Course leader presentation: Mervi Ruokolainen

From Age Management to Life Course Management, 27th – 29th of August 2019, Kurhotel Skodsborg, Skodsborg, Denmark

Presentation of Mervi Ruokolainen, PhD, Specialized researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Finland

I have been working as a specialized researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health since 2017. My current research on life-course management focuses on aging employees. I am interested in enhancing of late-career management and motivation of aging employees at both individual and organisational level. I also enjoy my opportunities to work with Finnish workplaces as a lecturer and a trainer.

Why do you think that From Age Management to Life-course Management is an important and current issue to discuss in 2019?

Today’s unpredictable employment environment and rapidly changing working life underline the need for new conceptual framework for more sustainable working careers that takes into account a life-course perspective. Traditional (age) management practices regarding employees’ careers have become less valuable for employees, as careers have become less continuous and predictable. The (age) management practices also seldom emphasize an active role among individual employees or aim to enhance employees’ own personal resources for promoting their careers and well-being. Life-course management responds to these shortcomings by seeing employees as active participants who have capability and motivation to take care of their working careers. The life-course management will be a key element in supporting more sustainable career solutions both at the employee and employer level.

What do you want to say to the participants of the course?

I am looking forward to our NIVA course. It will be a great opportunity for sharing experiences, collaborating and learning new things. I am sure that we can create a successful course together that will help us to enhance both research and practices of life-course management in work organizations.

More information: Course web page

Registration: Course registration

Last registration date: 16th of June 2019