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