Digital services for citizens
This course task was a good reminder to take care of the healthcare fee in the higher education. It is obligatory tax-like fee for all the student pursuing a degree at a Finnish higher education institution.
The fee is collected to support the student healthcare in general so every student who is present and pursuing a degree will have to pay it every autumn and spring term. It is easy to forget to pay it since you do not get any paper bill for it – excep if you forget about it, then you get a paper bill plus 5 euros late-payment! The basic price per term in 2024 is 36,80 euros.
https://www.kela.fi/news/checklist-for-new-academic-year
Among very many different kind of services of various life situations (the screenshot above) KELA gives reimbursement on prescribed medicines. I believe that is something every citizen uses at some stage in their lives. KELA card is used for various medical and health-related transactions.
European Health Insurance card quarantees you medical treatment when travelling in EU or EEA countries. I have had that card for many years but luckily I have never had to use it.
My daughter has just moved out into her first flat and she receives general housing allowance from KELA. She has also received an orphan’s pension for her studies because her father passed away when she was under 21 years old. I did not know about this kind of support until this sad occasion took place and I really appreciate it.
Both OmaKanta and KEVA uses SUOMI.FIi e-identification. It is a shared strong identification service of public administration e-services. It enables you to log into the electronic services of public administration in Finland. Eu regulation about strong identification was set in 2019. E-identification is used in all services in which the identity of the user must be verified. Once you have identified yourself, the use of e-service is secure and private which is fundamentally important when dealing with private and sensitive data.
KEVA services tells me that I have twelve years to go to my first possible date of retiremt. I would be then 65 years and 10 months old. My target or recommended age would be 67 years and 4 months and I could continue working until 70. The received pension payment raises few hundred euros per month the longer I stay at work. Regardless of the higher pension I think I will set the target to 12 years for now and keep the right to reincheck the situation then 🙂
On-line commercial services
I visited Booking.com and simulated a hotelreservation. Then I visited the actual hotelsite and found out that the price for a same type of room and ecxatly at the same time would be 20 euros expensive there than through Booking.com -site. The information about the room and price were accurate and similar to the info a the hotel site.
Booking.com is currently one of the biggest hotel booking platforms in the world. There is of course pros and cons about whether it distorts the competion of the field but as a pro using this kind of search site could bring some support and insurance for the private customer. If there is any trouble with a hotel, the customer can pass the problem to customer service of Booking.com, which is responsible to sort out any problems, e.g. over-booking or payment problems.
On-line shopping is very pleasant and convinient for me personally and I have learned to check the basic information about the on-line stores before I place my order. It is wise to check the address and contact information, return conditions and customer service channels in advance. I have had only one or two cases over the years when I have found my self scammed and mainly I have got good customer service.
eOppiva – Valtion digitaalinen oppimisympäristö
This site provides shared learning environment for the government sector and there is an abundant variety of different kind of courses and podcasts. In addition to shared and open content, eOppiva offers a Moodle learning environment for government organizations.The Defece Forces has also created their own orientation courses for internal use. I have used this site to learn how to use various software applications (MS Excel, Sharepoint, Onenote) which I need in my work and the DF has internal courses about public procurements. The courses are produced in collaboration with top experts and I find them to be very high-quality. HAUS aka Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd is responsible for the curating, maintaining, and enhancing the eOppiva service.
Here is a link for you. Some of the eOppiva courses are restricted to employees of central government organizations, while others are open to everyone. Also many municipalities, wellbeing services counties, educational institutions, organizations, and businesses utilize eOppiva.
From digital gap to the bridge of equality
I read the Digital Skills Report which is published every year by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland. The report shows that digital skills of finnish citizens have improved across all age groups and are largely at a good level. However, it is challenging to keep up with the rapid pace of change and many people need help from their family or friends. The report shows that only 65% of Finns are aware that public authorities are obliged to provide digital support when needed.
Digital equality means that everyone should have a possibility to use and access digital services. It requires suffiecient knowlegde, skills and technical device. Digital skills impact on career development, self-development, the ability to participate in social debate or even to monitor one’s own health. A lack of digital skills can lead to exclusion and a lack of autonomy and self-reliance.
It is important to ensure that everyone has equal possibility access to the services they want and need as digital channels are becoming to be the preferred way of doing business and get public services. Education and support for the digital services is central and important objective of the digital society now and in the future. This is vast subject which includes development of the information technologies and use of AI, as well as the aspects of cybersecurity and social issues.
Digital Competence Test and self evaluation
The test result came out as a I expected. I am an advanced user (level 5), “able to perform many different tasks and guide others in doing the same”. I work on the computer every day and I find myself to be open to new ways of working and new applications and software. I like developing and streamlining workflows.
This course got me thinking about digital equality. For me, I take digital services for granted, and my computer and smartphone are with me every day. Not everyone is the same and I understand those who rebel against digitalisation. This rebellion can often be due to uncertainty and lack of knowledge, and I suspect that in the future people’s motivation and attitudes will also change. Digitalisation is no longer something to be feared, but will become a natural part of people’s everyday lives, as it already is in so many way and we do not even notice it.
Check my comments on Sanna Vihanto, Sari Vallioniemi and Kati Eskman-Reima
Hi,
thank you for your blog text. I haven’t heard about eOppiva learning platform before and surely will have a look of that and what it has to offer.
You had interesting points, however, I do have to disagree with you on the matter of peoples attitude towards digitalization. I think those who are too eagerly looking for things to change digital ar ethe once who should take step back and have a look where that leads as. I think there is huge amount of people whos knowledge is more than enough to understand the positive side of the digitalization but are intelligent enough to observe this critically as well. I do not deny that digitalization has a positive side but we should be more concerned and causes how reliant we are of it.
It was interesting to read your blog. Your blog has a clear layout because you have structured things visibly. I have completed some courses on the eOppiva learning platform for a previous employer. At the moment I do not have any login to access the learning platform. However, the podcasts are available to listen to and I found many interesting topics.
Hi!
It was a pleasure to read your blog. The layout of the blog was a refreshing change! eOppiva sounds like a very sensible tool.
BR Samuli / https://blogi.savonia.fi/samulisalpakari/
Hi Maarit! Your text had a fun start and an important reminder: remember to pay the student’s healthcare fee to Kela. Wonderful layout of your blog!
– Minna https://blogi.savonia.fi/minnajohannaimmonen/