Kokemenjokilaakson Educational Federation of Municipalities

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Kokemäenjokilaakson Educational Federation of
Municipalities

• Smart home in Europe
• 5.2.2009
• Kokemäki
• Finland
• Matti Isokallio
• Director
• Educational Federation of Municipalities

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VET in Finland
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VET in Finland

• The aim of vocational education and training
  (VET) is to improve the skills of the work force,
  to respond to skills needs in the world of work
  and to support lifelong learning.
• A total of 146 000 students attend initial
  vocational training every year. Of them, 4 500
  attend access courses preparing for initial
  vocational training. The largest fields are
  Technology and Transport (c. 36), Business and
  Administration (19) and Health and Social
  Services (17). The other fields are Tourism,
  Catering and Home Economics (13), Culture (7),
  Natural Resources (6) and Leisure and Physical
  Education (2).

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Initial VET

• The vocational qualification has been designed to
  respond to labour market needs.
• The qualification is 120 credits, which takes
  three years of full-time study, unless prior
  learning can be counted towards the
  qualification.
• The qualification is based on working life
  occupations and the competencies required.
• The qualification includes at least 20 credits of
  on-the-job learning.
• The training is built on the basic education
  syllabus.

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Initial VET

• Prior learning acquired in training, working life
  or other learning environments can be counted
  towards the qualification.
• Matriculated students can also study in initial
  VET. Their prior studies are equivalent to some
  30 credits, which are counted towards the
  vocational qualification.
• A vocational qualification gives general
  eligibility for polytechnic and university
  studies.

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Kokemäenjokilaakson Educational Federation of
Municipalities

• Figures
• total number of students 1200 250
• staff members 220
• degrees awarded annually over 300
• operating expenses 17 million Euros

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Regional development

• Satakunta region 230 000 inhabitants (Finland 5,3
  million)
• Our municipalites 100 000 inhabitants year 2010

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Future challenges

• Working life changes
• New professions
• Decrease or increase of certain professions
• Lack of trained employees
• Higher demand in working life
• Demographic situation
• Cohort of 10-16 year vs. cohort of 58-62 year

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Future possibilities

• Emphasis in regional development of working life
• Change of focus from youth to adult education
• Focus on right field of study
• Active role in internationalization
• Active role in immigrant education