Working safely in 2020
The corona pandemic challenged our work and life significantly in 2020. We transferred to remote work in March in just a couple of days. Teaching staff had to rethink pedagogy and learn new tools. The Education Development Services and ICT Services supported this by organising workshops, online training and face-to-face instruction. We invested in technical functioning of information systems.
Safe operation was the theme of 2020. We established a pandemic group with Tampere University in March to discuss organisation of safe operation based on the authorities’ guidelines and regulations. Guidance and informing of students and staff were extremely important. Intranet and target group informing worked well and staff discussions in team and school meetings were also important.
We ensured safe working conditions for those working on campus, for example in laboratories and Facilities Services. We limited group sizes, intensified cleaning and used protective equipment. We succeeded well in avoiding infections – staff and students followed the rules excellently.
We supported our staff’s remote work in a variety of ways. We organised training and self-study opportunities in technical equipment and information systems. Pedagogical development took place in groups with the support of digimentors. We organised remote leadership education for superiors and heads of competence areas as well as recovery from work and brainwork training for the whole staff.
Team-based operations model was introduced
In autumn 2019, we worked on TAMK’s strategy and analysed operational development needs. We considered how we could better connect education, RDI and paid services in the organisation: how to divide competence management and use responsibilities equally in all core tasks of the university of applied sciences.
From the beginning of 2020, we have had seven schools and service units at TAMK. At the schools, staff form teams where the work distribution is modified based on the set objectives and needs.
Clarification of roles and responsibilities between team leaders, heads of competence areas and directors of schools is important in the operations model. TAMK’s coaches, who have completed Proakatemia’s coach training, support the teams. Teams’ self-evaluations and discussions are essential in development: what works and how we can develop our practices.
Text: Merja Jortikka, Director, HR. Editing: TAMK Communications Services.
Photo: Jonne Renvall
