The "Education, training, work and well-being" conference held by the Finnish Ministry of Education and the Nordic Council of Ministers at Hanaholmen Cultural Centre in Esbo, 15–17 October, focuses on the interaction between education, training and work.
In his opening address, Gard Titlestad, Head of Department in the Nordic Council of Ministers' Secretariat, said that being a leading dynamic centre of competence in the knowledge society is a top priority for the Nordic Region.
"Globalisation is changing the Nordic Region. At the moment there is lack of qualified labour. What is important is to face the challenges and make the most of the opportunities. That is the essence of 'Region of Opportunity – a Nordic response to the challenges of globalisation', the proposal put forward by the Nordic prime ministers.
A competent and flexible workforce is the key to the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Region. It is a matter of prioritising and investing in our strengths, so the Region is attractive to talent. One way of doing this is to build an education and training system based on curiosity and creativity. The ultimate objective is good education and training for all. The Nordic countries are already strong in lifelong learning and adult education, although there is room for improvement. "
Other speakers at the conference include, Hannele Kerola from the Ministry of Finance, Bjørg Ilebekk from Vox, Norwegian Institute for Adult Learning, Roland Österlund from the Danish Ministry of Education as well as project manager Jan Hylèn of the Swedish company Metamatrix.