omaaminen
Omaaminen (literally “making it one’s own”) is a Finnish concept used in education, social services, and workforce development. It refers to the process by which individuals take ownership of their actions, learning, and personal development, and engage actively in decisions that affect their lives.
The term is formed from oma, meaning “own,” and -minen, a suffix that marks a noun of
In education, omaaminen describes a pedagogical aim where learners participate actively, reflect on progress, set personal
In social services and health care, omaaminen supports person-centered approaches. Clients are invited to define goals,
Practices associated with omaaminen include collaborative goal setting, reflective journals or portfolios, co-designed services, peer mentoring,
Critics warn that without systemic support and cultural alignment, omaaminen can become tokenistic or place excessive