The development of Finnish polytechnic system: perspectives on research

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Vocational education and training systems, what works and why’ and the program was structured around four topics: VET systems; VET in developing countries; VET and economic and social development; and VET and special needs groups. This paper on the Finnish polytechnic system was part of the first topic. When polytechnics were created in Finland at the beginning of last decade, there were both sceptics and eager enthusiasts. It was going to be the educational reform of the last century or at least of the last decade; some felt that it was only an...  [+] Show more

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Vocational education and training systems, what works and why’ and the program was structured around four topics: VET systems; VET in developing countries; VET and economic and social development; and VET and special needs groups. This paper on the Finnish polytechnic system was part of the first topic. When polytechnics were created in Finland at the beginning of last decade, there were both sceptics and eager enthusiasts. It was going to be the educational reform of the last century or at least of the last decade; some felt that it was only an exchange of labels to make the old vocational post-secondary level education system more attractive. The first polytechnics have been operating for eight years within the Finnish education system and the permanent network of polytechnics was regularised on first September 2000. The time is now right to examine the development of the polytechnics in the light of research. In this paper I have mainly collected doctoral dissertations and licentiate theses which concern polytechnics, but also included are some studies commissioned by polytechnics from research units as well as reports completed by the education authorities. The main questions in this paper are following: (1) How have Finnish polytechnics developed organisationally? (2) What kinds of innovations are linked with the development of the polytechnics? (3) How have learning processes developed since the establishment of the polytechnics? (4) How have teachers’ further and extension studies affected their advancement in the polytechnics?; Extracts from published abstract with additional information reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

The main entry for the IVETA 2001 conference is at TD/TNC 68.302. Individual papers presented at the conference are listed by topic from TD/TNC 68.303 to TD/TNC 68.306. Selected papers (including keynote speeches) are indexed from TD/TNC 68.307 to TD/TNC 68.384.