocational education organized by a company supports both the learning of field-specific skills and general working life skills. The education can also quickly respond to the rapidly changing working life. In addition, it is effectively able to bridge relevant theoretical and practical knowledge. Close partnership between education and industry seems to provide flexible ways to educate workers to meet the challenges of changing working life.
