A new platform brings courses across Finland’s institutions of higher education within easy reach. At Opin.fi, users can compare studies and apply search functions and filters to narrow down options. For example, whether the course is organized remotely or in-person, or self-paced or scheduled.
Currently, the service includes open studies from 29 Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. In addition to actual courses, the service offers other ways of learning such as podcasts and webinars.
Opin.fi is designed to help anyone wanting to develop their competencies at different stages of life. Interest in learning may be sparked by working life needs, personal interests or a desire to change careers. The service offers studies in different fields and forms, and no prior university studies are required.
An effort across institutions
Opin.fi was created in a program called Digivisio 2030 with participation from all institutions of higher education in the country. CSC, the national research and education network (NREN) of Finland, contributes to the program with its expertise of collaboration with the involved institutions, and in data management, interoperability, etc.
“Opin.fi is the first visible result of the exceptional collaboration between our higher education institutions – even by international standards – to build a sustainable future. This shared digital service makes education easily accessible to everyone and helps raise the skill level that is vital for our society,” says Hanna Nordlund, Program Director of Digivisio 2030.
The work in Digivisio 2030 is guided by a steering group of representatives from higher education institutions. The operations are managed by HigherEd Hub Finland Ltd., a company owned by the higher education institutions.
Available in Finnish, Swedish, English
Development of Opin.fi continues even after the launch. Likely additions include smart recommendations based on user data, helping learners discover content that matches their interests. User experience and feedback will be used in continuous development of the service.
Further, the suite of courses offered on the platform will evolve and grow.
The goal is to have open studies from 37 institutions available by the end of 2025, offered in Finnish, Swedish, and English, and available both online and in person.
The text is inspired by the article “Finnish higher education institutions’ joint Opin.fi service is now open” at the CSC website.
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