Participation without competing

Omnia introduced studification into the Taitaja 2023 event: students could earn credits by taking the role of Skilly, the event mascot, or by taking videos and pictures, for example. Photo: Skills Finland / Laura Luomalehto.

Tarja Partanen and Nina Kauppinen, who were responsible for coordinating the Taitaja 2023 event's studification, or work-based learning, explain how the process progressed and what kind of feedback they received from students and teachers. Even if your educational institution is not about to host a Taitaja event, the tips can be useful, for example, in an educational institution competition, in organising a semi-final or in qualifiers for an international competition.

The aim of the Taitaja2023 Espoo event was to enable work-based learning as diversely as possible in the planning and implementation of the event. This opportunity was widely utilised, and 1,700 students from different fields were involved in organising the event.

Examples of work carried out by students in the implementation of the Taitaja2023 event:

• A total of 17 students participated in the production of Taitaja2023 Espoo video and still shots in January–March 2022.
• A total of 37 students from different fields participated in the planning and implementation of the Taitaja9 local competition, which was carried out as a truck tour at the comprehensive schools of Omnia's member municipalities in October 2022.
• In the Career Paths section of the Taitaja event, a mobile game was implemented on the Seppo gaming platform, which allowed visitors to learn about different professional fields and reflect on their own professional orientation. The game was designed and implemented by two students who completed the 'Working in a project' unit (15 competence points) as part of the elective studies of the qualification.
• Many students played the Skilly mascot at several events before and during the final's week.
• Students participated extensively in the construction, implementation and dismantling phases of the event, for example in competition skill areas, the Taitaja9 final and various event arrangements, such as the opening and the closing ceremonies, the event fair and mini seminars. A total of 678 students completed the ‘active learning’ part of the elective local YTO studies (common units included in all qualifications), accumulating 1,983 competence points in total, and 90 students performed competence demonstrations for vocational units. Students from Live Vocational College, Omnia workshops and Omnia Skills Centre OSKE also worked on event organisation within the framework of their studies.
• During the event, students worked at accreditation and information points; at competition offices; in organisation, customer service and presentation tasks for the skill areas; in photography and videography; as guides for nonstop bus and metro stations; in seminar reception and guidance tasks; in outdoor and indoor cleaning (in cooperation with Live Vocational College); in first aid as well as in catering services. In addition, there were student groups at outdoor events with partners; with day-care centres and pre-school groups; in cloakroom services; in breaktime services; in hotel receptions; in VIP facilities, in café activities; as Skilly and Teemu mascots and guides; in fashion shows; at the opening and closing ceremonies and at the flower and medal ceremonies. Students were also in charge of the flower arrangements, flower arch, photo wall and performers' make-up.

Our task was to prepare the studification process, scheduling and mapping the wide range of tasks. In cooperation with Omnia's administration, we planned the implementation of Wilma's Taitaja offerings and trained the different actors, including vocational teachers, YTO teachers and external partners.

The assignment of teachers to student guidance was planned in cooperation with the education managers in different fields. The tasks for the event were primary proposed or planned by the Taitaja team, in cooperation with the different actors. Regular meetings were held with the teachers or other actors who oversaw student guidance. Their task was to specify the tasks, familiarise students with them and plan student shifts, guidance and evaluation with the support of the Taitaja team.

Most students earned 3 competence points through studification by completing an elective unit of the local YTO studies (work during the event, preparation for it and evaluation). Those who participated more extensively in the preparation or at the events completed either an elective unit of the vocational qualification (15 cp) or a larger number of elective YTO studies (max. 9 cp).

Most students participated enthusiastically, but the motivation and commitment levels naturally varied. Some of the students also worked in positions of high responsibility. They felt that the Taitaja event was meaningful and appreciated and were proud to be involved.

Many teachers praised the fact that students were given the opportunity to complete studies in a different learning environment. The Taitaja event opened in a new way for both teachers and students, and they were able to network with other colleagues and actors at the event. This increased the sense of community.