Why Skills Competitions?

For us, the purpose of the skills competitions are to

• develop vocational training
• promote professional excellence and to increase people’s appreciation of different vocations
• give teachers opportunities to network and improve their professional skills
• give students an opportunity to meet others and compare their own skills with others: working methods, tools, work environment, and comparison of learning outcomes
• increase cooperation between companies and educational institutions
• strengthen the link between working life and vocational education
• increase recruitment opportunities – connecting the demand for workers with the supply
• increase people’s awareness and appreciation of various occupations and professional skills
• present career opportunities.

Why do skills competitions work in Finland

• Competitions are linked with national VET policy
• Each competition has the objectives of its own
• Competition is a process, not only an event – utilisation and dissemination of results are part of the process
• All the stakeholders are involved – networks
• Enable long term development activities – not a project, not only a skills show
• A positive, innovative and joyful way of cooperating and communicating