PRESS RELEASE: Taitaja2025 Turku celebrates young top professionals – Patron of the event is the President of the Republic of Finland

Taitaja2022 Pori. Photo: Roni Lehti / Skills Finland.

The Taitaja event brings together hundreds of young top professionals to compete for Finnish Championship medals by completing tasks that test their vocational skills. Around 400 competitors from across Finland will participate in the Taitaja2025 finals in Turku. The competition features 47 different skills from the fields of vehicle and transport technology, information and communication technology, services, construction, catering services and industry. Five of the skills are TaitajaPLUS skills, in which students who need special support compete for Finnish Championship titles.

The patron of the Taitaja2025 event is the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb. “This year, the best young skilled professionals in Finland gather in Turku to showcase their expertise. The event is also a great opportunity for young people still considering their future to learn about the different options vocational education can offer. Dreamers dare to break boundaries and test their own limits. So, do not fall into cynicism – instead, maintain an open mind. That way, you’ll have the strength to believe in yourselves in the face of challenges. You will then have all the tools you need to respond to changes in society,” the President said in his greeting to the event.

This year’s Taitaja2025 slogan is Towards the future with vocational skills. The event celebrates the future’s young professionals, who have advanced to the finals from nearly 1,800 semi-finalists. In many fields, vocational skills requirements have evolved over the years, a development reflected in the final competition tasks.

Fun and experiences for the whole family

The Finnish Championships in vocational skills is a great opportunity to explore vocational education and training – whether you’re thinking about applying to study or considering a career change. Visitors can follow the exciting competition tasks in various skills areas and also test their own abilities in the Simulator World or the Klaaraaks sää challenge stations. There is plenty to see and experience for the whole family.

In addition to the finals, Taitaja2025 offers a wide range of other attractions and activities. On the event square, the public can enjoy demonstrations such as forest machine operation and land surveying using drones, as well as musical performances. Two free seminars will address current topics such as the transformation of working life and international education policy. At the Partnership Square, companies and education providers will give topical presentations. The future is also a theme at the Safety Square, which brings together safety authorities and organisations.

The opening ceremony will take place on 5 May at the Gatorade Center, and the three-day finals will be held from 6 to 8 May at the Turku Fair Centre and Turku Vocational Institute (Turun AKK). The playful Taitaja9 relay competition for lower secondary school pupils will be held on 6–8 May at the Gatorade Center.

Entry to the event area is free of charge, and the venue can easily be reached by Föli bus line 100. The area is open to the general public on 6–7 May from 8:00 to 17:00 and on 8 May from 8:00 to 13:00. Both the opening (5 May) and closing ceremonies (8 May) are open to visitors and will also be livestreamed.

Welcome to experience the biggest vocational education and training event of the year!

Read more about the event on the Taitaja2025 website.