Taitaja through the ages

Taitaja in the future

VET providers and Skills Finland have agreed on a model in which the organiser of the Taitaja event will no longer be selected on the basis of applications, but the organisers will be decided together for a few years onwards. This enables the long-term collaborative development of the event.

According to the agreement, the competition will be held: 2026 in the Central Uusimaa region, 2027 in Helsinki together with the Abilympics event, 2028 in Joensuu, 2029 in Tampere, 2030 in Helsinki, 2031 in Vaasa, 2032 in Mikkeli and 2033 in Lapland.

Past Taitaja events

Taitaja2025 Turku

The National Skills Competition Taitaja2025 was held at Turku Fair Centre and the surrounding areas between 5 and 8 May 2025. The event attracted 66 000 visitors interested in vocational education and training. The event was organised by Turun ammatti-instituutti together with other vocational institutes in the Southwest Finland. The competition director was Petri Hörkkö. There were 47 skills in the competition. The competition had 1,830 registered semi-finalists.

The Animal Care gold medallist Karoliina Koskinen from Livia College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja ('Best of Taitaja'). The Taitaja9 competition was won by the team 'Terävät naulat' Ilmarinen school.

Skills Finland’s Taitaja award for Sustainable Development went to the skills of Floristry, the Taitaja award for Entrepreneurship went to TaitajaPLUS - Restaurant and Catering Service and the Taitaja award for Occupational safety went to Transportation and Logistics.

Taitaja2024 Kuopio

The National Skills Competition Taitaja2024 was held in Kuopio at Kuopio Hall and Savo Vocational College (Savilahti Campus) between 20 and 23 May 2024. The event attracted 59 000 visitors interested in vocational education and training. The event was organised by Savo Vocational College with Petteri Makkonen as the competition director. There were 49 skills in the competition. The competition had 1,903 registered semi-finalists.

The Property Management gold medallist Max Miettunen from Omnia was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The Taitaja9 competition was won by the team 'Sapelihammastiikerit' from Sydän-Laukaa school.

Skills Finland’s Taitaja award for sustainable development went to the Horse Care skill, the Taitaja award for entrepreneurship went to Fashion Technology and the Taitaja award for occupational safety went to Cleaning Services.

Taitaja2023 Espoo

The National Skills Competition Taitaja2023 was held at Metro Areena and Tapiola Sports Park in Espoo between 8 and 11 May 2023. The event attracted more than 85,000 visitors interested in vocational education and training, mainly lower secondary school pupils from the nearby regions. The event was organised by Omnia with Thomas Vasenius as the competition director. There were 47 national-level skills in the competition. The competition had 1,646 registered semi-finalists.

The Plumbing and Heating gold medallist Viljami Turve from Tampere Vocational College Tredu was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The Business TaitajaPLUS skill gold medallist Sheri Latvala from Kiipula Vocational College achieved the highest points in the competition. The Taitaja9 competition was won by the Ryhmä Muukkonen team from the Joensuun lyseo school.

Skills Finland’s Taitaja award for sustainable development went to the Retail Sales skill, the Taitaja award for entrepreneurship went to the Cooking skill and the Taitaja award for occupational safety went to the Cabinetmaking skill.

Taitaja2022 Pori

For the first time, Satakunta region played the central role in the organisation of the Taitaja event, as the largest vocational education and training providers in the region, WinNova and Sataedu, were responsible for organising the event. Diana Bergroth-Lampinen from WinNova acted as the competition director. There were 45 national-level skills in the competition.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the semi-finals were held in each of the educational institutions participating in the event. The competition had 1,280 registered semi-finalists. The final event could be organised without restrictions between 16 and 19 May 2022 at the Pori Sports Center and the Emergency Services Training Centre of Western Finland. The event attracted nearly 30,000 visitors.

The winner of the Health and Social Care skill Inka Myyryläinen from Salpaus Further Education was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The Game Production competitor pair Topi Korhonen and Miko Kuokkanen from Riveria achieved the highest points in the competition. The winner of the Taitaja9 competition was the Lahden yhteiskoulu team.

Skills Finland’s Taitaja award for sustainable development went to the Cabinetmaking skill, the Taitaja award for entrepreneurship went to the Restaurant and Catering Service TaitajaPLUS skill and the Taitaja award for occupational safety went to the Beauty Therapy skill.

Taitaja2021 Oulu

The Taitaja2021 Oulu event was organised by Educational Consortium OSAO in cooperation with 13 other educational institutions in Northern Finland. Sauli Jaara acted as the competition director. There were 46 national-level skills.

The event was organised in an exceptional manner during the coronavirus pandemic. The semi-finals were held in each of the educational institutions participating in the event. The competition had 1,520 registered semi-finalists. The final was held between 18 and 20 May 2021 in the teaching facilities of the organising educational institutions. The audience was unable to attend the event on-site, but an estimated 30,000 people followed the virtual implementation of the final event online.

The Visual Merchandising skill gold medallist Noora Salo from Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The Infrastructure Construction gold medallist Jere Moilanen from Gradia achieved the highest points in the competition.
Taitaja9 qualifying competitions and the final were held virtually using the Taitaja9 game. The competition was won by the Kajaanin lyseo team.

Taitaja2020 Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia was responsible for organising the event with Maria Linnavirta as the competition director. The semi-finals were organised successfully in week 5/2020, and 1,461 vocational education and training students registered for them. The Taitaja2020 final was planned to take place between 11 and 14 May 2020 at the fair and event centre Paviljonki in Jyväskylä, but the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus situation in the country and the restrictions it caused. A total of 40,000 visitors were expected to attend the event.

Taitaja2019 Joensuu

The Taitaja2019 event was held at Joensuu Arena and in its surroundings between 20 and 23 May 2019. The event was organised by the North Karelia Municipal Education and Training Consortium Riveria and its partners. Anne Karppinen acted as the competition director. A total of 1,474 students participated in the semi-finals. A total of about 28,000 visitors visited Taitaja during the three competition days.

The Car Painting gold medallist Emilia Pääkkönen from Riveria was awarded the title of Taitajien Taitaja. The practical nurse skill gold medallist Helmi Ryynänen from Omnia achieved the highest points in the competition. As is the tradition, the event also featured the final of the lower secondary school pupils’ handicraft competition Taitaja9, which was won by the Skootterit team from Isonkyrön yläkoulu.

Taitaja2018 Tampere

The Taitaja2018 event was held at Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre between 14 and 17 May 2018. Tampere Vocational College Tredu organised the competition in cooperation with Sastamala Municipal Education and Training Consortium, Tavastia Education Consortium, Valkeakoski Region Municipal Education and Training Consortium, the Kiipula Foundation and the Ahlman School Foundation. The event attracted about 50,000 visitors. A total of 1,419 young people participated in the semi-finals.

The Transportation and Logistics gold medallist Roope Juutilainen from Varia was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The highest points in the entire Taitaja2018 competition were achieved by the Turku Vocational Institute students Jutta Vainio and Anton Viitasaari who won the Catering Cooking skill. The Taitaja9 competition was won by the Oraakkelin Omenat team from Isonkyrön yläkoulu.

Taitaja2017 Helsinki

The main vocational education and training event for the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence, Taitaja2017 Helsinki, was held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre between 15 and 18 May 2017. A total of 1,614 competitors participated in the semi-finals. The event attracted 99,180 visitors, which is Taitaja’s record number of visitors. The event was organised by the Helsinki metropolitan area’s educational institutions and hundreds of partners, with Helsinki Vocational College and Adult Institute having the main responsibility. Noora Latvakoski from Lapin matkailuopisto was selected as Taitajien Taitaja. The Taitaja9 competition was won by Nikon Nuput from Äänekoski.

Taitaja2016 Seinäjoki

The Taitaja2016 event was organised at Seinäjoki Areena and its surroundings between 10 and 12 May 2016. Taitaja was organised by the educational institution Sedu and its partners.

A total of 1,613 competitors participated in the semi-finals. The participants competed for the Finnish championship in 43 skills, and four TaitajaPLUS competition skills were organised for those in need of special support. A total of 43,700 people interested in vocational education and training visited the event during its three days. The winner of the Forest Machinery skill Tuure Ruhanen from Esedu was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2015 Turku

The Taitaja2015 event was organised at the Turku Fair Center and at HK Areena between 5 and 7 May 2015 by the cooperation of the municipal education and training consortiums of Southwest Finland. Turku Vocational Institute was the actor with the main responsibility, and it carried out the practical arrangements in close cooperation with Axxell Utbildning Ab, the Bovallius vocational college, the municipal education and training consortium in Southwestern Finland, the Peimari municipal education and training consortium, the municipal education and training consortium in the Salo Region, the Raisio Regional Education and Training Consortium and the Turku vocational college foundation.

Taitaja included 44 skills. A total of 1,802 young people participated in the semi-finals. The final event attracted 51,000 visitors. The Confectionery skill’s Emeliina Papinniemi from Saimaa Vocational College Sampo was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2014 Lahti

The Taitaja2014 event was organised at the Lahti Sports and Fair Centre and in the facilities of Salpaus Further Education next to it between 8 and 10 April 2014. The event was organised by Salpaus Further Education in cooperation with the Päijät-Häme businesses and other Finnish vocational institutions. The event attracted 41,000 visitors.
There were 44 skills. The number of participants in the semi-finals was 1,804. The winner of the Hairdressing skill Siiri Härmä from the Salo Region Vocational College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2013 Joensuu

The event was organised by the North Karelia Municipal Education and Training Consortium and its educational institutions and partners. A total of 1,940 competitors participated in the semi-finals. There were 40 skills. The Taitaja2013 final event took place in Joensuu between 14 and 16 May 2013. The event attracted 37,000 visitors, which exceeded the target number of visitors. Jaakko Ekman from Salpaus Further Education, who competed in CAD design, took the title of Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2012 Jyväskylä

The Taitaja2012 event was organised by Jyväskylä Educational Consortium in cooperation with Central Finland’s businesses and educational institutions. The final event was held in Jyväskylä between 24 and 26 April 2012. The event attracted 42,000 visitors. There were 42 skills. A total of 1,803 competitors participated in the semi-finals. The winner of the dressmaking skill Vilma Hassi from Tampere Vocational College was chosen as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2011 Kuopio

The Taitaja2011 event was organised by Savo Educational Federation of Municipalities and Ylä-Savo Municipal Federation of Education in cooperation with the region’s businesses and educational institutions. The event was held in Kuopio between 3 and 5 May 2011, and there were 40 skills in the competition. A total of 1,665 young people participated in the semi-finals. The winner of the IT network systems administration skill Teemu Mikkonen from South Karelia Vocational College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2010 Oulu

The event was organised by Oulu Vocational College in cooperation with the Oulu region’s businesses and educational institutions. A total of 1,426 competitors participated in the Taitaja2010 semi-finals. The final event held in the Ouluhalli hall and its surroundings between 27 and 29 April 2010 attracted 51,000 interested visitors. There were 320 competitors competing for the championship in 40 skills. The skills of students in need of special support were organised for the first time under the name TaitajaPLUS. Mette Pökelmann from Raasepori, who competed in the Horse Care skill, was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2009 Vaasa

The Taitaja2009 event was organised by Vaasa Vocational College and Yrkesakademin i Österbotten between 25 and 27 March 2009 at the Botniahall in Mustasaari. There were 37 national-level skills in the competition. The competition had 1,385 registered semi-finalists. Around 46,000 visitors attended the event during its three days, which clearly exceeded the target number of visitors. Bilingualism and Nordic cooperation were emphasised in the Vaasa competition. Sami Puhakka, who competed in the Mechatronics skill, won the Taitajien Taitaja award.

Taitaja2008 Espoo-Uusimaa

The event was organised jointly by the Joint Authority of Education in the Espoo region Omnia, the municipal education and training consortium Keuda and Western Uusimaa Municipal Training and Education Consortium Luaky. The final event was held at Espoo Cultural Centre, Exhibition Centre WeeGee and in the Otaniemi area together with the SAKUstars cultural competition between 16 and 19 April 2008.

The Taitaja event attracted about 70,000 visitors. There were 47 skills. For the first time in Finland, Abilymbics skills were organised for students in need of special support. Sakari Hartikainen from North Karelia Vocational College, who competed in Stonemasonry, was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2007 Joensuu

The event was organised by the North Karelia Municipal Education and Training Consortium between 31 January and 2 February 2007. A total of 1,221 students registered for the semi-finals. Finnish championships were awarded in 36 skills. A total of 33,500 visitors attended the competition. Pasi Tahkola from Kemi-Tornio Vocational College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja in 2007.

Taitaja2006 Tampere

The Taitaja competitions were held in Tampere between 25 and 27 January 2006. The competition was attended by 38,000 visitors. This time, there were about 40 competition skills and more than 300 participants. The CIS point calculation system was officially introduced. Hilla Sorsamo from the Rural Educational Institute of Southwest Finland was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2005 Turku

In the Turku Taitaja competition, Finnish championships were awarded in 41 skills. Taitajien Taitaja was found nearby, as Susanna Paananen, a waiter student at Turku Vocational Institute, was awarded as the best Taitaja in the competition. The competition was attended by over 40,000 visitors.

Taitaja2004 Seinäjoki

In January 2004, the Finnish championships of 36 skills were awarded in Seinäjoki Areena. The event attracted nearly 30,000 visitors. There were 291 competitors. The Automobile Technology gold medallist Ville Hietikko from Jyväskylä Vocational College was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2003 Jyväskylä

In 2003, the Taitaja competitions were held in Jyväskylä. The number of visitors clearly grew from previous years’ competitions. The competition was attended by 32,600 visitors. More than 200 young finalists competed in 35 skills. The Floristry skill’s Veera Lång from Keuda was selected as Taitajien Taitaja.

Taitaja2002 Imatra

The Taitaja competitions were held in Imatra between 16 and 18 January 2002. Of the over 500 semi-finalists, the selected 240 finalists took part in 30 competition skills. Almost 15,000 people attended the competition. Petri Hämäläinen (Kouvola Region Vocational College), who competed in Industrial Electrical Installations, was selected as the first Taitajien Taitaja of all time.

Taitaja2001 Lahti

The foundation for a new concept was laid in Lahti. In the concept, Taitaja competitions and training and education fairs were combined into an impressive regional and national event. For the first time, the competition skills were carried out at a large fair under the same roof. In Lahti, there were 28 skills and 233 competitors. The vocational skills competitions also attracted interest from the audience, as 20,000 viewers visited the competition.

Taitaja2000 Helsinki

In 2000, the City of Helsinki celebrated its 450th anniversary. In addition to other festive events, the city also took over the Taitaja competition in May. The competition was held in the City of Helsinki’s five training and education units. There were 18 competition skills and 170 competitors. The event was open to the public, and the competition venues were designed so that visitors had the opportunity to go around and watch the competitors working. Students acted as guides at the competition sites.

In the Helsinki Taitaja competition, two traditions were started, both of which continue today. At the closing ceremony, the first gold, silver and bronze medals of the Taitaja history were awarded to the winners. Another tradition was the Taitaja challenge award that goes from one Taitaja organiser to the next. Both the medals and the challenge award were designed and manufactured at the Lahti handicraft and art industry institute.

Taitaja1999 Oulu

In April 1999, the Oulu region vocational education consortium organised the Taitaja main event in its premises. Skills were also organised around the country: the surface treatment competition in connection with the Rakentaja 99 fair in Tampere, all car and transport competitions at the Seinäjoki Vocational College, the computing competition in connection with the ITK 99 conference in Hämeenlinna and the metal industry competition in Tampere Vocational College. There was a total of 18 competition skills.

Taitaja1998 Hämeenlinna

A total of 61 educational institutions registered for the Taitaja 98 competition. The qualifying competitions were already organised in several skills: Car Installation, Machining, Welding, Building Painting, Building Construction, Cabinetmaking, Catering Services and Electrical Installation. The finals included 16 skills, of which ten were organised at the main event of the competition at the Hämeenlinna Vocational College between 8 and 9 May 1998. There were almost 100 competitors in Hämeenlinna.

Taitaja1997 Turku

In spring 1997, the Turku Taitaja competition had 12 skills to which a total of 194 competitors had registered. The main event of the competition was held at the Technical Vocational College in May, and finals of eight skills were held there. In addition to the main event, four skills’ competitions were organised across the country. For the first time, the association awarded diplomas to the educational institutions that had trained the winners of the finals.

Taitaja 1994–1996 in different locations

Suomen ammattitaito – Skill Finland (currently Skills Finland), founded in 1993, took responsibility for organising the Taitaja competition. Between 1994 and 1996, Taitaja was organised in cooperation with the Finnish National Agency for Education and the education committees of different fields. The local professional advisory boards were responsible for organising the competitions at the educational institution level, and they made decisions on both the competition tasks and the evaluation criteria. The final competition was organised as field-specific competitions across the country. In 1996, the Taitaja competition was organised in nine skills.

Taitaja1992 Hämeenlinna

The Taitaja competition was not organised in 1991, but in the next spring, 40 finalists competed again in Hämeenlinna. The final was preceded by regional competitions in seven regions. There were five competition skills: Car and Transport Technology, Construction Technology and, as new skills, Cleaning, Wood Technology and Decoration.

Taitaja1990 Hämeenlinna

In 1990, the Taitaja competition had four skills: Construction Technology, Clothing, Car and Transport Technology and Catering and Hotel Services. The two-day event was organised for the third time at Hämeenlinna Vocational College. After the qualifiers, 28 finalists participated in the competition final.

Taitaja1989 Hämeenlinna

The skills of the Taitaja competition in 1989 were Mechanical and Metal Technology, Clothing and Construction Technology. The educational institutions were free to decide whether to organise a competition at the educational institution or directly send a representative to the regional competition. 4,000 students from 104 vocational institutions participated in the different stages of the competition.

Taitaja1988 Hämeenlinna

The first Taitaja competition ever took place in three stages: in January, educational institution competitions were held, then regional competitions were held in 16 regions and finally the final was held in Hämeenlinna between 19 and 20 April 1988. Almost 3,700 students participated in the qualifiers. Hämeenlinna Vocational College was responsible for organising the competition, and Lecturer Keijo Maaranen acted as the competition director.

Mechanical and Metal Technology and Clothing were selected as the skills. 16 competitors from both fields competed in the final. Matti Mertanen (North Karelia Central Vocational School) won the one-day competition for Mechanical and Metal Technology and Riikka Suutari (Kouvola Vocational College) won the two-day competition for Clothing.

From the beginning, the aim of the Taitaja competition was to increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training, to increase media interest and to offer not only a competition but also a meeting venue for vocational education experts.