For example, many employers will, on certain conditions, provide an opportunity for their employees to carry out university studies through computers at the workplace, sometimes even during working hours. Even those who have found information techno-logy difficult, may find the open university Internet services a sufficient reason to expand their horizons and thus receive a boost to acquire the basic skills needed in the information society. Using information networks in open university education is not an end in itself, rather, it offers an alternative way of studying. Information networks bring education within the reach of some groups formerly out of reach, namely people living in scattered settlement areas, or those staying in hospitals, prisons or old people's homes. Finland's open university Internet services and the services of the Open University of the University of Helsinki are to be developed until the year 2000 with funding from the Ministry of Education.
Research is a part of the development project.
On the one hand, research will focus on the availability of services and user profile surveys, and on the other hand on developing the didactic learning environment. The Apaja Centre is a national resource centre for university graduates seeking employment and needing career counselling. The purpose of the centre is to support active and systematic job seeking and self-development. The Apaja Centre provides information, instruction and counselling on careers, job-seeking employment and education. In addition, it arranges courses promoting skills relevant to the labour market.