The main aim of the Finnish universities of applied sciences is to educate experts to working life. This requires close collaboration between students, faculty, library and working life partners. This blog demonstrates how a partnership model in teaching IL has evolved in the Finnish universities of applied sciences. A number of cases are described to better illustrate the development and the different ways IL has been successfully advocated. Case descriptions are added regularly.

One important competence which the student has to achieve during his learning process is the ability to critically and effectively deal with information. This means learning information literacy skills. In Finnish universities of applied sciences this is realized in close collaboration of three actors: faculty, libraries and working life partners.

The aim is to create professional expertise by deepening the three-party collaboration by shifting the learning to more authentic environments. Particular attention is given to the three roles defined by law for the universities of applied sciences: training of professionals in response to labour market needs, R&D which supports instruction and promotes regional development in particular.