The outcome we live by: denaturalisation of skill through a manual to the Finnish ‘osaaminen’

The skill paradigm organises our thinking, understanding, writing about, and governing of VET. The aim of this presentation is to provide a linguistic analysis that enables the denaturalisation of this hegemony through a case study of a concept used in one national VET system. Contemporary Finnish VET applies a competency-based training model that reflects neoliberal ideas and is realised, for example, in accountability measures, performance orientation, and a monopoly of a labour market focus. In Finnish VET discourse, ‘osaaminen’ (used as the equivalent of competence, skill, and learning outcome) is a key term. Using the construal and indexicality of ‘osaaminen’ as its analytical vessels, the presentation travels to the rationale underpinning Finnish VET. The paper thus presents an analysis of a powerful conceptualisation in order to deconstruct the outcome we live by.

Dr Penni Pietilä is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Social Science, University of Eastern Finland