On-the-job learning
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A major change
The school-based training pathway has predominated in the Finnish vocational education system. Among young people, the volume of apprenticeship training has been very low. Although diverse types of practical training have been included in vocational education programmes, the system as a whole has been basically institution-centred. This has been possible because vocational schools and institutions are well equipped with up-to-date workshops and other types of learning environments.
In the late 1990s, closer co-operation between the education system and the world of work became a central target of educational and employment policy. The reasons for seeking a new relationship are familiar: rapid technological change, problems in matching skills with work tasks, high unemployment among young people and the increasing importance of lifelong learning. The vocational education system must contribute more to employability and provide young people with self-employment skills.
Teachers are experts in their own vocational field and in teaching. They participate in planning on-the-job learning and assess the whole process, at the same time marketing the institution's know-how. Employees at workplaces are in turn experts in their own field and in the company's operations. Vocational competence and expertise grow out of co-operation between these two groups.
The institution has to inform employers of their responsibility for occupational safety and of the necessary insurance the company must take out. Above all, it must make sure that students are aware of the basics of occupational safety prior to starting on-the-job training
Generally speaking, the tasks of student assessment include supporting and motivating learning, developing students' self-assessment skills and producing information on the level of skills attained.
Developing on-the-job learning with support from the European Social Fund
Measures supporting the on-the-job learning reform and the expansion of apprenticeship training include a large-scale experiment, entitled Bridge from Vocational Education to Work, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), and a special support programme of the Ministry of Education. This intervention was running throughout the years 1998 to 2000. The European Social Fund Objective 3 Programme has been cardinal to the development of on-the-job learning also during 2000-2006.
In the projects for testing and developing of on-the-job learning, educational institutions and working life develop solutions for on-the-job learning in different workplaces. The projects try in particular to find models which would help small and medium enterprises to implement on-the-job learning. The projects deal with issues relating to guidance of on-the-job learning, the use of information networks, assessment, occupational safety and on-the-job learning for those in need of special support. Funding for testing and developing on-the-job learning is applied for from the Finnish National Board of Educationor
the State Provincial Offices
Training workplace instructors increases the quality of on-the-job learning. The ESF supports training for workplace instructors, development of methods used in training and production of teaching and guidance material for workplace instructor training. The training supported by the EU's Structural Fund, follows the curriculum for training workplace instructors provided by the National Board of Education. Funding is applied for from the Finnish National Board of Education or the State Provincial Offices.
In teachers' working life periods, teachers update their working life skills by working on assignments in their field. During the period of working life, which lasts at least two months, teachers promote cooperation between the educational institution and the workplace. During the period, teachers may develop arrangements for on-the-job learning or may support the workplace instructor in planning, implementing and assessing on-the-job learning and vocational skills demonstrations. Funding for teachers'' working life periods is applied for from the State Provincial Offices.
Projects to inform parties of on-the-job learning disseminate information and deal with issues relating to on-the-job learning. Projects disseminate good practices gained from test and development projects. Funding for projects related to informing of on-the-job learning is applied for from the Ministry of Education or the Finnish National Board of Education.
Vocational ESF projects
In the field covered by the Ministry of Education, as a result of a decision taken by the Finnish National Board of Education, development projects for vocational education and training are being implemented between 2000 and 2006 in accordance with the European Social Fund's Objective 3 Programme. As part of these national projects, the quality of vocational education and training is being improved, cooperation with working life is being strengthened and the correspondence between education and training and working life is being increased.
For further information, please contact: Sirkka Starck
Project Manager, ESF
Finnish National Board of Education
sirkka.starck@oph.fi
