The current state and challenges of vocational education and training in Finland

The focus of this research report is the development of Finnish initial vocational education and training (VET) during the last two decades. The goal of initial vocational education and training is to provide solid vocational knowledge and skills, which enable students to move into working life. In addition, the aim of VET is to support lifelong learning and to improve the skills of the workforce. The aim of this research report is several-fold. First, it describes developments in Finnish initial VET during the last 20 years, from the 1990s to the present day. Second, it aims to analyse and reflect on the challenges that have emerged in relation to the described developments in vocational education in Finland. Furthermore, the aim of the descriptions and discussion is to create a basis for Nordic comparison within the Nord-VET project, and also to foster international comparison more generally. The development of the educational system in general and the changes in the societal environment have both affected vocational education and its outcomes in a way that demands attention and would benefit from Nordic comparison.

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