laajaalaisista

Laajaalaisista is a Finnish term used in education and public discourse to refer to broad-based, cross-cutting competencies. The form is the genitive plural of laaja-alainen, which means broad, wide, or transversal. In practice, laaja-alaisista is often encountered in discussions about laaja-alaista osaamista or laaja-alaisen osaamisen ilmiasu, referring to multiple broad-based skills or knowledge areas.

Laaja-alainen osaaminen, or broad-based competence, is a central idea in Finnish education. It describes an integrated set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that cut across individual subjects and learning contexts. The goal is to enable students to apply what they have learned in real-life situations, participate effectively in society, and adapt to changing working life. Key elements commonly associated with laaja-alainen osaaminen include critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication, information literacy, digital competence, ethical reasoning, and lifelong learning.

Implementation typically occurs through cross-curricular approaches within the national core curriculum for basic education. Teachers collaborate to weave cross-cutting themes into various subjects, often using project-based or phenomenon-based learning. Assessment emphasizes transferable skills and performance in authentic tasks, such as portfolios or integrated projects, rather than only subject-specific tests.

The term laajaalaisista appears in policy texts and school-level discussions to describe multiple, interrelated competencies. Its use highlights a shift from a narrow focus on disciplinary knowledge toward a holistic, transferable skill set designed to prepare students for diverse life and work contexts.