Certificate of Honour to Seija Katajisto for developing vocational competition activities
Skills Finland has awarded a Certificate of Honour to Seija Katajisto, Deputy Principal of the Salpaus Further Education, in recognition of her long-standing and influential work in developing competitive activities in vocational education.
Seija Katajisto received a Certificate of Honour on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at the Skills Talk Show event in recognition of her decades-long work to advance vocational competence.
Education providers can apply for a discretionary certificate of honour to give to persons who have had an active role in organising the competition, if those persons would not otherwise receive it directly due to a specific role. Such a person might be, for example, a teacher at an educational institution who has actively promoted Taitaja activities. Nominations are submitted to the Taitaja manager or the head of elite coaching, who decide on the awarding of the certificate.
Promoting interaction between working life, education and competitions
Seija has worked as an active developer of competition activities and vocational education at both national and international levels since the 1990s. Her first encounter with the World Skills competitions took place in the corridors of the Finnish National Agency for Education while she was working as a teacher in the applied arts field.
“My colleague participated in the WorldSkills competition and asked me for help with the task. So we completed the task together, and my interest in skills competitions was sparked,” Seija says.
Since then, Seija has worked persistently and purposefully in competition activities for nearly 30 years. She is known as a reliable and skilled partner.
“I have aimed to develop competition activities with a forward-looking and open approach. I see the connection between working life, education and competitions, that is stronger than before, as a major success. This way the benefits of competitions are also brought into education,” Seija says.
In addition, preparation for competitions is now carried out in coaching networks rather than by a single coach, which Seija considers a significant reform.
The excitement of competitions
Seija has been actively involved in competition activities from the principal’s perspective. By participating in competitions she has promoted the skills of students and teachers and introduced pedagogical innovations. Seija’s commitment and expertise have been crucial in ensuring the quality and continuity of competition activities.
“Competitions create a sense of community. Everyone can follow the preparation for the competition and the whole school cheers on competitors. The excitement around competitions is always thrilling,” Seija explains.
Seija has also acted as a mentor to new persons involved in competition activities, sharing her expertise and building a sense of community that will carry far into the future.
“It has been rewarding to follow competitors’ careers even after the skills competitions. Some of them are still involved today in various roles. I am grateful for our active and communal competition network,” she concludes.
Skills Finland thanks Seija Katajisto for her significant and long-term work in support of competition activities in vocational education.