EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN FINLAND

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EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN FINLAND
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PRESENTATION AIMS AT INTRODUCING

• Finnish education and training system
• Finnish labour administration
• Educational and vocational guidance and
  counselling as well as career planning services
  in Finland
• Clients, cooperation networks and professionals
  in the field of guidance and counselling in
  Finland

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING POLICY

• MAIN GOALS ARE TO
• ensure a high level of education and training to
  all citizens
• promote the well-being of citizens
• ensure that skills required by a changing
  environment are available in the society
• ______________________________________________
  __
• all citizens entitled to basic general education
  in Finland
• instruction given in Finnish and Swedish
• available also in Sámi, sign language and Romany

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
• all children entitled to voluntary pre-school
  education one year before compulsory education
• provided by day-care centres or in connection
  with compulsory schools
• to improve childrenss learning abilities and to
  encourage their independence

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS
• compulsory education begins at the age of 7
• comprehensive school (primary and lower secondary
  education)
• lasts nine years
• more than 50 of those completing comprehensive
  school go to upper secondary education and almost
  40 to vocational training
• voluntary education available for those having
  completed comprehensive school, but not secured a
  further study place
• basic education provides pupils with skills and
  knowledge necessary in life

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLS
• no grade levels
• -gt students make their own individual study plan
  based on
• available course supply and
• maximum time allowed for completing studies
• curriculum consists of 75 courses (i.e.
  compulsory, optional specialisation and applied
  courses), each consisting of 38 lessons
• courses from vocational schools can be included
  in the curriculum
• national matriculation examination is eligibility
  criterion for all post-secondary education (i.e.
  universities and polytechnics)

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
• provides young people with a vocational
  qualification in all branches leading to an
  independent profession
• training is developed in cooperation with trade
  and industry
• and it consists of modules
• all studies include at least six months of
  on-the-job training
• admission to higher education possible after
  completed studies in vocational training
• apprenticeship training and competence-based
  qualifications available for young people and
  adults

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• POLYTECHNICS
• non-university higher education with professional
  orientation
• study time 3,5 4 years to complete degree
  programmes
• provide Bachelors degrees but also post-graduate
  degrees
• UNIVERSITIES
• provide lower and higher academic degrees as well
  as post-
• graduate degrees of a licentiate and a
  doctorate

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• ADMISSION TO UPPER SECONDARY AND HIGHER
• EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
• joint application system the primary way to apply
  for admission to upper secondary schools,
  vocational schools, folk high schools, and
  polytechnics
• selection based on school certificates and grades
• aptitude tests can be used
• completion of upper secondary education
  qualification gives eligibility for higher
  education

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FINNISH EDUCATION AND TRAINING SYSTEM

• ADULT EDUCATION SYSTEM
• LIBERAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION
• folk high schools, study centres, summer
  universities, physical
• education centres
• general upper secondary education designed for
  adult needs
• a whole qualification or only specific
  subjects
• VOCATIONAL TRAINING
• self-motivated training, labour market training,
  in-service
• training and apprenticeship training

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FINNISH LABOUR ADMINISTRATION

• OVERALL GOALS are to
• improve the functioning of the labour market
• develop working life organisations
• advance employment and integration of immigrants
• STRATEGIC GOALS are to
• reduce structural unemployment
• ensure availability of skilled labour
• enhance labour productivity
• form a basis for active labour immigration policy
• promote entrepreneurship and self-employment

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THREE-TIER ORGANISATION OF FINNISH
LABOUR ADMINISTRATION
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FINNISH GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SYSTEM
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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at educational institutions

• COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS
• national curriculum (2003) goals for guidance
  and counselling for forms 1-2, 3-6, and 7-9
• guidance covers study skills, self-knowledge,
  further education and training options,
  occupations and working life, including
• 1-2 week work experience for pupils at upper
  stage of compre-hensive school
• - individual, small group and classroom
  guidance available
• school counsellors are trained comprehensive
  school teachers with specialisation studies in
  guidance and counselling

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at educational institutions

• UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLS
• curriculum includes one compulsory and one
  optional
• course of guidance, both consisting of 38
  hrs
• guidance covers planning of study programme,
  learning techniques, self-knowledge, further
  education, occupations and work
• guidance counsellors are trained teachers with
• supplementary training in guidance and
  counselling
• guidance counsellors, group advisers and teachers
  are
• all involved in guidance and counselling

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at educational institutions

• VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
• guidance provides students with individual
  support in studies,
• career planning and finding employment
• school counsellors are trained teachers with a
  specialisation in guidance and counselling
• guidance is usually integrated into teaching in
  classes, also personal and small group guidance
  available to students
• careers service to help students enter the labour
  market

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at educational institutions

• BASIC AND GENERAL UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION OF
• ADULTS
• goal is to give adults a varied general education
  and an opportunity to complete their unfinished
  studies
• guidance focuses on designing personal curricula,
  developing study skills, selecting relevant
  subjects
• Individual, small group guidance and web-tutoring
  available

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at educational institutions

• POLYTECHNICS
• comprehensive guidance and counselling system for
  planning of studies, career planning, work
  placements, international exchange opportunities
• career services unit in all polytechnics offers
  services to students and employers
• information about careers, recruitment and job
  exchange at http//www.jobstep.net

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING at
educational institutions

• UNIVERSITIES
• general student counselling for students enrolled
  in universities and for those seeking admittance
  to them
• special office for student guidance information
  about studies
• faculties/institutes student affairs secretary,
  academic and other staff members responsible for
  tutoring and advising
• career services unit in all universities offers
  services to students and employers (practical
  training, jobs, career guidance)
• website of the Academic Career Services network
  http//www.aarresaari.net (services for students
  and employers)

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE CAREER PLANNING SERVICES
• available for all young people and adults free of
  charge
• vocational guidance psychologists help clients
  with career choice, professional development and
  employment
• -gt personal and small group guidance to clients
• -gt psychological tests can be used
• demand for these services has increased
  considerably

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL INFORMATION SERVICES
• information to all clients about education,
  training, occupa-
• tions and working life as well as about
  studying and training opportunities abroad
• education and training advisors answer clients
• inquiries face-to-face, by phone and by email
• information services include web-based
  information system, collection of publications,
  guidebooks, brochures, videos about education,
  training and occupations
• national telephone helpline Koulutuslinja

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
• help job-seekers to find work and employers to
  find employees
• employment consultants work either at the
  information desk, job-centre, basic services or
  so-called specialised services
• group training in job seeking given by employment
  consultants e.g. methods, channels, evaluation of
  own strengths and skills

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
• for people with disabilities
• include vocational guidance and career planning,
  guidance in employment and rehabilitation
• can include health and aptitude tests, and other
  support measures
• includes always individual guidance and
  counselling
• provided by specialist employment advisers and
  vocational guidance psychologists

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING FOR IMMIGRANTS
• immigrants residing permanently in Finland
  entitled to same
• services in employment offices as Finns
• employment consultants specialised in serving
  immigrants at the larger offices
• personal integration plan for unemployed
  immigrants

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• EURES European Employment Services
• EURES network consists of EU27, Norway and
  Iceland
• EURES advisers responsible for guidance,
  information and employment exchanges for those
  seeking work in another European country
• forum for employers to advertise vacancies and to
  recruit employees
• EURES database contains information about working
  and living conditions in different countries
• information at http//www.mol.fi/eures

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GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
at employment offices

• LABOUR MARKET TRAINING
• primarily for unemployed people
• for young and adult in transitional periods
• free of charge, financial support available
• training can include guidance and counselling,
  language training
• consists mainly of initial vocational training,
  vocational re-training, further or continuing
  training
• organised by vocational adult education centres,
  higher education institutions etc

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SUPPORT SERVICES FOR GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

• NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LIFELONG GUIDANCE EXPERTISE
• operates at the University of Jyväskylä
• multidisciplinary research unit
• to support national lifelong guidance services
  and policy developments
• focus on guidance and counselling services for
  young people and adults, improving access to
  guidance, development of support systems for
  career guidance

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SUPPORT SERVICES FOR GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

• CIMO AS EUROGUIDANCE FINLAND
• CIMO is part of the Euroguidance network
  operating in 32 countries
• main tasks to promote international mobility and
  European dimension in guidance
• primary target group guidance counsellors in
  education and employment sectors
• services in-service training, information on
  opportunities for international mobility,
  ACADEMIA exchange programme, PLOTEUS website
  http//ec.europa.eu/ploteus

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TRAINING OF GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS

• EDUCATION SECTOR
• Universities of Jyväskylä and Joensuu, Vocational
  Teacher
• Education Colleges in Hämeenlinna and Jyväskylä
  as well as Åbo
• Akademi are responsible for guidance counsellor
  training in Finland
• EMPLOYMENT SECTOR
• Ministry of Labour arranges basic training for
  all new employment
• consultants and counsellors, vocational guidance
  psychologists,
• and education and training advisers

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CHALLENGES to guidance and counselling

• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE emphasised in all sectors of
  society
• -gt development of citizens career management
  skills
• -gt increase accessibility of the services
• -gt development of career guidance quality
  assurance systems
• -gt basic and continuing training of guidance
  practitioners
• -gt guidance at transitional periods
• -gt personal study plans at higher education
• -gt guidance and counselling of adults

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GUIDANCE IN FINLAND -BOOKLET

• GUIDANCE IN FINLAND booklet
• is available on the internet at
• http//www.cimo.fi
• -gt in English -gt Publications
• -gt på svenska -gt Publikationer
• -gt suomeksi -gt Julkaisut ja tilastot

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GUIDANCE IN FINLAND BOOKLET

• JOINTLY PROVIDED BY
• Ministry of Employment and the Economy
• http//www.tem.fi
• Ministry of Education
• http//www.minedu.fi
• Finnish National Board of Education
• http//www.oph.fi
• Centre for International Mobility CIMO
• http//www.cimo.fi