Vocational Education and Training in Finland - article

This publication answers the most frequently asked questions about Finnish vocational education and training: What does it mean? What does it include? What opportunities does it offer and who can teach in vocational education? It also provides insights into the students and the practical structure of learning.

Vocational education and training (VET) is an important and highly valued part of the Finnish education system. It plays a key role in improving the skills and employability of both young people and those already in working life. Finnish VET is continuously developed to meet the changing needs of working life. Learning has shifted from being content-based to competence-based and from taking place solely in educational institutions to being strongly work-oriented. Individual learning paths are built on prior competences and designed in collaboration with the educational institution, the student, and working life partners.

The publication introduces the structure of VET studies, the pedagogical principles behind competence-based learning, the role of the teacher, and students’ experiences. It has been edited by TAMK in collaboration with experts from different fields. The photos are from Tampere Vocational College Tredu – the second-largest vocational college in Finland, with around 18,000 students annually, both youth and adults.

This material is intended for self-study and is not credit-bearing. It provides an accessible way to understand the key characteristics of Finnish vocational education and its ongoing development towards competence-based, work-oriented, and personalized learning.