Blog 
In the blog series “What changes with Digivisio?”, Project Manager Eeva-Leena Forma shares her thoughts along the journey of transformation. Eeva-Leena led the transformation program from 2022 to 2024.
Piloting the change programme together with Erika Maliranta in Digivisio has provided a vantage point for promoting the change work enabled by Digivisio in higher education institutions. After just over two years of this cooperation with the change coordinators, it is so gratifying to look at the work that has already been done.
Big and even small changes make the most progress when they are managed with a committed, unified approach. A broader understanding of what the change strives to achieve and why is also needed. The first discussions on these themes were held in the change programme.
Higher education institutions were asked to come up with their own change programmes early on, when collaboration with higher education institution change coordinators was launched in the autumn of 2022. However, there was no need to start from scratch. Because the top administrators from higher education institutions were already involved in the Digivisio project in the role of owner, they knew very well why this work was being done.
We also noticed early on that, in a robust organisation based on expertise, academics and autonomy, as higher education institutions are, operational changes that have a broad impact on staff do not happen in the blink of an eye.
A lot of work and time is needed to commit to, promote motivation for and adopt changes. Things must become meaningful to you and your own work so that they can be promoted in a goal-oriented manner.
Change already appears to be significant
Change coordinators have been a vital resource as a link and actors in the journey of transformation for the change programme and higher education institutions. Effective coordination was found to be a key factor for achieving success. We have had constant contact at the daily level, and through regular reporting, we have been able to form an extremely clear picture of the landscape we’ve covered on our shared journey.
As we approach the end of the first phase of the change programme here at the close of 2024, things certainly look good to this project manager. We have got off to a good start with work, engagement and discussion related to change management, and the change is already progressing at the practical level of operative work at 29 higher education institutions. Eight higher education institutions will still be in the implementation phase in 2025.
Pedagogical training and quality criteria have been effectively adopted, and development has been incorporated into the processes of each higher education institution. Discussions on continuous learning have been and continue to be held at higher education institutions. Indeed, informal and non-formal offerings have also gained significance and are now gradually being integrated into higher education institution processes in a new way. The beta phase of the Opin.fi service has
demonstrated the functionality of the service and the interest that learners have in the joint offering of higher education institutions.
Change is a process that progresses in stages
However, it should not be forgotten that change is still in progress. The targets for 2025–2027 will gradually transform into actions, and higher education institutions wait for the actions and development expectations related to 2025. The change programme will assume a new form that certainly suits this phase, where higher education institutions have already been able to integrate the development measures introduced by Digivisio with their own processes and responsibilities, where matters will be addressed. There is also a readiness to change functions and processes, and the project still provides both technical or pedagogical support and support for promoting change.
The sense that we are all involved in building a common future is strong. By means of their own objectives and investments, each higher education institution will continue to advance change in continuous learning together with Digivisio actors, and we will also learn what is worthwhile and what is important from each other along the way. This will be done together and, as we all know, the end result will be every bit as good as what we put into it together.
Eeva-Leena Forma
Project Manager
Support for operational change and change management
Eeva-Leena Forma, known also as “higher education institution whisperer” at the Digivisio project office, has led the change programme in 2022–2024. The programme supports higher education institutions in the operational change and change management promoted by Digivisio. Work has been carried out in close cooperation with the change coordinators of 37 higher education institutions. It has focused on the changes required by the services and operating models developed in the project and on promoting them in higher education institutions. The change coordinator network has shared expertise between higher education institutions, and supporting its work has been an important part of the change programme.