Finland

Finland for VISCED by Merja Sjöblom, Finnish Information Society Development Centre

Partners situated in Finland

Finnish Information Society Development Centre

Finland in a nutshell

(mainly sourced from: Wikipedia)

Source: original picture on https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fi.html

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. The capital city of Finland is Helsinki. The population of Finland is about 5.4 million people, the majority concentrated in the southern region. It is the eighth largest country in Europe in terms of area and the third most sparsely populated country in the Europe. Finland is a parliamentary republic with a central government based in Helsinki and local governments in 336 municipalities.

Finland has been a member of the European Union since 1995, independent since 1917 and autonomous since 1809. Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Finnish is spoken by 92 % and Swedish by 6 % of the population. The Sami language is an official language in northern Lapland and it is the mother tongue of about 1,700 people.

Education in Finland

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education and the National Board of Education)

Source: origial jpg on: Finnish Education System

Finnish education and science policy stresses quality, efficiency, equity and internationalism. It is geared to promote the competitiveness of Finnish welfare society. Sustainable economic development will continue to provide the best basis for assuring the nation's cultural, social and economic welfare. The overall lines of Finnish education and science policy are in line with the EU Lisbon strategy.

In Finland, the basic right to education and culture is recorded in the Constitution. Public authorities must secure equal opportunities for every resident in Finland to get education also after compulsory schooling and to develop themselves, irrespective of their financial standing. Legislation provides for compulsory schooling and the right to free pre-primary and basic education. Most other qualifying education is also free for the students, including postgraduate education in universities.

Parliament passes legislation concerning education and research and determines the basic lines of education and science policy. The Government and the Ministry of Education and Culture, as part of it, are responsible for preparing and implementing education and science policy. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for education financed from the state budget. The Government adopts a development plan for education and research every four years.

The Finnish education system is composed of nine-year basic education (comprehensive school), preceded by one year of voluntary pre-primary education; upper secondary education, comprising vocational and general education; and higher education, provided by universities and polytechnics. Adult education is available at all levels.

Schools in Finland

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education, the National Board of Education and Statistic Finland)

Children permanently living in Finland have a statutory right and obligation to complete the comprehensive school syllabus. Nearly all children (99.7%) do this. The principle underlying pre-primary, basic and upper secondary education is to guarantee basic educational security for all, irrespective of their place of residence, language and economic standing.

All children have the right to participate in voluntary pre-primary education during the year preceding compulsory schooling. Nearly all 6-year-olds do so. A Finnish child usually starts schooling at the age of seven. The nine-year basic schooling is free for all pupils. Local authorities arrange voluntary morning and afternoon activities for first- and second-year pupils and for special-needs pupils.

General upper secondary education commonly takes three years to complete and gives eligibility for polytechnic and university studies. At the end of the upper secondary school students usually take the national matriculation examination.

Basic education in a nutshell

• a nine-year comprehensive curriculum for the whole age group
• teaching is provided by schools near the home
• no degree; a final certificate will be given for completing the syllabus
• teaching, text books and teaching materials, school transport and school meals are free
• basic education includes a one-year long voluntary pre-primary education in a school or day-care centre
• local authorities can also provide voluntary morning and afternoon activities for pupils in basic education
• provides the necessary prerequisites for all upper secondary education

See also National Core Curriculum for Basic Education

Pre-Primary education

Pre-primary education is available free of charge for children one year before they start actual compulsory schooling. Its aim is to develop children's learning skills as part of early childhood education and care. Local authorities have statutory duty to arrange pre-primary education, but for children participation is voluntary and decided by parents. About 96% of the six-year-olds go to pre-primary school.

The Ministry of Education recommends that a pre-primary teaching group only include 13 children, but if there is another trained adult in addition to the teacher it may have up to 20 children. Pre-primary instructors have either a kindergarten teacher qualification or a class teacher qualification.

Basic education

Basic education is free general education provided for the whole age group. After completing the basic education syllabus young people have finished their compulsory schooling. It does not lead to any qualification but gives eligibility for all upper secondary education and training.

Basic education in brief:

• Basic education is free nine-year education provided in comprehensive schools.
• The local/school curriculum is based on a national core curriculum.
• Education is provided in neighborhood schools or other suitable places which make school travel as short and safe as possible.
• Schools cooperate with pupils' homes.
• A pupil is entitled to special-needs education, if necessary.
• It is possible to continue basic education on a voluntary basis (for a tenth year).
• A school-leaving certificate is issued on the completion of the syllabus, but it does not give any actual qualification.
• The certificate gives access to all upper secondary education and training.
• Teachers are highly educated.
• Nearly all children complete their compulsory schooling.

Compulsory schooling starts in the year when children turn seven and ends after the basic education syllabus has been completed or after ten years.

The post-compulsory level

The post-compulsory level is divided into general education and initial and further vocational education and training. After basic education, 95.5% of school-leavers continue in additional voluntary basic education (2.5%), in upper secondary schools (54.5%) or in initial vocational education and training (38.5%).

General upper secondary education

General upper secondary education usually takes three years and gives eligibility for higher education. About 55% of school-leavers opt for the general upper secondary school. The upper secondary school is based on courses with no specified year-classes and ends in a matriculation examination. It does not qualify for any occupation. After the upper secondary school, students continue in universities, polytechnics or vocational institutions.

The admission requirement for general upper secondary education is a school-leaving certificate from basic education. Students apply to general and vocational education in a joint application system. If the number of applicants exceeds the intake, the selection is based on students' school reports. The drop-out rate is low.

See statistics: Students in upper secondary general education by region in 2010

Vocational education

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. VET comprises initial vocational training and further and continuing training.

The largest fields of vocational education in Finland 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%).

VET is intended both for young people and for adults already active in working life. They can study for vocational qualifications and further and specialist qualifications, or study in further and continuing education without aiming at a qualification.

Initial VET

• The vocational qualification has been designed to respond to labor 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.
• 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.

See statistics: Students in curriculum-based basic vocational education numbered 133,800 in 2010

Further and higher education

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education and Statistics Finland)

The Finnish higher education system consists of two complementary sectors: polytechnics and universities. The mission of universities is to conduct scientific research and provide instruction and postgraduate education based on it. Polytechnics train professionals in response to labor market needs and conduct R&D which supports instruction and promotes regional development in particular.

The higher education system is being developed as an internationally competitive entity capable of responding flexibly to national and regional needs.

Universities in Finland

The mission of Finnish universities is to conduct scientific research and provide undergraduate and postgraduate education based on it. Universities must promote free research and scientific and artistic education, provide higher education based on research, and educate students to serve their country and humanity. In carrying out this mission, universities must interact with the surrounding society and strengthen the impact of research findings and artistic activities on society.

Under the new Universities Act, which was passed by Parliament in June 2009, Finnish universities are independent corporations under public law or foundations under private law (Foundations Act). The universities operate in their new form from 1 January 2010 onwards. Their operations are built on the freedom of education and research and university autonomy.

Universities confer Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and postgraduate licentiate and doctoral degrees. Universities work in cooperation with the suspending society and promote the social impact of research findings.

There are 16 universities in Finland and the military field which is provided by the National Defence College operating within the Ministry of Defence sector.

At universities students can study for lower (Bachelor's) and higher (Master's) degrees and scientific or artistic postgraduate degrees, which are the licentiate and the doctorate. It is also possible to study specialist postgraduate degrees in the medical fields.

In the two-cycle degree system students first complete the Bachelor's degree, after which they may go for the higher, Master's degree. As a rule, students are admitted to study for the higher degree. Studies are quantified as credits (ECTS). One year of full-time study corresponds to 60 credits. The extent of the Bachelor's level degree is 180 credits and takes three years. The Master's degree is 120 credits, which means two years of full-time study on top of the lower degree.

The system of personal study plans will facilitate the planning of studies and the monitoring of progress in studies and support student guidance and counseling.

University postgraduate education aims at a doctoral degree. In addition to the required studies, doctoral students prepare a dissertation, which they defend in public. The requirement for postgraduate studies is a Master's or corresponding degree.

Universities select their students independently and entrance examinations are an important part of the selection process. An admitted student may only accept one student place in degree education in a given academic year. Universities also offer fee-charging continuing education and Open University instruction, which do not lead to qualifications but can be included in a undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

See statistics: University students numbered 169,400 in 2010

Polytechnics in Finland

The system of polytechnics is still fairly new in Finland. The first polytechnics started to operate on a trial basis in 1991−1992 and the first were made permanent in 1996. By 2000 all polytechnics were working on a permanent basis. Polytechnics are multi-field regional institutions focusing on contacts with working life and on regional development. There are 25 polytechnics in the Ministry of Education and Culture sector: four are run by local authorities, seven by municipal education consortia and 14 by private organizations. In addition there is the Åland University of Applied Sciences in the self-governing Province of Åland and a Police College subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior.

Polytechnics offer

• education for polytechnic degrees
• education for polytechnic master's degrees
• professional specialization and other adult education
• open polytechnic education
• vocational teacher training

Degree studies give a higher education qualification and practical professional skills. They comprise core and professional studies, elective studies and a final project. All degree studies include practical on-the-job learning. There are no tuition fees in degree education, and the students can apply for financial aid.

Polytechnic education is provided in the following fields:

• Humanities and Education
• Culture
• Social sciences, business and administration
• Natural resources and the environment
• Technology, communication and transport
• Natural sciences
• Social services, health and sport
• Tourism, catering and domestic services

The extent of polytechnic degree studies is generally 210−240 study points (ECTS), which means 3.5 - 4 years of full-time study. This education is arranged as degree programs. The entry requirement is a certificate from an upper secondary school or the matriculation certificate, a vocational qualification or corresponding foreign studies. The requirement for Master's studies in polytechnics is a Bachelors' level polytechnic degree and at least three years of work experience. The polytechnic Master's, which is 60-90 study points and takes 1.5-2 years, is equivalent to a university Master's in the labor market.

Each student has a personal study plan, which facilitates student guidance and the monitoring of progress in studies. Polytechnics also arrange adult education and open education geared to maintain and upgrade competencies. The teaching arrangements in adult education are flexible and enable mature students to work alongside their studies. Some 20% of polytechnic students are mature students.

See statistics: A total of 21,900 polytechnic degrees were attained in 2010

Education reform

The Finnish education reform is very much based on a top-down comprehensive school. This development started in 1968 and was based on the idea that education has an impact on both well-being of citizens and economic competitiveness.

Education reform principles in Finland:

1. A compulsory primary school for children from 7 years on, lasting for nine years. Socio-economic background has no relevance - the aim of compulsory primary school is to learn the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes of lifelong learning.
2. Basic education is free for all so that the focus can be held on teaching and learning.
3. All teachers have master´s degree in order to qualify for a permanent position in teaching. The public education is based on excellent teachers and investing in supporting them.
4. Schools plan their own curricula, based, of course, on national guidelines and teachers have pedagogical freedom in classrooms.
5. Education is seen as key to survive in the modern competitive world. Political decision makers understand that education is a critical driver to economic growth.
6. No mandatory tests and examinations are required (except Matriculation Examination for the upper secondary school students). Descriptive feedback is recommended and validation is based on student´s individual development rather than comparison to other students.
7. For higher education universities and polytechnics together create competitive education model for increasing technology implementation and entrepreneurship in education.
8. Cooperation between teacher unions, educators, researchers, enterprises and other experts has worked excellently over the years. This cooperation enables experimental and pilot projects and research to help develop educational solutions.
9. Regional development and networking create new ways to manage and develop both school and teacher´s skills.
10. Political consensus: government, trade unions and employer´s organizations share a same goal and are able to communicate act together.

Read a blog entry on this from Bert Maes blog, 2010

Picture of Educational Reform in Finland (click on it to see the whole pdf document)

Schools

A municipal education system was built in the early 1070´s and a nine year compulsory primary school was instituted. With this solution the same education could be provided for all students regardless of their background, economic status, gender or language. Compulsory school is free of charge for all students - there are no costs for education, materials, food or anything else either. There is also a possibility to choose which school to attend to.

Teachers in Finland have university-level education. For a permanent teaching position one has to have a master´s degree. Every year only 10 % of applicants who want to become teachers are accepted to Finnish Universities. For teachers there are also plenty of life-long learning opportunities throughout their teaching careers. Further education nowadays is often based on up-to-date researches and cover areas like virtual learning environments, changes in work and effective usage of information technology also from the pedagogic view.

Schools have a possibility to plan their own curricula based of course on national core curriculum by the National Board of Education. In the same way schools can choose teaching material and teaching methods independently. Also the testing methods and actual tests are being planned locally by schools or individual teachers. This makes is possible to grade students based on their individual development rather than comparing students with one another. Only in the upper secondary level there is a nationally equal testing system, The Matriculation Examination.

Reforms in Finnish Basic Education

(source Basic Education Reform in Finland - presentation in 2010)

• Divided parallel education system with consequent achievement gap until 1970
• 1970 first national curriculum – strongly centralized
• Teacher education to universities in mid-1970s – research-based teacher education
• Higher standards for all – ability grouping discontinued in 1985 curricular reform – individualisation
• Decentralisation of steering powers especially during 1990s
• National Core Curriculum reformed 1985, 1994 and 2004
• Recent emphasis on developing quality of basic education
• Reform of early intervention strategies 2010
• Proposal for the Reform of Finnish Basic Education 2020

Administration and finance

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education and Statistics Finland)

In Finland everyone has the right to free basic education, including necessary equipment and text books, school transportation, where needed, and adequate free meals.

Post-compulsory education is also free. This means that there are no tuition fees in general and vocational upper secondary education, in polytechnics or in universities. At these levels of education, students pay for their text books, travel and meals.

In general and vocational upper secondary education, school meals are free, and students can get subsidy for school travel. In continuing vocational education and in liberal adult education, it is possible to charge modest fees. Those studying in post-compulsory education and training can apply for financial aid. There are special support schemes for mature students

See statictics

• Current expenditure on regular education system by type of expenditure 1995–2009 and
• Current expenditure on regular education system increased in 2009

See pictures in pdf-format

• Administration of basic and upper secondary education
• Administration of the higher education system and research

Schools

The network of comprehensive schools covers the whole country. The majority of pupils attend medium-sized schools of 300-499 pupils. The smallest schools have fewer than ten pupils and the largest over 900 pupils. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide education for children of compulsory school age living in their areas. The language of instruction is mostly Finnish or Swedish, but also the Sami, Roma or sign language may be used. Swedish-speaking pupils come to under 6% and Sami-language pupils under 0.1% of all pupils.

Upper secondary

General upper secondary education is provided by local authorities, municipal consortia or organizations authorized by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The central government co-finances education with statutory government grants based on student numbers and unit costs per student. The majority of the 435 upper secondary schools in Finland are run by local authorities.

Vocational Education

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the strategic and normative steering of VET and leads national development. The national objectives of VET, the structure of the qualifications and the core subjects included in them are determined by the government. The details of the qualification and the extent of training are determined by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The authorizations to provide VET are granted by the Ministry.

The National Board of Education designs the core curricula and sets the requirements of competence-based qualifications, which describe the aims and key content of the qualifications.

Vocational education and training providers are responsible for organizing training in their areas, for matching provision with local labor market needs, and for devising curricula based on the core curricula and requirements. They also decide independently what kind of institutions or units they run.

A VET provider may be a local authority, a municipal training consortium, a foundation or other registered association, or a state company. There are around 210 VET providers in Finland. The aim is to develop them to meet according to skills needs. To this end, smaller units will be combined to form local, regional or otherwise strong entities.

Quality assurance

(mainly sourced from: Ministry of Education and National Board of Education)

Education and training providers have a statutory duty to evaluate their own activities and participate in external evaluations. Evaluation is used to collect data in support of education policy decisions and as a background for information- and performance-based steering. Education is evaluated locally, regionally and nationally. Finland also takes part in international reviews, for example PISA

Evaluation findings are used in the development of the education system and the core curricula and in practical teaching. They and international comparative data also provide a tool for monitoring the realization of equality and equity in education.

Universities and polytechnics evaluate their own education, research and artistic provision and undertake impact analyses. They are assisted by the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC).

Finnish Information Society

From 2003 to 2007 The Finnish Government Information Society Programme was acting to improve competitiveness and productivity, to promote social and regional equality and to improve citizens' well-being and quality of life through effective use of information and communications technologies. The Programme consisted of seven sub-sectors:

• telecommunication infrastructure and digital television
• citizens' ability to utilise the information society and security
• training, working life, research and development
• utilisation of ICT in public administration
• electronic commerce and digital contents
• legislative measures and
• international dimension

Work of the The Government Information Society Programme was continued by Ubiquitous Information Society Advisory Board from 2007 to 2011. The Board had around 40 members from the involved Ministries, public administration, NGOs and business life. The Advisory Board aimed to transform Finland into an internationally recognized, competitive, competence-based service society with a human touch.

The Advisory Board had the duty to:

• draw up an action plan for the national information society strategy
• monitor and coordinate the implementation of the action plan
• accommodate the measures of the action plan and ensure that they are consistent with one another
• maintain cooperation with other players in the information society development
• integrate and coordinate information security work in the information society
• promote the introduction and development of reliable electronic identification systems
• promote the copyright system from the viewpoint of the information society
• take new initiatives to speed up the national information society development
• monitor the information society development at international and EU level and
• report annually to the Government about the implementation of the action plan.

Read the action plan of Ubiquitous Information Society Advisory Board in pdf-format: http://www.arjentietoyhteiskunta.fi/files/73/Esite_englanniksi.pdf or open a PowerPoint slideshow http://www.arjentietoyhteiskunta.fi/files/29/National_Information_Society_Policy_in_short.ppt

The Advisory Board worked in six working groups to fulfill its aims:

• Information security working group
• Electronic identification development group
• Near Field Communication working group
• Media forum for children and young people
• Utilizing the benefits of ICT in teaching and studying working group (this group crew up to be a major project, read a brief description from a word document http://www.arjentietoyhteiskunta.fi/files/220/paivitys_arjentietoyhteiskunta_engl_191109.docx)
• working group on opening public information of the Finnish public sector

Statistics

For a number of years Statistics Finland has been describing evolvement of the information society in Finland. Compilations have been published on the topic and annual statistics are produced on the use of information and communications technology.

There are for example following statistics:

• Use of information and communications technology
• Use of information technology in enterprises

Finnish Information Society 2020

source: Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund

The following vision of the Finnish information society was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Communications as a contribution to the information society strategy process. Discussion on the vision continues.

Source: http://www.clubofrome.at/events/2006/helsinki/ahonen.html

• The foundation for the Finnish information society in 2020 is humanity, with a focus on developing new services and technologies that are meaningful, safe and accessible. Ease of use ensures that the digitized culture includes all citizens. Climate change makes electronic services even more important: it pays to prefer bits to atoms.
• The quality of services is measured by ease of use and relevance. High-quality services are personalized and predictable. The focus in healthcare, for example, is on holistic promotion of health, which includes social factors as well as medical viewpoints.
• Virtual is real, and reality is virtual. High-quality information networks have become vitally important, as have securing maintenance and support for these networks. Automation and artificial intelligence have freed employees from routine tasks, but technology can never replace meaningful human contact. This is particularly true of sectors such as the care-giving industry.
• In the information society, innovation springs from sharing information in networks across organizations, beyond traditional hierarchies and information silos. Business can no longer be based on control, but on joint efforts to improve and evolve. A multidisciplinary innovation environment has already boosted Finland’s position in global competition, providing opportunities for big and small businesses alike.
• Important and productive work involves global interaction and collaboration. Success results from a commitment to shared values—from having reached an understanding of common goals through discussion. The ability to collaborate is measured by what are known as collaboration credits, and collaboration is managed across organizational borders.
• Communication skills across professional, linguistic and cultural barriers are crucial. Information work and global partnerships require new practices that differ from those in the industrial society, where work was tied to a certain place and certain hours. Play and creativity are important for both individual well-being and the common good, generating something genuinely new.
• The importance of digital materials and networks is stressed in learning, as are learning styles and strategies—in other words, learning to learn. A good, well-rounded education allows for equal citizenship in an information society. Learning takes place at all ages in schools, at the workplace, during free time. Schools emphasize a culture of shared improvement, which is based on sharing information and skills and learning from mistakes. Game-like elements aid learning.
• In the information society, public administration assumes the role of enabler, which allows people and businesses more influence. Public administration consistently promotes open operating models and practical use of information, creating new opportunities for everyone.
• Publicly produced content—including maps, statistics and public service media content—are under an open licence, and raw data are available for anyone to use and develop further, as long as privacy and public safety are not compromised. All personal information is the property of the individual and easily available when needed. All relevant health information, for example, is available regardless of place of care. This is achieved through open information interfaces.
• The line between the public and the private sectors becomes meaningless as a result of cooperation. The public sector is efficient and flexible, and businesses contribute to the common good. The right to services and opportunities to participate and contribute no longer depend on regional borders. The growing importance of natural resources and the countryside supports this trend.
• The information society increases direct democracy and work toward common goals. Administrative processes are preceded and supported by citizen discussions and by experimental projects that provide information about new phenomena and processes before they are implemented on a larger scale. Citizens, organizations and businesses have the right to propose new legislation.
• National and municipal facilitators and the media, among others, break down extensive and difficult issues into smaller topics for discussion, without taking a position. Materials related to decision-making are available to citizens and policy-makers alike in easily comparable and understandable formats. Discussions focus on presenting the premises for decisions in concrete and comprehensible terms.

References

• Education and Reserch 2007-2012, Development Plan
• Key competences for lifelong learning in Finland; Education 2010 – interim report
• The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment

Relevant websites

• European Commission
• The Government Program
• Finnish Ministry of Education (MINEDU)
• The Finnish National Board of Education
• This is Finland
• Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences
• Finnish Virtual University
• Statistics Finland
• Ubiquitous Information Society Advisory Board
• European Schooling Finland
• The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council (FINHEEC)
• KOTA statistical data on universities and fields of education
• The Eurostudent Report
• http://www.opiskelupaikka.fi/In-English
• PISA
• The Finnish Government Information Society Programme 2003-2007
• Surveys and reports commissioned by FICORA
• Statistics and other data on Finnish science and technology
• Finnish Information Society 2020