The adverse effects of the decrease in peat production are extensive in South Ostrobothnia as a whole; the region needs business reform and new business activity. The economic structure of the province is one of the most one-sided in the country, and it needs to be diversified. The province should invest in R&D activities and the introduction of advanced technologies. The background of the project is also a change in working life, where technological development is rapid in various fields and where responsible and sustainable operations and digitalization are emphasized more and more often. The change poses challenges for training organizers to keep up with developments and anticipate them. A new secondary school campus is being completed in Tuomarniemi, Ähtäri, which will contribute to solutions for a fair transition in South Ostrobothnia. The aim of the campus is to serve the working and business life of the region and meet its skills and education needs with a versatile and high-quality education offer, modern learning environments and new technology. Ähtäri's new campus combines the vocational training of Seinäjoki municipal association and Ähtäri high school under the same roof in the scenic Tuomarniemi area. The actual target groups of the project are the area's SMEs, Sedu, SeAMK and Ähtäri high school and the municipalities of the area, especially the Kuusiokuntien region. The leading sectors of the Sedu Ähtäri campus, which also serve as pilots for the project, are forestry and tourism, social welfare and health, mechanical and production technology, and robotics. The project's indirect target groups are other secondary educational institutions in the region, universities, R&D institutions, as well as associations and foundations. Project goals: - Produces information about the transformation of working life and future working life in relation to new technology and skills needs/services. The data collection affects the working life of the area's technology and health and safety sectors. - To promote business in the region, increase the continuity of business operations and diversify livelihoods. To make it possible, future investments, working life-oriented training models and concepts supporting the introduction of new technology are being made, e.g. mini fun - Accelerates the green transition and digitalization of companies in the region, as well as the introduction of modern and energy-efficient technologies. The ability of training providers to acquire advanced technology and implement business-oriented development will also be improved. - Deepens the interaction between different school levels, working life and other stakeholders by developing a multidisciplinary cooperation model for the region that supports the acquisition, joint use and wide-ranging development work of technologies - an ecosystem of expertise. - Bring new technology and know-how to the region, strengthen general education studies, raise learning outcomes and offer better training opportunities to the population of the region. Guarantee educational paths for young people, including paths to higher education and better job opportunities. - Support the piloting and implementation of new operating models by strengthening the expertise of teaching staff and company personnel in new technology, working life cooperation and foresight. The simulation facilities also support the creation of new service and product innovations in the region. - Pilot technologies and developed operating models in selected pilot areas and implement the results into practice - The vision is Ähtäri's leap into the metaverse. The so-called Miniheureka, which acts as an attraction factor not only for education but also for tourism, including simulations of various fields, the virtual world and the many possibilities of automation and robotics. The implementation of the project is divided into five work packages: WP 1. Assembling the project network and development team, building a knowledge ecosystem (Sedu) WP2. Data collection for companies regarding the change in working life in relation to new technology and to anticipate skills needs (SeAMK) WP 3. Refinement of space solutions for the Ähtäri campus, preparation of investments and acquisitions (Sedu) WP 4. Starting technology pilots and developing operating models that support them, Workshop activities (Sedu, partly SeAMK) WP 5. Project management, information and dissemination of good practices (Sedu) As a result of the project, a modern digital RDI and learning environment will be created for Sedu's Ähtäri new campus, which includes a physical campus serving the area's SMEs and communities and Sedu's eKampus, as well as the technological acquisitions that support them. The campus strengthens the attraction of education in the region and also has a positive effect on tourism. The project also supports and develops the renewing business of the region, especially Kuusiokuntien, increases the continuity of
