Avainsana: learning
Development of an Innovative Digital Environments in Kosovo for learning, eHealth, and eRehabilitation
According to the World Health Organization (1) there is a shared understanding that most health workers have to be prepared to use digital health technologies in their work. According, (2) digital capacity-building must be tailored to individual and national circumstances. The Student-run Interdisciplinary Allied Health Digital Practice Centre (3) project was a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing the digital learning landscape in Kosovo. With a primary focus on enhancing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary co-creation and education, the project carved out a new path for developing skills and knowledge in the fields of eHealth and eRehabilitation, particularly within the allied health sciences. The goal was to equip Kosovo’s higher education institutions (HEIs) with innovative tools and frameworks to enhance the virtual and digital practice-oriented education in allied health sciences through lifelong-learning (LLL) for both students and academic staff. Co-creation was main development method in the project. Especially, importance of co-creating value for users was in focus (4), as well as co-creation and testing: engaging stakeholders from academia, industry and healthcare to co-create and iteratively test new digital platforms and solutions. Co-Creation as a Driving Force for Development One of the standout features of the SIAHDPC project was its dedication to co-creation as a central development method. Co-creation, which emphasizes value creation through collaboration with end-users, was demonstrated in practice during a pivotal moment at Metropolia University in Helsinki. Here, occupational therapy students played a crucial role in the project by planning and organizing its final evaluation using co-creative methods. This hands-on experience highlighted the importance of involving end-users – such as students, staff, and healthcare professionals – in the development of new educational tools and frameworks. A Pioneering digital learning framework and platforms in Kosovo The SIAHDPC project was to establish a pioneering digital learning framework and platforms in Kosovo, targeting the enhancement of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary co-creation and education, particularly within the domains of eHealth and eRehabilitation in allied health sciences. Additionally, the project aimed to develop evidence-informed practice competences through training and learning materials for the Kosovo HEI staff and students, primarily. The project also contributed to the development and updating the relevant curricula in education with the interdisciplinarity as the key point. A concrete example of co-development was experienced at Metropolia in Helsinki, where occupational therapy students planned and organized a final evaluation for the project using the methods of co-creation. Especially, importance of co-creating value for users was in focus (3). Even there were other relevant approaches as well, such as Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning: ensuring a holistic co-creation approach. Digital tools and simulation: implementation of advanced digital tools, including remote simulations and to replicate authentic healthcare scenarios. Another vital component of the SIAHDPC project was its emphasis on leveraging cutting-edge digital tools. These tools, including simulation technologies, are designed to replicate authentic healthcare scenarios, allowing students to gain practical experience in a controlled, virtual environment. Remote simulations further enable students to collaborate and practice real-world skills, even when physical presence is not possible. This is especially relevant in the context of eHealth, where digital healthcare solutions are becoming increasingly integrated into everyday practice. Digital platforms for teaching purposes As a part of the result of the project, it has strengthened the capacity of the operators to develop and integrate new types of digital platforms as part of teaching. Students involvement, collaboration between different disciplines and overall co-development approach was important in such RDI processes. The main results of the project can be divided into five categories as follows. Developed comprehensive digital platforms to support the educational needs of students, professionals, and businesses in allied health. Co-created, developed and tested new digital tools, products and services in a simulated and authentic environment. Platforms were co-designed and -created. Facilitated continuous professional development through access to the latest digital technologies. Enhanced learning experiences. Promoted the growth of knowledge, practical skills, digital literacy and competences in eHealth and eRehabilitation. Improved participants’ abilities to develop complex and user-centered digital services. During the project education in Kosovo has been promoted by integrating innovative digital solutions and fostering a collaborative environment for learning and development. Additionally, the project also contributes to the development and updating the relevant curricula in health education with the interdisciplinarity as the key point. The SIAHDPC project stands as a significant step forward in the modernization of Kosovo’s higher education system. By fostering an environment of interdisciplinary learning, integrating digital tools, and promoting co-creation, the project was not only enhancing healthcare education but also laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term improvements in the country’s health and education sectors. Authors Eija Raatikainen Principal Lecturer, An Associate professor (UEF), Project Manager at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Panu Karhinen Team Leader, Senior Lecturer, Project Manager at Metropolia UAS Anna Kaipainen Physiotherapist, Master of Rehabilitation, Project Manager in Metropolia UAS Ari-Pekka Åker Master of Health Care, Senior Lecturer in Emergency Care, Head of Simulation Learning environment, Metropolia UAS. References World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025 (who.int). World Health Organization. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. United Nations General Assembly (2020). Road map for digital cooperation: Implementation of the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. Report of the Secretary-General. 29 May 2020, accessed 7 October 2020. The SIAHDPC - Student-run Interdisciplinary Allied Health Digital Practice Center (metropolia.fi) Durugbo, C., & Pawar, K. (2014). A unified model of the co-creation process. Expert Systems with Applications, 41(9), 4373-4387.
7 Reasons Why Creativity at Work is Essential
Research has shown that European employees are less engaged at work than in other parts of the world. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report (1) puts European employees’ engagement levels at only 14%. This is 7% lower than the global average (21%) and 19% lower than the US and Canada (33%). It has been noted that Europe can be a great place to live but not a great place to work. Gallup notes three big areas that affect employee engagement: Having clear expectations Feeling connected and supported by your team Finding purpose in your work Jari Hakanen, Research Professor at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (TTL), stresses that “[F]or work engagement, some of the most important work resources are people being able to use their skills in diverse ways, learn new things, and develop.” (2) All three of these can be practiced and experienced through more creativity at work. Changes mindsets from failure to learning It is really important that people can internalise the difference between failure and learning. At some point, fairly early on, we go from learning to failure. Where things that don’t work out are determined to be failures. In reality, we must fail to succeed in most things. Things do not come out fully formed in any process. Using creativity at work allows people to see failure as learning. Work can be a highly competitive environment but while some competition is good, it is never good to have a workforce that is happy when another part of the company isn’t successful. Ideally, you would want these antagonistic relationships to become collaborative. And to do that, there needs to be a mindset of ‘failing forward’. This is a mindset shift that can be unsettling for both the employees and the management. Trusting that failing is a part of success means that failure needs to be shrunk both in real costs and mental costs. Allows for adaptability When you exercise creativity, you are able to look at things from different angles. You are able to can see customers’ needs from different angles. You are open to new ideas and comments from others to improve the idea. When you are coming from a point of creativity, you want your solution/idea/product to be the best it can be and will be consciously and subconsciously searching for connections and things to improve it. Creativity will also have people looking in unusual directions for possibilities. It will also have people interested in collaborating with people that they normally would not. Encourages innovation and learning Innovation is made up of trial and error (or trial and learning). Innovation is never instant. No service or product has ever sprung from someone’s brain fully mature and ready to be delivered. Thinking creatively and collaboratively will help ideas get better and turn into testable concepts. Those concepts will be influenced by those who can wield creativity more effectively. Creativity is also good when you have constraints because it gives you boundaries. Sometimes those boundaries are what spark innovation. Sometimes open possibilities are too free and can overwhelm. These boundaries allow you to test and try things that you might not otherwise. Fosters growth - because it is about solving problems Humans love a mystery. They are hard-wired to find patterns and solve problems. By solving problems in an organisation, it will inevitably become more efficient and more focused. Growth happens when you do a few things really well. You can see organisations that grow too wide often split up into smaller entities in order to focus better and to foster growth. Using creativity and creative thinking in your organisation will allow individuals to challenge their current way of thinking. This can be seen by more efficient processes, new ideas to be explored, or even completely new niches to dominate in. Improved work satisfaction Allowing more creativity gives people permission to get excited about their work. It also allows people the time to recharge from the day-to-day tasks that they might be taking on. These tasks, while important, may take a lot of energy but do not replenish that energy. Improving work satisfaction is one of the biggest ways to improve engagement at work. A lack of engagement leads to many negative outcomes; most significantly for the organisation is high staff turnover. Boosts productivity and performance When people are excited about their work, they naturally boost their productivity and performance. It is human nature to be curious and curiosity allows for new ideas and new connections to spring forth. Creative thinking uses different parts of the brain than most jobs and these activities can stimulate people’s minds and provide possibilities for serendipity and inspiration. Having permission to think creatively gets people to be more open to possibilities of collaboration and breaking internal (and external) silos that may have formed in an organisation. Creates lasting value When you take all the previous points into account: new mindset around failure, increased adaptability, innovation, solving real problems, improved work satisfaction, better productivity and performance, you give people multiple opportunities for creating lasting value. The process of being creative and being open to new ideas encourages us to solve real problems. By solving real problems, staff are more inspired in their work and take ownership of outcomes. Encouraging an open mind and receptiveness to new ideas also helps to improve diversity in who you serve and in how you serve them, and who gets to create in the organisation. Author Pamela Spokes works as a Service Designer in Metropolia’s RDI team. Originally from Canada, Pamela has years of experience in university admin focusing on international recruitment, marketing, and the international student/staff experience. With a Bachelor’s from Canada, a Master’s degree from Sweden, an MBA in Service Innovation & Design from Laurea, and her AmO from Haaga-Helia, she is interested in purposefully designed experiences that are centred around the user. Don’t be surprised if she knocks on your door to talk about learning co-creation methods through intensive learning experiences. Resources Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report TTL.fi press release
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Milla Åman Kyyrö, päätoimittaja
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Päivi Keränen
Projektipäällikkö, Muotoilu
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Jussi Linkola
Projektisuunnittelija, Hankeviestintä- ja julkaisupalvelut
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