Introduction to adult and vocational education in Finland

Anja Heikkinen, anja.heikkinen@uta.fi

1. Conceptual remarks

2. Historical remarks

3. Governance of education -> the EU, the state and the municipalities

4. Vocational and adult education in lifelong learning policy

5. Adult and vocational educators

1. Conceptual remarks on adult and vocational education in Finland

• Official definitions: criteria for administration and funding of educational institutions; criteria for qualification and degree systems; criteria for recognition and recruitment in labour markets

• Educational interpretations: aims and functions of education (citizenship, work/occupation, knowledge…); cultural meanings (personal, collective…) of education

2. Historical remarks on Finland - industries, occupations

* Christianization since 12th century, part of Sweden until 1809, part of Russia until 1917, EU member country since 1995* Parliamentary democracy on two feet - the state and municipalities - and the EU parliament and the EU commission* Heritage of rural/agricultural industries, wood-processing industries, (heavy) metal industries (until 1970s) -> increase of service (social, health, education, business & administration), chemical and ICT industries

Nousiaisten kirkonkylä. Vihtori Ylisen maalaus, 1909. Hakulinen, K. & Yli-Jokipii, P. 1996. Maamme kuvat.

Village in South-Western Finland 1909

Kymijoen suulta. Vihtori Ylisen maalaus 1913. Hakulinen, K. & Yli -Jokipii, P. 1996. Maamme kuvat.

Sawmill and harbour in South-Eastern Finland 1913

Tamturbo Oy (ubiquitous products

Creating more with less is UPM’s means for better material efficiency. Sustainable and efficient use of resources brings with it advantages with regard to energy, production and cost efficiency.

Biofore is a new industry category UPM (wood-processing company since 19th

century) has created to describe the future of the company.

Angry Birds (70 % side

products…)

Health and social services personnel employed by the public and private sector in 2000–2012

10.4.2015 reijo.ailasmaa@thl.fi 7

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public private

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Public Priv ate

Health Care

Social Welfare

Central governance of education in Finland 1809-1990s

3. Current governance of adult and vocational education

• One foot of the governance -> the European Union, parliament + directorates, working groups…

• Another foot -> the state: parliament + education committee, ministry and board of education -> education, social and health care over 75 % from budget, minor private provision

• The third foot of governance -> the municipality: parliament, education committee, education office -> education, social and health care abt 75 % from budget

• Covered by taxes: direct (state + municipality) and indirect -> over 50 % of incomes in average go to taxes

3.1. Suomi-Finland as a member state of European Union

Examples of EU governance in adult and vocational education

The EU Parliament and Council, Commission - Directorates (Education and Culture, Employment and Social Affairs), Working Groups, Programs for (regional, structural…) development, mobility and research

Higher education (Bologna process) and vocational education (Copenhagen process) policies, European Qualification Framework for Lifelong Learning -> European Higher Education Area, European Education Area -> ECTS and ECVET-systems, European Quality Assurance Frameworks…

http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/expert-groups_en.htm

http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/about-cedefop/what-we-do

http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/Home

http://ec.europa.eu/social/home.jsp?langId=en

EQF for LLL, with examples from some member stateshttps://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/content/descriptors-pagehttps://ec.europa.eu/ploteus/en/compare

3.2. State governance of adult and vocational education

General government consolidated total expenditure by function

1990–2012*, Ratio to GDP (Statistics Finland)

3.3. Municipal (local) governance of adult and vocational education

4. Vocational and adult education in policies of lifelong learning

Engagement in post-primary primary studies

Compulsory education, vocational and higher education is free of charge; most forms of adult education are subsidized

-> about half continue to general upper secondary, half to vocational schools-> about 23% to universities, about 30% to polytechnics-> 55 % of population attends annually adult education1) work-based learning2) vocational adult education3) Liberal adult education: adult education centres/people´s institutes, folk high schools, study circles, summer universities…

•Open and flexible pathways; Individualized and competence-based, increasingly work-based curricula; Student welfare; Rationalization of provision

•Over 360 programmes leading to over 50 qualificationshttp://www.oph.fi/english/curricula_and_qualifications/vocational_upper_secondary_education

Vocational schools (ammattiopisto, regional consortia by municipalities) provide•basic qualifications (upper secondary level) 3 years´ programmes, occupation-oriented studies 80%, (occupational theory + practice + half a year on-the job), general 20% (mathematics, science, mother tongue, foreign language, arts)•eligibility to polytechnic or university•work place for students and guarantee for adequacy of work-based learning

Apprenticeships (oppisopimuskoulutus, mainly adults) organized between vocational schools / vocational adult education institute, local apprenticeship office and work-site: basic, further and (”journeyman”) and special (”master”) vocational qualifications (to be integrated into NQF for LLL)

Polytechnics (ammattikorkeakoulu, AMK) provide• 3,5-4 years´ degrees (+ programmes for higher AMK degrees)• core and professional studies, elective studies and a final project + on-the-job

learning

Vocational education in lifelong learning policy

Main providers of adult education & training in Finland

Universities and Polytechnics: professional development / specialist continuing education programs, open university

Adult gymnasia: general upper secondary education, matriculations

Vocational schools: qualifications for adults at upper secondary level, preparatory training (for migrants etc.)

Vocational adult education institutes: qualifications, in-company training, employment inclusion training, preparatory training

In-company/Staff training + Private training companies

Liberal adult education: municipal Adult education centres(workers´/people´s institutes): voluntary studies, open university; Folk high schools: general education, open university, vocational courses & qualifications; Study associations (of parties, SCOs etc.): e.g. study circles; Summer universities, Sport institutes

Adult education in lifelong learning policy

5. Educators in adult and vocational education1. Specialized teacher education (universities)• Kindergarten teachers: BA or MA in early childhood education• Primary school teachers: MA in education• Special needs teachers and Study counsellors: MA in special education or 1-2

years programme in university• Subject teachers: MA in the subject + 60 ECTS programme in subject pedagogy in

university

2. General pedagogical certificate (universities and vocational teacher education units in 5 polytechnics)

• Specialized education for adult (liberal) education and vocational education teachers was abolished during 1990s

• 60 ECTS = 1-2 years -> loose structure, flexible provision, individualized studies• Vocational teachers: prerequisite HE degree in teaching subjects + min 3 years work

practice -> basic studies in educational sciences, vocational pedagogy studies, teaching practice, elective studies

3. Research-based MA and Dr degrees in education (universities)• MA: 360 ECTS/5 years full time -> Dr: 240 ECTS/4 years full time

4. University / HE pedagogical studies / Certificate (universities)• For university staff, 10-25 ECTS