Om å lære i lag – en modell for kollektiv videreutdanning

Abstract

This article describes an action research project in which a collective model for further education was developed and tested in practice at four workplaces in four municipalities, in the municipal health and care service. The research project lasted three years and was funded by the Norwegian Research Council’s FINNUT program. The model developed connected employee-driven innovation work, based on broad participation, and a study section where the employees formalized their new competence in employee-driven innovation and as organizational learning. The article further describes how researchers and employees in these workplaces organized and carried out such processes. 82 employees participated, 74 completed, 37 of these took the exam, 15 credits (ECTS) at Bc level, and of these again 15 employees took 15 ECTS at master’s level. The four workplaces developed, tested and implemented 18 innovations. The model is an example of how workplaces can drive innovation and competence development together in a way that strengthens the working environment and good work, and at the same time functions as new competence formalized in the education system. In this sense, work has become further education and furher education has become work: the classroom and the teachers have moved out into the workplace. A model of collective lifelong learning.