For learning and competence

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN FINLAND

Lauri Kurvonen 13.9.2007Helsinki

2 For learning and competence

1) An additional 10th year is voluntary giving pupils an opportunity to improve their grades and clarify

their career plans.

2) Vocational upper secondary education and training

is arranged in vocational schools (including at least six

months of on-the-job learning) and in the form of apprenticeship training. Adults can obtain

vocational upper secondary qualifications also in competence

tests.

3) The Ministry of Education has granted permission

to a number of polytechnics for trial post-graduate degree

programmes for 2002-2005.

5

4

3

2

1

UNIVERSITIES

4

3

2

1

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

3

2

1

SCHOOL YEARS

AGE

PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION

Compulsory

education

BASIC EDUCATION

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

WORK EXPERIENCE

WORKEXPERIENCE

SPECIALIST VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

FURTHER VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

3

2

1

POLYTECHNICS

VOCATIONALUPPER SECONDARYEDUCATION and TRAINING

GENERAL UPPERSECONDARY EDUCATION

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF FINLAND

1)

2)

3)

3 Osaamisen ja sivistyksen asialla

Vocational Qualifications in Finland

Initial vocational qualifications

Curriculum basededucation Competence-based

qualifications

Further vocational

qualifications

Specialistvocational

qualifications

For learning and competence

CURRICULUM BASED EDUCATION

5 For learning and competence

General Objectives of Vocational Education and Training

knowledge and skills necessary for vocational competence and (self-)employment

knowledge and skills needed in further studies and in life-long learning

support for personal growth and citizenship

6 For learning and competence

The Curricular System of Vocational Education and Training

qualification-specific national core curriculum (NBE)

education provider’s curriculum based on the national core curricula

more detailed, enables adapting to local needs

student’s personal study plans

7 For learning and competence

Sectors and qualifications

1. Natural Resources5 Vocational qualifications

2. Technology and Transport26 Vocational qualifications

3. Business and Administration2 Vocational qualifications

4. Tourism, Catering and Home Economics5 Vocational qualifications

5. Health and Social Services5 Vocational qualifications

6. Culture5 Vocational qualifications

7. Leisure and Physical Education4 Vocational qualifications

8 For learning and competence

Composition of studies in the vocational qualifications (3 years = 120 credits)

Vocational studies 90 credits– field-specific

– study-programme specific

– includes 20 credits (minimum) of

– on-the-job training

Core subjects 20 credits

Free-choice studies 10 credits

For learning and competence

COMPETENCE-BASED QUALIFICATIONS

10 For learning and competence

The Education System of Finland Universities

Pre-school education

Basic Education

Upper secondary schools,Matriculation examination

Vocational education

Post-graduatedegreesDoctor’s

Licentiate’s

Academic degreesMaster’s

Bachelor’s

Further polytechnic

degrees

Polytechnic degrees

Specialistvocational

qualifications

Further vocational

qualifications

Polytechnics(AMK institutions)

Competence-basedqualifications

11 For learning and competence

ADULT EDUCATION IN FINLAND 1/3

Provided by about 1000 educational institutions

Annual number of students about one million, amounting to every other adult

Direct budgetary funding accounts for 14% of the estimates of expenditure of the Ministry of Education

Open provision of studies constituting a part of certificate-oriented programmes

12 For learning and competence

ADULT EDUCATION IN FINLAND 2/3

In the course of the 1990s it was developed a new system of competence-based qualifications designed for the adult population

The system has been regulated since 1999 by Act (631/1998) and Decree (812/1998)

Variously obtained professional skills are allowed to be demonstrated in tests of competence independent of education

13 For learning and competence

ADULT EDUCATION IN FINLAND 3/3

Preparatory training for competence-based examinations

Apprenticeship training

Additional and supplementary training to update, extend and vocational competence

14 For learning and competence

LEVELS OF QUALIFICATIONS

INITIAL VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION– THE BASIC SKILLS OF THE PROFESSIONAL SECTION (THE SAME

QUALIFICATION THE YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRE IN THREE-YEARS PROGRAMMES)

FURTHER VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION– SKILLED WORKER, PROFESSIONAL OF THE SECTION (BASIC VOCATIONAL

TRAINING+ADDITIONAL STUDIES+ THREE YEARS’ WORK EXPERIENCE)

SPECIALIST VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION– THE MOST DEMANDING TASKS OF THE SECTION (BASIC VOCATIONAL

TRAINING+ADDITIONAL STUDIES+FIVE YEARS’ WORK EXPERIENCE)

15 For learning and competence

STRUCTURES OF COMPETENCE-BASED QUALIFICATION SYSTEM

QUALIFICATION TITLES (340)

– Ministry of Education

NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (320)

– National Board of Education

– Educational committees (31)

16 For learning and competence

NUMBER OF QUALIFICATION PARTICIPANTS IN 1995-2002

05000

10000150002000025000

30000350004000045000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

17 For learning and competence

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN 2001

BASIC VOCATIONAL 11 000 30 %

FURTHER VOCATIONAL 22 500 61 %

SPECIALIST VOCATIONAL 3 500 9 %

TOTAL 37 000 100 %

18 For learning and competence

1. www.edu.fi the Finnish education portal information in Finnish, Swedish and English2. www.oph.fi National Board of Education information in Finnish, Swedish and English3. www.oph.fi/info/recognition The Finnish National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications