Theme editors: Pia Lundbom and Hanna Kiuru, Humak University of Applied Sciences
The theme of the issue 4/2024 of the UAS Journal is Working Life and Change in Competence Needs.
As working life undergoes constant changes, both new challenges and possibilities are created. The corona pandemic increased remote work in white collar professions. Rapidly developing AI can be a useful tool. The ageing of the population impacts the working tasks for example in the social welfare and health care sector and the education sector. Work-related immigration raises various kinds of hopes and expectations.
The articles of our theme issue should approach the changing working life and the related changes in required skills through the associated opportunities and challenges. Specifically, we are interested in concrete examples of mapping and anticipation of competence needs in education, or in RDI projects. The articles can also highlight various social trends and observations related to the topic, which are visible in the work of universities of applied sciences. Sub-themes can be used for choosing a perspective.
Sub-theme 1. Technology and Work
Technological development is rapid, and changes many working patterns. Artificial intelligence can help automate various work phases.
- Services are evolving and the digitalisation of services is changing work and competence needs. How has this been, and should be, taken into account in training?
- Will artificial intelligence and technology change everyday working?
- How are technological changes reflected in the practices of universities of applied sciences?
Sub-theme 2. Anticipation of skills needs and working life
The know-how required in working life is undergoing changes. Resilience and opportunities for personal development are needed.
- What kinds of competencies are needed in different fields.
- How can education take into account the competences needed in the future?
- What kinds of experiments or innovations have been carried out in anticipation of competence needs?
- What kind of experiences can be found in UAS and UAS studies in the use of foresight methods?
Sub-theme 3. Stick or carrot and changing expertise
The changing demographics and political decisions affect everyday work in different industries and the nature of expert work. On the other hand, scarcer resources challenge actors in different fields to view their expertise from a new perspective, so that it is possible to function in the changing operating environment and secure the existence of expertise also in the future. Can a stick turn into an opportunity for development?
- What do changes in the operating environment mean for different industries?
- How does expert work need to change in different fields or professions?
- What must universities of applied sciences take into account in their educational paths, in order for graduates to have relevant competence for the needs of working life?
Articles, expert texts, interviews and audiovisual content
Articles from universities of applied sciences and beyond are welcome for the theme issue. In addition to articles, the texts offered may also include informal reviews, speeches, interviews, expert texts commenting on future-related topics and examples of cooperation between universities of applied sciences with various actors. Also audiovisual content can be offered.
The maximum length for an expert article is 10 000 characters, 4,000 characters for a review article, and 3 000 characters for other texts (character counts include spaces). More detailed instructions for authors can be found at https://uasjournal.fi/in-english/instructions-for-writers/. Please familiarize yourself with them. We encourage co-authored articles with working life and/or student involvement. You can write in Finnish, Swedish or English.
AMK-lehti / UAS Journal regularly receives more article offers than can be published. Usually, about half will be published, with the number of articles being between 12 and 15/issue. Therefore we first ask the authors for an abstract (max. 200 words, as a Word file). We then ask those selected for the full text (note the instruction lengths, as a Word file), as well as suggestions for illustrations. Editors comment on the manuscripts and, if necessary, remind the authors about the instructions. The authors then complete the articles. A more detailed schedule is below.
Theme Editors
Pia Lundbom, DSocSc, Principal Lecturer, Master Degree Development Group, Humak University of Applied Sciences (Humak).
Hanna Kiuru, DSocSc, Senior Lecturer, University of Applied Sciences, Master Degree Development Group, Humak University of Applied Sciences (Humak).
Schedule 4/2024
The article proposals should be sent to the theme editors in abstract form (max 200 words, Word file) to pia.lundbom@humak.fi and hkkiur@gmail.com no later than 1 September 2024.
All responsible authors who have submitted an abstract will be sent a reply and feedback on the abstract no later than 13 September 2024.
Article manuscripts and image suggestions should be sent to the theme editors at pia.lundbom@humak.fi and hkkiur@gmail.com no later than 13 October 2024.
Feedback on the article will be sent to the corresponding author no later than 25 October 2024.
The finalized article should be sent to the theme editors at pia.lundbom@humak.fi and hkkiur@gmail.com no later than 10 November 2024.
The theme issue will be published on week 48/2024.
Please circulate this invitation within your organization and your networks.
