Women, Work, and AI: FinEstAI Strengthens Digital Competence Across Borders
FinEstAI Strengthens
Digital Competence Across Borders
The first face-to-face team meeting of the FinEstAI project took place in mid-October when team members of the Estonian Business School travelled from Tallinn, Estonia, to Helsinki, Finland, to meet their counterparts at the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences.
FinEstAI is a cross-border training program focused on helping knowledge workers in support functions, such as HR, administration, finance, and other assistant positions, gain critical skills in using AI tools. These positions are at the highest risk due to the rapid adoption of AI in the workplace.
Four EBS team members took the early-morning ferry to the Pasila campus, where they were hosted by Lead Project Manager Elisabet Rappu of the Haaga-Helia team. Over the course of several hours, the two teams hashed out ways the project can address the skills gap in AI tools for women aged 50+, which will help their job stability and build their confidence in contributing meaningfully to their organisations.
“AI is changing how we work at every level, and many capable professionals risk being left behind simply because they haven’t had the chance to build new skills,” said Annika Kaabel, partner project manager at EBS.
The working group covered topics including previous AI training programs in Finland, Estonia, and at the European level, as well as current digital and AI tools relevant to support roles in organisations. Additionally, it discussed teaching methods that could be used in the FinEstAI training sessions and the roles of the training program participants.
“Through FinEstAI, we want to give people the confidence and practical knowledge to use these tools and stay active contributors in their organisations. The cross-border training program will begin in the spring, after the completion of a survey this winter will assess the specific needs of the future participants in the training.”
The FinEstAI project is being co-funded with help from Interreg Central Baltic.
