Navigating alone in a labyrinth of possibilities

Yleinen

Kuvituskuva. Kuvassa liitutaulu, jossa kysymysmerkki ja kysymyksiä englanniksi: Mitä, miksi, missä, milloin, kuka ja miten.

Tässä englanninkielisessä kirjoituksessa raotetaan, millaista on selvittää opintoreittejä ja omia mahdollisuuksia – erityisesti jos ei vielä tiedä, mitä ja miten voisi hakeutua opiskelemaan. Aihe on noussut esiin hankkeen selvitysvaiheessa osallistujien jakamista kokemuksista.

Our project ”Accessibility in educational pathways and the right to learn – Is learning achievable for me?” (more familiarly known as “Saako oppia” in Finnish) kicked off last autumn. The aim of our project is to improve the accessibility of educational pathways, particularly in digital environments. The project lasts for two years, ending in August 2023. The project is implemented by the coordinating Humak University of Applied Sciences, together with Live Foundation Vocational College and Valo-Valmennusyhdistys, an NGO working with the themes of social exclusion, social participation and well-being.

Thus far, we have conducted interviews with people who have encountered challenges related to accessibility on their educational pathways. Based on the information collected from these discussions, we are better equipped to start developing digital learning environments together with our participants. Working on these digital environments will ideally provide peer support and empower people to move forward towards their own educational aims.

Navigating on your own

One of the themes that appeared from these discussions was the need for individual support when a person is not yet studying, and is possibly unemployed. When you are not part of a work-based or school-based social community, the threshold for contacting different places to plan for your educational possibilities becomes greater. It can be burdening to look for information and support, especially when you are alone, spending most of your days at home. Your self-esteem may suffer. There can be many questions swirling in one’s mind: Who to contact? How do I know what I can do? What are my skills and strenghts? How to finance my studies if I become admitted? What can I study? Where do I even start?

Henkilö seisoo suuren labyrintin edessä. Hän näyttää siltä, ettei tiedä, minkä suunnan valitsisi. Kuvan sävy on vaalea ja valoisa.
A person is standing in front of a labyrinth, unsure of which path to take. An image chosen by one of our interviewees to describe her feelings with regards to studying. Image: Pixabay.

Do you feel like you are in a similar situation? Remember that you are not alone! Together, we can try to improve the accessibility challenges encountered by many on their personal educational pathways. You can participate in our project and be part of developing better practices. You can also participate to raise awareness. At the same time, you have the chance to receive support for your own individual educational pathway. Just as the image above indicates: it might be difficult to see the final goal, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and the path does lead forward. Saako oppia -project is one way of supporting how to make the pathway appear less like a labyrinth.

Written by: Tanja Saariaho, Valo-Valmennusyhdistys

Last modified: 26.1.2022