1. Reforms and Developments in
Finnish Adult Education Policy
A Decade of Continuous Reform
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 1
Education and Culture Finland

2. NOSTE – ”Lifting-Up” 2003-2007
Det Finska “Kunskapslyftet”
 Action programme for
raising the competences of
low-skilled labour force
 Targeted for 30–59 years
without qualifications
 Tailored training for VET
qualifications and for ICT
 Outreach, guidance,
information and support
services
 Increased local and
regional co-operation
22.10.2012 Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 2
Education and Culture Finland

3. Background:
OECD Review & Nordic SIALS 2001
+ High participation rate,
especially for qualified work force
+ Wide network of providers,
teacher training, resources
+ Close relations with working
life, competence-based
qualifications, flexibility
- Low participation those over 40
and without qualifications
- Low motivation and little
incentives for non-participants
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 3
Education and Culture Finland

4. Government 2003
From Vision to Strategy
 Parliamentary Committee
 A programme with 42 proposals
 Government commitment
 Adult Education as entity
 Better governance
 Involving all stakeholders
 Evidence-based policy
 Active measures
 Continuous updating of skills of
the whole labour force
 NOSTE programme
 Increased provision and
increased public funding
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 4
Education and Culture Finland

5. Government 2007: Overall reform of
professionally oriented adult
education
Better response to the
labour market demand
 Learning at the workplace
 Apprenticeships in Higher
Education
 … in Employment Training
 Access to all education for
the unemployed
 Training of migrants
 Guidance and counselling
services
 Improved study grants
and benefits
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 5
Education and Culture Finland

6. Government 2011
The most competent nation in the world by 2020
 Adult education on an equal basis
to all adults
 Improved access for those without
qualifications, SME entrepreneurs,
and other under-represented
 A social guarantee for young
people (a job, on-the-job training,
a study place, workshop or
rehabilitation)
 Labour market and apprenticeship
training for young people
 Investigation on personal training
accounts
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 6
Education and Culture Finland

7. Thank you for your attention!
22.10.2012 Paris Reijo Aholainen Ministry of 7
Education and Culture Finland