Digitization Skills and Training
On this page, you will find information about the importance of digitization, ongoing training programs, previous development work, and a free digitization skills network.
What are digitization skills and digitization training?
Digitization refers to the conversion of material that exists in analog form – for example, on paper or microfilm – into a digital format. Digitization can improve the discoverability and accessibility of materials, reduce the need for physical storage space, and ensure the preservation of materials by storing them in multiple locations.
Digitization skills are not just about technical scanning; they also involve preparing materials, ensuring quality, managing metadata, designing processes, and ensuring the long-term usability of digital information. The field is constantly evolving, and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are increasingly becoming part of digitization processes and quality assurance.
In Finland, comprehensive digitization training has not been widely available, which is why skills have traditionally been acquired through on-the-job learning and through organizations’ own training programs. Memory Campus, together with Xamk and its partners, has developed practical digitization training programs and skills development models as part of R&D projects between 2018 and 2025.
Current training courses
Digitalization Developer, 5 ECTS credits, Xamk
The Digitalization Developer training program strengthens skills in planning, developing, and ensuring the quality of digitization work. This training is particularly suitable for individuals who work in the fields of digitization, information management, archiving, or the development of digital materials.
Digitalization Implementer, working in archiving and production, 30 ECTS credits, Samiedu.
The Digitalization Implementer training program offers practical skills for digitalization work and its various stages. The training supports the development of skills needed to perform tasks related to implementing digitalization and to understand the importance of digitalization quality, processes, and the handling of materials.
Past Projects
Project for Designing Training for Digitization Experts
In a project by Mikkelin Kehitysyhtiö Miksei Oy and Xamk, training programs were designed for digitization experts and professionals, and the workforce needs in the field were assessed. The project was implemented from 1 November 2018 to 31 August 2019, and it was funded by the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment from the European Social Fund.
Becoming a Digitization Professional
In a project by Xamk and Mikkelin Kehitysyhtiö Miksei Oy, digitization experts and professionals were trained. The project trained 38 students and was implemented from 1 September 2020 to 31 December 2021 with funding from the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment from the European Social Fund.
Becoming a Digitization Specialist
The “Becoming a Digitization Specialist” project responded to identified needs in the working life by developing training that focused on the planning and preparation of digitization work. In a project by Xamk and Mikkelin Kehitysyhtiö Miksei Oy, 33 digitization specialists were trained, and it was implemented from 1 January to 31 December 2022 with funding from the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment from the REACT EU ESR+ fund.
Mapping Digitization Skills
The Xamk project compiled an overview of the skills needs and skills gaps in digitization in both the public and private sectors. The project was implemented from 1 January to 30 April 2023, and it was funded by the Regional Council of South Savo from the fund for sustainable growth and vitality of regions.
Flexible Training and Career Paths for Future Digitization Experts – JoDi
The JoDi project developed a work-life-oriented digitization training model (Digitization Developer and Implementer) to meet the growing skills needs in the field and to create pathways from education to working life. It was implemented from 1 May 2023 to 31 May 2025 with funding from the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment from the ESR+ fund.
Join the digitization skills network.
Apply to join the digitization skills network by filling out the membership application. You will receive more detailed instructions and a link to the network’s Skillhive platform via email. Membership is free.
Digitization skills Network
The Digitization Competence Network is a free community that opened in September 2024 and is open to all digitization experts, those interested in the topic, and providers of digitization services. The network supports continuous learning, problem-solving, and peer support in digitization, transcending organizational and sectoral boundaries.
The network offers information, connections, and the opportunity to share experiences with others working in digitization. The network operates on the Finnish Skillhive community platform at digitointi.skillhive.com, and the content is visible to registered users.
The network is suitable for you, for example, if:
- Digitization is related to your current job duties
- You are looking for jobs related to digitization
- You offer digitization services
- You have studied or plan to study digitization
- Digitization is related to volunteer work, hobbies, or other interests.
