North Finland, Oulu region and Oulu Vocational College

21.5.2007 Seija Lehto

North Finland

The City of Oulu is the capital of northern Finland. The Oulu Region has almost 200,000 inhabitants and it is the fastest growing region in Finland.

The Oulu Region also has good opportunities for studying, working and doing research and development, especially in the hi-tech sector. The Oulu Region also has a lively cultural climate.

More about Lapland later….

City of Oulu

The city of Oulu was founded by the order of King Carl IX of Sweden at the mouth of the Oulu River in 1605. Oulu, which is located on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia in Finland, has been the province's capital since 1776.

Oulu has the sixth largest population amongst Finnish towns. In January 2006 the city had 128,962 inhabitants. The area of Oulu is 411,1 square kilometres.

Bigger ones are Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere and Turku.

City of Oulu

The history of the internationalisation of the city of Oulu began as early as 1605 with the founding of the city. After the trading embargo in the Gulf of Bothnia was removed, trade became free and the sailing fleet of Oulu grew in the 1860's to be the largest in Finland.

Back then the most important exports from Oulu were furs, salmon and later also tar which was used throughout the world to protect wooden ships. Today the basic idea behind the city's international activities is to develop Oulu into the leading centre of competence for the entire northern Europe. The "tar" of the city of Oulu today, is internationally competitive high level know-how and ability.

Oulu has Finland's second largest university and many public and private research institutes. The region is well known for its rapidly growing high technology industry which sells its products throughout the world. The city is thus also an international growth centre.

http://www.fmi.fi/weather/local.html?kunta=Oulu

http://www.ouka.fi/english/webcam.htm

http://www.ouka.fi/english/video/index.htmlOulu – A State of Mind

OuluOulunsalo

KempeleKiiminkiLiminka

HaukipudasHailuoto

MuhosTyrnäväLumijoki

Ylikiiminki

Oulu RegionNorth Ostrobothnia

Whole country

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Proportion of population aged 15 or over

Tertiary education Upper secondary education Only basic education

Population aged 15 or over by level of education and municipality at end-2005

Source: Statistics Finland, Population Statistics: Education SeutuNet

Manufacturing

Health and social work

Real estate, renting and business activities

Wholesale and retail trade

Education

Construction

Transport, storage and communication

Public administration and defence

Other comm.,social and personal service activities

Hotels and restaurants

Agriculture, hunting and forestry

Financial intermediation

Electricity, gas and water supply

Mining and quarrying

Fishing

0 2 500 5 000 7 500 10 00012 50015 00017 50020 000

Number

Year2004

2003

2002

Jobs in the Oulu Region, 2002 - 2004

SeutuNet Source: Statistics Finland, Employment Statistics

Vocational education in Finland

Vocational schools and institutes offer post-comprehensive vocational education

There are 52 different vocational qualifications with 116 study programs

8 educational fields

The scope of all vocational qualifications is 3 years, 120 credits

Annually 130 000 students are working for vocational qualification in

290 vocational schools

On-the-job-learning is a part of every qualification and lasts at least 20 credits

Oulu Vocational College

Founded 1.1.2005 in its current form

10 units and an administration unit

Approximately 7100 students 5200 in vocational upper secondary qualification 1900 in adult education

Number of personnel approximately 760

Operating income approx. 54 million euro

Founding municipalities

Oulu Vocational College is a part of the Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education (OSEKK).

OSEKK’s founding municipalities include Oulu, Hailuoto, Haukipudas, Ii, Kempele, Kiiminki, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Oulunsalo, Yli-Ii, Tyrnävä, Raahe and Oulainen.

Vocational education provides

Student-inspired, individual studying

On-the-job learning (Instructed studies at real workplaces)

International opportunities

Support services

Educational benefits

Possibilities offered by the Oulu Region Sports Academy

Vision

Oulu Vocational College supports growing and evolving into

full-fledged professionals.

Changes in society are reacted fast on and the operations are

economic and of good quality.

Requirements of lifelong learning and working life are taken

into account in education.

Technology, Communication and

Transport Sector; 2424Tourism, Catering and

Domestic Services; 539

Social Services, Health and Sports; 1104

Culture; 232

Natural Resources and the Environment; 250

Social Sciences, Business and

Administration; 443

Natural Sciences; 166

Number of students 2006

Number of students 20.1.2006 altogether 5158

Values

Justice

Honesty

Equality

Tolerance

Humanity

30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors

Social sciences, business and administrationVocational Qualification in International Business and

Administration Vocational Qualification in Business and Administration

Natural sciencesVocational Qualification in Business Information Technology

Natural resources and the environmentVocational Qualification in Bioenergy

Vocational Qualification in Agriculture

Vocational Qualification in Horticulture

30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors

CultureVocational Qualification in Audiovisual Communication

Vocational Qualification in Crafts and Design

Social services, health and sportsVocational Qualification in HairdressingVocational Qualification in Beauty CareVocational Qualification in PharmaceuticsVocational Qualification in Social and Health Care

Tourism, catering and domestic servicesVocational Qualification in Catering

Vocational Qualification in Hotel and Restaurant ServicesVocational Qualification in the Tourism Industry

30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors

Technology Communication and Transport Vocational Qualification in Vehicle TechnologyVocational Qualification in Food ProductionVocational Qualification in Chemical EngineeringVocational Qualification in Metalwork and MachineryVocational Qualification in Laboratory TechnologyVocational Qualification in LogisticsVocational Qualification in Surface Treatment TechnologyVocational Qualification in Wood ProcessingVocational Qualification in ConstructionVocational Qualification in Technical DesignVocational Qualification in Electrical EngineeringVocational Qualification in Safety and SecurityVocational Qualification in ClothingVocational Qualification in Building Maintenance TechnologyVocational Qualification in Upholstery

Structure of studies

Core subjects   20 credits

Compulsory subjects      16 credits

Elective studies      4 credits

Vocational studies     90 credits

Common vocational studies Specialist vocational studies Elective studies

Other elective studies 0 – 10 credits

On-the-job-learning minimum of     20 credits

Free-choice studies 10 credits

In total      120 credits

Adult education

The adult education unit offers vocational adult & further education and training and apprenticeship training and co-ordinates adult education offered in different units.

Preparatory education for vocational qualification and special vocational qualification Apprenticeship training Labour political training Management and entrepreneurship training Personnel training Short courses

Number of students annually approx. 1900

Focus areas of development

Attraction and competitiveness of education Educational supply is directed according to the demand of work force and national and regional needs. The attraction and appreciation for vocational education will be increased by bringing forth top-level competence.

Furthering of learning Diverse teaching and guidance methods, which take individuals into consideration, are used in teaching. Development of virtual study environments are expanded into all sectors of vocational education.

Networks and co-operation The foresight of vocational education is developed together with working life and other education providers. Internationality focuses especially on working life and co-operation projects.

Personnel and ManagementThe objective is to develop a flexible and clear system for management. In personnel development the emphasis is on increasing the knowledge of working life.