Working life education as an activity system : On experiences and challenges from a cultural historical activity perspective

The current changes in society and working life demands pose considerable challenges to curricular responses from all educational levels including higher education. This article focuses in the development of the university subject working life education at Örebro University, Sweden. Contextualizing aspects of this work are the ongoing process of globalization of the work forces, the emergence of a knowledge base society and the transition in the occupational sector from manufacturing to service oriented economies. In this context competences such as multi-skilling, technological literacy and social and intercultural competence are considered key aspects. In the specific case of Sweden there has been for about two decades a growing demand for higher education to offer courses in areas with relevance for working life. This new courses are expected to have learning outcomes different to what skill oriented or managerial oriented courses offers. This article analyses the development of the subject working life education at Örebro University using activity theory. In more specific terms the cycle of expansive development research first developed by Yrjö Engeström is used as theoretical and methodological framework. The overall intention is to gain a deeper understanding of the subject’s constituency which is expected to serve as springboard for the expected developments